Dental Assistant, Oral Health Service, Medical Services - Cairns

at  Queensland Health

The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service covers a large geographic area with a diverse and growing population. The Health Service provides a wide range of primary care, acute and specialist services.
Our staff are a part of the community we serve, and we strongly believe that health outcomes are enhanced by involving our community in the planning and evaluation of local health services.

ABOUT US:

We’re committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people in Far North Queensland by providing high quality acute health care services.
Our values were developed by our staff, patients and community. They guide our work and actions every day. Our staff are part of the community we serve. We believe that we can improve health outcomes by involving our community in the planning and evaluation of their local health services.

ABOUT YOUR ROLE:

• Provide accurate and proficient assistance and adaptation to any operator to provide four-handed dentistry, retraction and evacuation techniques and application of rubber dam. Monitoring of, and assisting operator in, management of patient well-being and anxiety level and an awareness of medical conditions.
• Prepare equipment, instruments and materials utilised in a variety of dental procedures utilising knowledge and understanding of the stages within a dental procedure combined with ability to pre-plan and adapt as treatment proceeds.
• Ensure equipment, instruments, materials and surgery satisfy infection control standards through utilising standard/universal precautions, decontamination procedures, barrier draping. Utilise protocol for managing blood and body substance spills. Use infection control protocols and relevant Standards and Guidelines for cleaning, sterilising reusable items and for the disposal of surgery waste.
• Provide general advice about personal oral hygiene and re-iterate pre- and post-operative advice provided by operator and contribute to health promotion activities.
• Assist with patient appointments and record keeping including reception duties, data collection, computer inputting of data as required.

In your new role you will…

• Demonstrate high level of skill and knowledge of all aspects of dental assisting, including current infection control, and clinical support for all relevant age groups.
• Demonstrate high level ability to prioritise and organise workload and, where appropriate, to take initiative.
• Proven ability to work effectively within a team or autonomously, utilise discretion in decision making and prioritising.
• Possess well-developed communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise and consult with all levels of staff and patients, to manage conflict and to deal with sensitive and confidential matters appropriately