INTERNATIONAL

Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene)

CRICOS Code: 107254M
National Code: 10926NAT

2025 start

Description

The Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene) is designed to provide learners with the skills and knowledge on graduation to apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to work as a dental hygienist in both private and government sectors in accordance with the legislative provisions and contemporary dental hygiene practice and theory.

Award Course International

Duration (incl. holidays)

Semester(s)

Teaching Duration

Print Course Page

104 weeks

80 weeks

Locations & Applications

Please Read Before Applying

Entry Recommendations

Please read the course brochure before applying.
The 1 hour, computer based, dental-based assessment is to be completed on campus at Gilles Plains and will cover the following aspects: Communication skills; Dental conditions and terminology; Head and neck anatomy; Dental charting; Knowledge about the Dental Board of Australia; Basic biology; General dental knowledge.
The knowledge is aimed at a level that graduates from Certificates III and IV level Dental Assisting qualifications would have undertaken.
These abilities will be assessed via short answer questions; multiple choice questions; case scenarios; and diagram labelling.
Unsuccessful applicants are informed when final offers have been made.
No individual feedback is provided on your written assessment score.

Attendance Requirements (subject to change)
This course is full time with classes 4 -5 days a week. You may study part time in the first year. Second year is full time only. If successful, you will attend a week of on-campus orientation.

Industry Conditions and Skills
Skills and attributes that will help you include working effectively with other health professionals, collecting, analysing and interpreting data; keeping a high level of professionalism, showing leadership and mentoring, showing professional and accountable work practices.

Additional Uniforms, Equipment and Costs

Tool kit, $2955.21
TAFE SA polo, shirt $33.00
lab coat, $53.00 and the
course textbook, $50.00 (approximate) optional.
National Police check and Working with Children check are required.

Vocational Placements
Students gain supervised clinical experience in the TAFE SA Dental Clinic, and in other specialist clinical areas throughout the course.

Mandatory Requirements

You must hold a current First Aid certificate before starting clinical sessions in the TAFE SA Dental Clinic.
You must hold a current Dental Radiation Use License to operate an ionising radiation apparatus to complete this course.
If you don't hold a current license, you will need to complete the Dental Radiography Skill Set to be eligible to apply for your license.
National Police check and Working with Children check are required.
You must be eligible for unlimited registration as a student with the Dental Board of Australia under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 before you can enrol.

Fees

Average cost per semester

Full Fee

Fees vary depending on subjects you enrol into. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to make any changes necessary. Fee updates will be available prior to offers being made.

How to Apply
International Course - application process

If you are applying from onshore, generally, you will need to apply for an international course to TAFE South Australia at least two months before you want to start your studies in Australia. If you are applying from offshore it is highly recommended that you apply at least four months in advance.

Read more about:
Enquire online Apply Now

Note: You must be an International resident to apply for this course. For Australian residents please visit TAFE SA Courses.

Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered
Employment Outcomes

The design of the course enables graduates to practice in accordance with the Australian Dental Council (ADC) professional competencies of the new qualified Dental Hygienist, and the course is approved for delivery by the ADC.

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Qualifications & Skills Covered

Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene) (10926NAT)
The course has a focus on oral health and the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) scope of practice of a dental hygienist to provide services for all ages in:
- Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Management
- Education to prevent oral disease
- Promotion of healthy oral behaviours This may include periodontal and gingival treatment, preventative services and other oral care.
  To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 34 core units consisting of 9 national units of competency and 25 enterprise units of competency.
90%*
of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.

87%*
of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.

* 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

Course Units

Core

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control	35	HABDR	HLTINF006
Apply professional tooth whitening agents	25	DABAK	NAT10926013
Apply rubber dam and fissure sealants	21	DABAL	NAT10926014
Communicate effectively as a workplace leader	40	FADHE	BSBLDR412
Confirm oral health status	96	DABAA	NAT10926005
Confirm physical health status	90	HAAMP	HLTAAP002
Diagnose and manage dental hard tissue pathologies in the dental hygiene patient	21	DABAM	NAT10926015
Diagnose and manage periodontal conditions	60	DABAN	NAT10926016
Examine and assess a patient to devise a dental hygiene treatment plan	150	DAAZZ	NAT10926004
Identify and interpret findings on a dental radiograph	40	DABAR	NAT10926018
Implement a dental hygiene program for children and adolescents	25	DABAP	NAT10926017
Manage pain and anxiety for dental hygiene treatment	21	DABAH	NAT10926012
Manage pharmacotherapy in dental hygiene treatment	50	DAAZW	NAT10926001
Participate in workplace health and safety	20	AAFHR	HLTWHS001
Perform a nutritional oral health assessment	30	DABAC	NAT10926007
Perform orthodontic procedures	40	DABAX	NAT10926022
Plan and manage dental hygiene care for patients with special needs	20	DABAT	NAT10926020
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety	25	CABDN	CHCDIV002
Provide clinical dental hygiene treatment	500	DABAS	NAT10926019
Provide community based oral health interventions and oral health promotion	60	DABBA	NAT10926025
Provide dental hygiene care to elderly patients	20	DABAW	NAT10926021
Provide individual oral health education and counselling to patients	18	DABAB	NAT10926006
Research and apply evidence to practice	65	CABGD	CHCPOL003
Research and apply personality and development theories	50	CABNX	CHCCSL004
Take a clinical photograph	50	HABCS	HLTDEN027
Take an impression and construct study models for dental hygiene patients	18	DABAZ	NAT10926024
Undertake and analyse diagnostic tests to determine oral health status	15	DABAE	NAT10926009
Undertake temporary restorative therapy	24	DABAY	NAT10926023
Use epidemiology and evidence-based research in dental hygiene practice	18	DAAZY	NAT10926003
Use fluoride and chemotherapeutic agents to manage and prevent dental disease	18	DABAF	NAT10926010
Use knowledge of oral pathology and general medicine in dental hygiene practice	100	DABAG	NAT10926011
Utilise dental instruments	50	DABAD	NAT10926008
Work with diverse people	40	CABDM	CHCDIV001
Work within a dental practitioner framework	30	DAAZX	NAT10926002

Living in Adelaide

The city created for students

You will never find another city like Adelaide. With welcoming locals, it is the perfect place for you to study, live and enjoy.

A student city

Adelaide is home to over 30,000 international students and has a strong and growing reputation as an education city. In addition to TAFE SA, Adelaide is home to six world-leading universities: The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Flinders University, Carnegie Mellon University, Torrens University Australia and CQ University Australia.

Safe

Adelaide’s crime rates are the lowest in the country and for that reason, Adelaide has previously been named the safest city in Australia.

Beach Culture

Adelaide’s pristine sandy beaches are just a 20 minute tram ride from the city centre. On hot summer days, you can study in the day and take the tram to have dinner at the beach and watch the sunset with friends.

Live centrally

Accommodation is more affordable in Adelaide than in other cities in Australia making it often possible for students to live in the heart of the city or just outside. This means more time is spent studying and less time travelling.

Delicious!

Adelaide is known for its cafe culture, with more cafes and restaurants by population than any other city in Australia. In recent years, Adelaide has also developed a vibrant and varied bar scene. The city is big enough that you will struggle to visit all of the places you would like to drink and eat in during in your first year of study. Our mix of cultures means there’s likely to be a supermarket that sells food from your home country too.

Easy to get around

Adelaide is a flat city so it is ideal for walking or cycling. Its grid layout makes it almost impossible to get lost! There are free trams and buses around the city centre. International students can show their ID to get cheaper tickets.

Festivals

Adelaide is known for its festivals, which are famous around the world. WOMADelaide, the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Fringe Festival and Cabaret Festival are just some of the international arts and music festivals that keep the city buzzing

Everyone agrees – Adelaide is a great place to live and study

Adelaide is recognised as one of the world’s most liveable cities. In 2014, Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel book ranked Adelaide in the global top ten. For the last four years Adelaide has been ranked one of the most liveable cities in the world by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Beautiful weather

Adelaide has four distinct seasons, with moderate winters and warm to hot summers. In winter you will need woolly jumpers and jackets and in summer, shorts and t-shirts. The heat in South Australia is dry, rather than humid.