What is the Dental Assistant Traineeship Program?
We offer multiple 12-month Dental Assistant Traineeships each year, they are a great opportunity to earn while you learn.
These traineeships play a major role in developing quality Dental Assistants for the future oral health workforce – please note, that these are not school-based traineeships.
- The Traineeship program runs twice a year.
- Applications open in July for a January commencement.
- Applications open in January for a June commencement.
Working as a Dental Assistant Trainee at SA Dental
What to expect
On-the-job training in a SA Dental Clinic
Obtain a Certificate III in Dental Assisting through TAFE SA
Earn while you learn
No evening or weekend work
Ongoing support and mentorship
As a Dental Assistant trainee, you will learn and develop the skills to:
- Provide chair-side dental assistance to dental practitioners.
- Prepare dental materials and equipment.
- Process, prepare and save radiographs.
- Maintain and promote infection control and contribute to the reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
- Assist with oral health education as directed by the dental practitioner.
- Assist with routine administrative tasks including greeting clients, making appointments, answering telephone calls, and entering patient details into records.
The DA Traineeship involves working closely with dental operators and their clients therefore communication skills and a willingness to learn about and assist in the oral health management of clients are essential. After the 12-month training program, trainees will have developed skills to gain their Dental Assistant qualification to work in a diverse range of dental environments.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for a SA Dental Dental Assisting Traineeship, candidates must be:
- Aged between 17 and 24 years of age or (up to 30 years of age if you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent).
- Have completed Year 11 as a minimum.
- A resident of South Australia.
No previous dental experience is required for an SA Dental Dental Assisting Traineeship.