CLINICAL PLACEMENTS FOR VISITING INTERSTATE/OVERSEAS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
ELECTIVE PROGRAM FOR INTERSTATE/OVERSEAS STUDENTS
Placement Director: Associate Professor Matt Hopcraft (Director of Clinical Education), email: m.hopcraft@unimelb.edu.au
Placement Co-ordinator: Ms Michelle Trebilco, email: lmtreb@unimelb.edu.au
1. ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to undertake an undergraduate clinical placement you would normally be in the final years of your course and able to meet the conditions listed in point 5 below.
2. QUOTAS
In general, no more than two undergraduate dental students or two oral health (dental hygiene/therapy) students can undertake a placement at the same time.
3. AVAILABILITY
A placement can generally be undertaken from the end of January to the end of October; however due to limited resources, currently only 6-8 placements a year can be accommodated and any placement is subject to clinic and staff availability. Please also note that places are offered in order of receipt, so completed applications should be sent at least 9-12 months before the date of the proposed visit.
4. DURATION AND CONTENT
Placements are available from a few days to 2 weeks.
VISITING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TREAT PATIENTS UNLESS THERE IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MELBOURNE DENTAL SCHOOL AND THE VISITING STUDENT’S UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTION.
An undergraduate dental placement comprises observation of clinical procedures in some or all of the following areas: Primary Care, Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Fixed Prosthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Endodontics and Special Needs. Attendance at lectures can also be arranged.
An undergraduate oral health placement comprises observation of aspects of dental hygiene and dental therapy practice including: patient examinations, radiography, periodontics, restorative and minimal intervention dentistry, extractions, fissure sealants and other preventive procedures and oral health promotion. Attendance at lectures can also be arranged.
5. CONDITIONS
IF YOU CANNOT MEET THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, THEN YOU ARE INELIGIBLE TO UNDERTAKE A PLACEMENT.
Police Check and Working with Children Check
All visiting students are required to obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children Check before commencing their placement. The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Working with Children Check policy is available here.
The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Policy on Infectious Diseases
The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences policy on infectious diseases and the Declaration of Immunisations and Infectious Disease Status form are available. Please read the policy carefully. If it is necessary for you to undertake any testing, you MUST arrange for the testing to be done and the results available BEFORE you arrive in Melbourne to commence your placement. Any student who arrives in Melbourne without having undertaken the necessary testing will NOT be permitted to commence his/her placement.
The Declaration of Immunisations and Infectious Disease Status form MUST be signed before you can commence your placement.
Personal Health Insurance
As health professionals, visiting students must ensure they have adequate personal health insurance to cover any medical emergencies.
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6. STEPS TO TAKE TO CONFIRM THE PLACEMENT
- Complete and sign the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Dental School Application for Clinical Placement form and then have an authorised officer at your university/institution sign it.
- Obtain a letter from that authorised officer stating that you are a current enrolled student.
- Prepare your curriculum vitae.
- Send all three documents - the letter from your institution, the completed application form and your curriculum vitae - to Ms Michelle Trebilco c/- the Melbourne Dental School, the University of Melbourne, 5th floor, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3053, Australia.
You must ensure that these documents are received by Ms Trebilco at least 4 weeks before your placement commences. Students who do not send any documentation and just present at the School for a placement, will not be accepted.
- Contact your nearest Australian Government Representative office to ascertain the type of visa required for your visit to the School. If the visa requires supporting documentation from the School, please contact Ms Trebilco as soon as possible.
- Obtain a Police Check and Working with Children Check.
Before you commence your placement, you will need to schedule an appointment with Ms Trebilco to:
- show your Police and Working With Children Checks
- complete the Declaration of Immunisations and Infectious Disease Status form relating to the Faculty policy on Infectious Diseases (refer to point 5 of “Conditions”). A copy of this form and the policy will be provided to you on your arrival or you can download them from the link in point 5 of “Conditions”.
7. OTHER INFORMATION
Fees
There are NO fees.
Credit
The Clinical Placement is an informal placement of clinical observation; therefore credits for work undertaken before commencing the placement are not required.
Certificate
A certificate indicating that you have undertaken a placement of clinical observation at the School can be provided on request.
Financial Assistance
No financial assistance can be provided. You will be expected to cover all financial costs yourself, including accommodation and travel.
Accommodation
You will need to arrange your own accommodation. Information on accommodation available on and around the University campus, can be found at the following website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/housing/
Clothing
Visiting students are required to observe standards consistent with the privilege of treating patients. You are constantly under scrutiny, not only in the clinics, but generally as you move about the public thoroughfares of the Dental School/Hospital building. You should dress professionally when in the building and present for serious business as dental illness is serious to patients.
Apart from the obvious requirement to display a professional demeanor, you need to be aware that patients represent a diverse range of culture and customs, including dress standards; therefore visiting students need to be sensitive and considerate when selecting their attire within the clinics. Faded, frayed or dirty clothing, jeans, brief tops/skirts/shorts, shoestring straps, excessively low cut trousers, sporting attire, tops with obvious advertising or with offensive motifs, sneakers/runners, non-waterproof shoes, stilettos, thongs, sandals, “slip-ons”, or any open-toe shoe must not be worn in the pre-clinical laboratory or any clinic. Visiting students should maintain a high level of personal presentation at all times.
Protective Clothing
For infection control purposes, dental gowns are provided by the School for use in the clinics. These gowns must be worn in the clinics even if you are only observing clinical work and must be disposed of in the "dirty linen bags" provided, upon leaving the clinics.
Eyewear
You will need to bring your own protective eyewear as this is required in patient treatment areas.
Social Activities
There are many opportunities to pursue interests and join in social activities through the student society at the Melbourne Dental School (the MDSS, website: http://www.mdss.org.au/mdss/ and the university's student clubs.
The University is located on the city fringe in an area famous for its cafes, gardens and shops with a distinctly Italian flavour.
For information on what you can do in and around Melbourne, please refer to the following website: http://melbourne.citysearch.com.au/.