Work as a Dentist, Dental Assistant or Dental / Oral Health Therapist

We recruit oral health professionals as casual employees or contractors for 3 to 12 week paid placements.

As a NT Remote Locum Program oral health professional, you will prevent and treat oral health issues in a remote Aboriginal community in the NT.

Your contribution will improve access to quality healthcare. You will help generate opportunities for better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NT Remote Locum Program oral health professional role

Good oral health can influence the well-being of the whole body and mind.

NT Remote Locum Program Dentists, Dental Assistants and Dental / Oral Health Therapists work as part of a holistic community health service team.

You will be supported by highly experienced Aboriginal health practitioners, General Practitioners, nurses, drivers and administration staff.

The team’s remote knowledge will assist and guide you to provide culturally safe oral health care.

What you can expect as a NT Remote Locum Program oral health professional

We’ll take care of the arrangements for your placement, talking to you and the health service you will be joining throughout the process.

As you transition to a remote setting, we provide cultural orientation and ongoing support so you can concentrate on providing a quality oral health care service to the community.

As an urban-based dentist, dental assistant or dental therapist, you already have the skills to work in a remote community. But the health issues you work with in remote communities might be different to those in urban and rural areas.

You can expect to expand your skills and knowledge. We provide plenty of resources to support your new experiences, including the NT Remote Locum Program eLearning program.

So you can transition smoothly, we will provide:

  • free online training valid for CPD with ACRRM
  • 24/7 support
  • information about the community where your placement is, and logistical information about travelling to, living and working there.

Eligibility to apply

Remote health services select a NT Remote Locum Program oral health professionals based on their local healthcare needs.

For this to happen, you must first become ‘credentialed’ with the NT Remote Locum Program. This means you send us the below information when you apply, and we provide this to an external expert.

They will certify that you have the experience needed for a NT Remote Locum Program placement.

Once you’re credentialed, you can respond to EOIs (expressions of interest) for placements. Our workforce coordinators send these out.

We send your EOI responses to the remote health service, and they may select you for a placement.

Becoming credentialed doesn’t guarantee a placement. It only gives you access to EOIs for upcoming placements.

Respond to EOI requests every time you want to do a placement. You can do more than one placement this way.

To help with the credentialing process, have these things ready when you apply to be a NT Remote Locum Program oral health professional.

Proof of identity

  • Copies of your:
    • current, unrestricted driver’s licence (if you don’t have one, you must provide your passport and birth certificate)
    • current Australian or New Zealand passport or full birth certificate.
  • A colour passport style photo for your NT Remote Locum Program ID card.
  • If applicable, evidence of name changes.
  • If not an Australian Citizen, evidence of permanent residency.

Working with Children clearance application

You must have a Working with Children (WWC) clearance or exemption to work in the NT. The process takes 4 to 6 weeks, and must be done before your placement.

Apply through SAFE NT Online Services.

Dentist and Dental / Oral Health Therapist eligibility

  • Tertiary qualification:
    • Dentist: Bachelor of Dental Surgery or equivalent qualification, recognised by the Australian Dental Council (ADC).
    • Dental / Oral Health Therapist: Bachelor of Oral Health or ADC-recognised equivalent recognised.
  • Current unrestricted registration as a Dentist or Dental Therapist with Ahpra (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
  • At least two years of full-time post-graduate experience in a relevant clinical setting.
  • A statement of service showing at least 250 hours of relevant clinical experience in the past 12 months.
  • Current user licence for radiation.
  • Current Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) completed in the past year, including the practical and theoretical components. 
  • 20 hours of CPD within the past 12 months compliant with ADC requirements.
  • Two professional referees who can attest to your recent clinical experience, who you have worked with clinically for at least 3 months including one reference from a dentist.

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Dental Assistant eligibility

  • Certificate III in Dental Assisting or equivalent.
  • A statement of service showing at least 6 months of full-time relevant experience working as a clinical dental assistant in the past two years.
  • Current CPR completed in the past year, including the practical and theoretical components.
  • Recent CPD in infection control and sterilisation practice completed in the last year.
  • Two professional referees who can attest to your clinical experience and abilities. One must be from a dentist or dental therapist who you have worked with clinically for at least 3 months.

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