Welcome to our new students

NOTICE TO NEW BDSc & BOralH YEAR 1 STUDENTS - 2012

Welcome to the School of Dentistry.

Congratulations on gaining entry into the Bachelor of Dental Science or Bachelor of Oral Health programs at the University of Queensland.

The School of Dentistry welcomes its new students for 2012. We hope you will enjoy your studies and learning experiences with your fellow students during your program.

Commencement Date

The academic year for BDSc and BOralH Year 1 students will commence on Monday, 27th February 2012. New first year students must be prepared to commence the program on this date unless prior approval by the Head of School is obtained.

Orientation Information for 2012 BDSc and BOralH Students

Orientation for BDSc and BOralH Year 1 students will be held at the Dental School on Tuesday, 21st February 2012. It is highly recommended that students attend this orientation.

Please click here to view the orientation day schedule.

Please click here for a map of the UQ School of Dentistry.

New Oral Health students: FREE PIZZA LUNCH - see orientation schedule for details.

Further information regarding School orientation is available on the School of Dentistry website (www.dentistry.uq.edu.au).

Response to Offer and Enrolment

The due date for enrolment for all domestic students is Friday, 3 February 2012. Students should ensure that they are enrolled by this date through mySI-net to enable sign-on to Science classes (BIOL1040) and (CHEM1022) by the School. The BDSc and BOralH programs have set compulsory courses and there are no electives. Please ensure that you enrol in both semesters for all courses. Late fees may apply for enrolment submitted after the University’s due dates. New international students are required to be enrolled by Friday, 24th February 2012.  However, all students should be enrolled by Friday, 3rd February 2012 to ensure sign-on for BIOL1040 in Semester 1 by the School.

Enrolment in Compulsory Courses

Students are required to enrol in compulsory first year courses in relation to their relevant program.  Please see the link at the bottom of this web page for specific course codes.

Timetables

Please note Year 1 dental and oral health students will be provided with a compulsory set timetable for Semester 1. Timetables will be made available to students at the orientation day for BDSc and BOralH students, following finalization by the School and acceptance of offers.

Dental students will NOT be required to individually sign-on for Science classes (i.e. BIOL1040, CHEM1022) as this will be done for them by the School in conjunction with the Faculty of Science. Students will be signed-on for specific classes by the School according to the compulsory timetable.

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Student Groups

Students will be allocated to a student group which will determine the practical classes they will attend in the timetable. This allocation will be undertaken on a random basis by the School to ensure that group numbers are even and resources are used equitably. Students who wish to be available on a particular day (morning or afternoon) for other commitments such as part-time work, childcare etc, will need apply to the School. Further information regarding applications will be advised by the School.

Course Information

Course profile information including textbook lists will be available on-line. Students who have enrolled will have access to the full course profile through mySI-net (www.sinet.uq.edu.au) (see Enrolment Guide 2012).

Applications for Credit for Previous Studies

Students who wish to apply for credit for previous studies must complete and submit the appropriate application form with all required documentation by the due date to the Learning Support Office, University of Queensland Dental School, Turbot Street, Brisbane 4000. The application form is available on the University’s “MyAdvisor” webpage (www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/forms-online). Students seeking credit should enrol in all courses in the event that their application is not approved, particularly if their previous studies have not been completed at the University of Queensland.

All Credit Applications, along with the appropriate documentation, need to be lodged (either by mail, email or in person) to the Learning Support Office no later than the end of orientation week (Friday, 24th February 2012).
 

The University of Queensland Disability Action Plan

The University of Queensland has a Disability Action Plan which has been developed to guide the University’s activities in providing for the needs of students with disabilities. For further information on University policies to support people with a disability go to www.uq.edu.au/student-services/disability

A student who has a disability should seek advice from the Deputy Head of School immediately on seeking enrolment within the program. Any student with a disability who may require alternative academic arrangements in the program is encouraged to seek advice at the commencement of the semester from a Disability Advisor at Student Support Services. The University Health Service can also arrange appropriate advice and assistance on personal and public health issues.

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Immunisation, CPR, First Aid

HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C Screening

The University of Queensland has a duty of care to prevent the occupational transmission of communicable diseases to students, staff and patients. In specialised areas involving increased risk of transmission of a communicable infection such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV through blood, the duty of care to prevent infection is heightened for both the individual and the University. In such circumstances, the need to protect others may transcend the general right to withhold information from the University. The School of Dentistry considers that the foregoing policies apply to candidature in all undergraduate and postgraduate programs which involve direct clinical contact with patients. Therefore, all BDSc and BOralH Year 1 students are requested to undertake screening for HIV, Hepatitis B (surface antibody), and Hepatitis C and to present documentary evidence of these screenings to the Learning Support Office, Dental School no later than 31 March 2012 (census enrolment date). These screenings are the responsibility of the individual student. Students who are unable to present screening results when requested may be banned from the clinics. It is strongly recommended that students begin vaccinations for Hepatitis B if required. Students will also be required to undertake Tuberculosis (TB) screening (further information will be provided by the School).

Please note that students will be required to collect QML Pathology Forms from the Learning Support Office. Screening costs will be paid by the School in relation to these pathology forms.

As Health Care Workers, dental and oral health students should also be aware of their immunisation status in relation to other diseases. Information regarding the School’s policy on immunisation will be made available on the School of Dentistry website (www.dentistry.uq.edu.au).

First Aid/CPR Requirements

Students in the BDSc program are required to obtain a Senior First Aid certificate and CPR certificate in Year 1 and complete CPR recertifiction before commencement of Years 2,3 and 4.  First Aid recertification is also required before the commencement of Year 5. The First Aid certificate must be a valid Senior First Aid certificate which has been accredited in Australia. BDSc Year 1 students will be required to provide a copy of their Senior First Aid certificate to the Learning Support Office, School of Dentistry before 31 March 2012.

Students in the BOralH program are required to obtain Senior First Aid certificate and CPR certificate in Year 1 and complete CPR recertification before the commencement of Years 2 and 3. BOralH Year 1 students will be required to provide a copy of their CPR certificate to the Learning Support Office, School of Dentistry before 31 March 2012.

Students must accept all costs involved in obtaining the required First Aid and CPR qualifications during the program. Students who are unable to present such qualifications when requested will be banned from the clinics.

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Blue Card (Working With Children Check) Requirements

The Commission for Children and Young People Act 2000 requires people working or seeking to work with children in a paid, voluntary or self-employed capacity to undergo a “Working with Children Check”. The working with children check is an investigation into whether a person has a criminal history, which will affect their suitability to work with children (i.e. persons under 18 years of age). This involves a check of relevant police information held by the Queensland Police Service and other police services in Australia for any charges or convictions.

As an educational and research institution, the University of Queensland, including its staff and students, is subject to The Commission for Children and Young People Act 2000. Students are classified as volunteers and must hold a “blue card” before they can commence a placement course which involves working with children as part of the placement.

BDSc  students are required to obtain a blue card as a requirement of their program. Students must submit their completed application form to the Learning Support Office, Dental School no later than 31 March 2012 (census enrolment date). The blue card is valid for two years and will be required to be renewed before the commencement of Year 5.

Students in the  BOralH program are required to obtain a current blue card as a requirement of their program. Year 1 students must submit their completed application form to the Learning Support Office, Dental School no later than 31 March 2012 (census enrolment date).

New blue card application forms and instructions are available on the following website: http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/applications/volunteersandstudents.html

On receipt of the application, the School will apply for a blue card on the student’s behalf. Students who are unable to present a blue card will not be permitted to undertake any placements.

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AFP National Police Check (NPC) – BOralH Students

BOralH Year 1 students are required to undertake an Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Check in order to participate in aged care/special needs/community based rotations as part of their studies in 2012.

Providers of residential aged care and community aged services subsidised by the Australian Government are required to ensure that staff, contractors and volunteers undergo a national criminal history check which is conducted by the Australian Federal Police. Students are therefore requested to complete an application form for an AFP National Police Check in order to participate in the aged care rotations. Processing of a police check takes approximately 15 working days to be completed from receipt of the application and costs $43 for an individual application. Students are responsible for submitting their applications to the AFP and for the cost of the police check.

BOralH Year 1 students are required to have obtained their police certificates no later than the end of Semester 1 classes (Friday, 1st June 2012). Those students who do not have a police certificate will not be permitted by law to participate in the aged care rotations.

Occupational Health and Safety Requirement

Under the Work Health & Safety Act 2011, all students will be required to complete an on-line occupational health and safety tutorial/module during their first year.  Students must provide the certificate of completion to the Learning Support Office.  Further details regarding this program requirement will be provided in due course. 

BDSc Final Year Clinical Placements

The BDSc program includes one year of clinical practice (34 weeks) in final year. During the year, students will undertake clinical placements in Queensland Health clinics in districts such as Ipswich, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Logan, Redcliffe, Kawana, Nambour, Caboolture, Mackay, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Gympie, Charters Towers, Cairns, and Townsville, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Students are advised that this final year may incur travel and accommodation costs associated with the clinical placements.

Prior to the commencement of clinical placements, students are required to undertake an eight week intensive clinical block at the Dental School. The intensive block commences in late November and continues over the summer break. The intensive block consists of clinical sessions, lectures and seminars in preparation for clinical placements and is compulsory for final year students.

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Program Scholarships

Queensland Health Rural Scholarship

Queensland Health is the major provider of health services in the State. As part of its commitment to maintain and improve the health status of rural communities, the department administers a rural scholarship scheme for students in dentistry, medicine, nursing, oral health, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology (clinical masters), occupational therapy, radiography, social work and speech pathology.

The rural scholarship scheme provides benefits to the assisted students and Queensland Health. Scholarship holders are provided with financial assistance to support them during full-time tertiary study in their chosen field. Following graduation, scholarship holders are contracted to be employed by the Health Service Districts in rural health care facilities throughout the State, providing rural communities with essential health services. An objective of the scheme is to provide professional health services to people living in rural and remote communities.

Queensland Health Rural Scholarships are offered to BDSc and BOralH full-time students. Students must be Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Information kits are available by contacting the Office of Rural Health on 1800 680 291.

Applications close 18 March 2012.

For further information, go to: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/orh

Australian Defence Force (ADF) Undergraduate Scheme

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) offers scholarships for dental undergraduate students (Australian citizens and permanent residents) to be sponsored through their degree. The Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army or Royal Australian Air Force will pay students a salary while they study.

As an ADF Dental Officer, new dental graduates will have a guaranteed job where they can experience all facets of dentistry in a supportive environment. Each new graduate is mentored in the early years by a senior dentist.

In addition to salary, the ADF Undergraduate Scheme also provides:

  • HECS/CSP fees;
  • A generous rental allowance;
  • Prescribed textbook costs;
  • Dental loupes as a student;
  • Student union fees;
  • Excellent superannuation; and
  • Comprehensive medical and dental treatment.

For further information go to the following websites:

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/education/University/SponsoredUndergraduate.aspx - Undergraduate sponsorships

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/jobs/DentalOfficer/ - Navy Dentists

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/army/jobs/Dentist/ - Army Dentists

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/airforce/jobs/DentalOfficer/ - Air Force Dentists

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Welcome to our new students section

Year 1 Course Enrolment (2012)

Compulsory courses offered in BDSc and BOralH programs

Know your School brochure (PDF)

Find out more about the School of Dentistry

On this site

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