Become an RFDS Dentist or Dental Assistant
Join our RFDS Mobile Dental Unit (MDU) Team
We are an experienced team commited to working together, being adaptable and versatile to changing situations. We live and work closely in remote communities where the opportunitity to experience adventure and variety presents itself every day. Our work is rewarding, requiring resilience and cooperation, and fills us with a sense of pride when we see the positive impacts we make on patients and local communities.
A challenging and rewarding job working in outback Queensland
For 10 years the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) has given rural and remote Queenslanders access to dental care through its dedicated Mobile Dental Unit (MDU) Team.
The MDU is an 18-wheel semitrailer housing two state-of-the-art dental surgeries and serves more than 70 patients per week offering a range of services.
Our goal of service is to improve the oral health outcomes of communities by providing a high-quality clinical service and empowering people with the knowledge and support required to maintain healthy and stable mouths.
Our MDU team members provide:
- comprehensive dental treatment (including preventive treatment)
- general restorative treatment and extractions
- treatment for acute or pre-existing conditions
- education and information to local schools or community group.
Graphic: Dentist
What's in it for you
Not only will you have a sense of pride for working with the RFDS, you will also gain a sense of adventure in your daily work travelling across Queensland.
Working with our Mobile Dental Unit Team means you will enjoy the benefits of working with others who have a unified approach to patient-centred care with potential to meet other professionals and people within in the industry.
Benefits of working with RFDS
- Orientation training to new staff to ensure new employees are familiar with practice and procedure on the MDU.
- Access to training and leadership development programs to enhance their skill sets.
- An annual training week with opportunity to learn from dental professionals and guest speakers on topics including evidenced based dental practice, mental health strategies, defensive driving and team building activities.
What it takes to become an RFDS MDU Team Member
To become an MDU team member you will be joining a dedicated team of professionals who work tirelessly to support patients' oral health.
Our highly experienced Dentists and Dental Assistants need to have:
- experience in a rural and remote practice
- ability to handle challenging operational situations in a calm and rational manner
- experience in using a clinical patient record systems (RFDS uses Titanium)
- up-to-date knowledge of best practices within a dental clinic.
Dentists
- Registration with AHPRA, as a Dentist
- Four year’s post-graduate experience in a general Dentistry
- Current Queensland Health Radiography Licence (extra-oral licence)
- Proven clinical skills in managing a broad range of oral health issues
- Evidence of annual certification in Basic Life Support (with AED) and a current First Aid Certificate (or willing to obtain these prior to commencement)
- Current Open Class C Drivers Licence
Dental Assistants
- Certificate III in Dental Assisting
- Knowledge and professional skills in dental assisting with a minimum of 2 years of experience
- Sound knowledge and understanding of infection control principles
- Evidence of annual certification in Basic Life Support (with AED) and a current First Aid Certificate (or willing to obtain these prior to commencement)
- Current Open Class C Drivers Licence
- Current Blue Card
It is highly regarded to have:
- Intra and Extra Radiation Licence
- Certificate III in Sterilisation
- Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
Where you could work
Brisbane is the departure base for all Dental employees, and depending on the location we are servicing, you will either fly or drive from Brisbane.
If you fly from Brisbane, you will be required to pick up the Dental Team Bus from the airport on arrival. The team bus tows a trailer in which all luggage as well as some cooking and other equipment can be transported.
All employees are required to hold a current driver's licence so that the driving can be shared. Some travel distances are long, and more than one driver may be required depending on the distance.
Accommodation
Accommodation can vary in regional and remote areas. We make every attempt to keep all employees together in the same accommodation. Each employee receives their own room. Accommodation types can include:
- motel rooms
- cabin style accommodation in Big 4 style parks
- demountables (ie. Donga).
Graphic: RFDS Dental team
Rosters
On any given roster, the team consists of two Dentists, supported by two Dental Assistants and a third Dental Assistant who coordinates reception and sterilisation. The team is headed by our Principal Dentist, who works both as a clinician and as the team lead.
- The team may rotate or change during the rotation to allow for full coverage of all roles.
- Working hours are 7.30am-6pm.
- You will then have a number of weeks off before you are rostered on shift again, the exact number of which depends on your employment status. For example, a full-time roster is 2 weeks on and 1 week off. Part-time may be 2 weeks on and 4 weeks off.
Extra benefits
- We offer competitive salaries that are consistent throughout the year, even during weeks when you are off work. This ensures that your pay remains steady and reliable.
- As a full-time employee on a roster, you will receive an all-inclusive overnight allowance of $105 per day. This amounts to an extra $15,000 per year.
- Additional salary packaging of up to $18,500 is available, which can increase your take-home pay.
The RFDS (Queensland Section) Values
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