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3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
Charles Sturt University MelbourneThe Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy and Hygiene) at Charles Sturt University is a 3-year full-time professional degree designed to prepare students for careers in preventive dentistry, dental hygiene, and oral health therapy. The program blends biomedical sciences, oral health theory, simulation-based training, and extensive supervised clinical placements, enabling students to progress from foundational learning to real patient care in clinical environments with a strong focus on prevention and patient-centred practice.
Year 1 – Foundations of Oral Health & Health Sciences
Human Bioscience & Anatomy → Understanding human body structure and oral health systems
Introduction to Oral Health Therapy → Core principles of preventive dentistry and oral healthcare practice
Communication in Healthcare → Developing patient interaction, counselling, and professional communication skills
Population Health & Oral Health Promotion → Introduction to community health and disease prevention strategies
Clinical Simulation & Infection Control → Basic clinical skills training using dental simulation laboratories
Year 2 – Clinical Skills Development & Applied Practice
Oral Pathology → Study of oral diseases, conditions, and diagnostic indicators
Periodontology → Prevention and management of gum and supporting tissue diseases
Dental Radiography & Imaging → Diagnostic imaging techniques and interpretation in dental care
Preventive & Restorative Oral Health Practice → Clinical procedures including cleaning, fillings, and preventive treatments
Pre-Clinical Simulation Training → Advanced hands-on practice in simulated dental clinics before real patient care
Year 3 – Advanced Clinical Practice & Professional Experience
Advanced Oral Health Therapy Practice → Comprehensive preventive and restorative treatment planning and delivery
Community & Rural Oral Health Placement → Real-world clinical exposure in hospitals, public clinics, and rural health services
Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice → Patient assessment, treatment execution, and long-term oral care planning
Professional Practice & Ethics → Clinical decision-making, ethics, and healthcare professionalism
Supervised Clinical Placements → Extensive patient treatment experience in real healthcare environments under expert supervision
Learning Outcomes
Develop strong competence in preventive and restorative oral healthcare, including patient assessment, clinical treatment, and oral disease prevention. Graduates are trained to deliver safe, ethical, and patient-focused dental care across diverse clinical and community healthcare settings.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The program is professionally aligned with Australian oral health education standards and supports eligibility for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as an Oral Health Therapist upon successful completion of requirements. It is recognised within Australia’s regulated healthcare framework for oral health practice.
Reputation (Employability & Ranking)
Charles Sturt University is known for its strong focus on practical, industry-connected health education and regional clinical training. The oral health program offers extensive supervised clinical experience, contributing to strong graduate employability across public health services, community dental clinics, and private practices in Australia’s growing oral healthcare sector.
Learning in the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy and Hygiene) at Charles Sturt University is strongly built around real clinical exposure, where students gradually progress from simulation-based training to treating real patients in supervised healthcare environments. A key strength of the program is its close connection with the University’s Oral Health Clinics and partnerships with hospitals, community dental services, and regional health networks across New South Wales — ensuring students graduate with genuine workplace experience, not just classroom learning.
This strong experiential model ensures you are continuously applying knowledge in real clinical contexts:
• Project Work
Students engage in case-based learning, oral health promotion projects, and evidence-based clinical assignments. These tasks involve analysing real patient scenarios, developing treatment plans, and designing community oral health strategies focused on prevention and care delivery.
• Internship / Clinical Placement
Students complete extensive supervised clinical practice (typically 700+ hours across the program) in university oral health clinics, hospitals, community dental centres, aged-care facilities, childcare settings, and outreach programs. These placements include both metropolitan and rural healthcare environments across NSW, giving exposure to diverse patient needs.
• Laboratories / Simulation Training
Early clinical learning takes place in advanced oral health simulation labs featuring dental chairs, phantom head units, radiography systems, sterilisation units, and clinical instruments. Students practise infection control, oral assessment, scaling and cleaning procedures, preventive care, and restorative techniques before moving to real patient treatment.
• Final Year / Advanced Clinical Practice (Capstone Experience)
In the final stage of the program, students undertake advanced supervised clinical practice where they independently integrate preventive and restorative care. This experience focuses on clinical decision-making, treatment planning, patient management, and readiness for professional oral health practice.
• Industry Tools / Digital Technologies
Students are trained using modern dental radiography systems, digital imaging tools, electronic patient record systems, and clinical management software used in contemporary dental practice. This ensures familiarity with the technologies used in professional healthcare settings.
• Group Work / Clinical Collaboration
Learning includes collaborative case discussions, peer-supported clinical sessions, and oral health promotion initiatives. Students also work in interprofessional healthcare teams, building communication, teamwork, and leadership skills essential for real-world practice.
• Career Preparation Units
Dedicated professional practice subjects focus on ethics, patient communication, clinical professionalism, and healthcare delivery standards. Combined with supervised placements, these units ensure strong employability and workplace readiness upon graduation.
• Research & Learning Facilities
Students are supported by modern academic and clinical learning environments that strengthen evidence-based practice and research understanding, including:
Graduates of the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy and Hygiene) at Charles Sturt University are prepared for strong clinical careers in preventive and therapeutic dental care. They work confidently across public and private healthcare settings, contributing to oral health improvement in both urban and regional communities:
Graduates typically work as Oral Health Therapists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, and Community Oral Health Practitioners in settings such as private dental clinics, hospitals, public health services, school dental programs, and community healthcare centres.
Progression & Career Support
• Career development support through CareerHub including job search assistance and career planning
• Resume building, interview preparation, and professional communication training
• Employability workshops and industry readiness programs
• Mentoring opportunities with experienced health professionals
• Strong supervised clinical placements aligned with workforce requirements
• Professional networking opportunities through industry-linked events and placements
Employment Stats & Salary (AUD)
• Entry-level salaries typically range from AUD 70,000 – 90,000+ per year
• Experienced practitioners in private or specialised settings may earn significantly higher incomes
• Strong employment demand in both metropolitan and rural healthcare regions
• Increasing need for preventive dental care strengthens long-term job stability
Industry Partnerships
• Public hospitals and community oral health services across New South Wales
• Private dental clinics and specialist dental practices
• School dental and child oral health programs
• Aged-care and disability healthcare organisations
• Rural and regional health services for diverse clinical experience
• Real patient treatment experience through supervised clinical placements
Long-Term Professional Value
• Accredited pathway aligned with Australian dental and oral health standards
• Eligibility for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) after graduation requirements are met
• Recognition supported by professional oral health regulatory frameworks such as the Australian Dental Council (ADC) standards
• Strong long-term career stability due to growing demand in preventive and community oral healthcare
• Opportunities for career advancement in leadership, specialist care, and clinical development roles
Graduation Pathways
• Immediate clinical practice in public and private dental sectors
• Roles in school dental programs and community outreach services
• Opportunities in regional and rural healthcare systems across Australia
• Potential international employment (subject to local registration requirements)
• Career progression into senior clinical or supervisory oral health roles
Further Academic Progression
• Postgraduate study in public health, health sciences, or healthcare management
• Advanced clinical training in oral health practice and preventive dentistry
• Research-focused Master’s or PhD programs in oral health sciences and biomedical research
• Pathways into academic, teaching, and healthcare leadership roles
• Specialisation in community health promotion, clinical education, or dental public health
Minimum English language requirement includes an IELTS score of 7.0 or an equivalent qualification.Minimum entry requirement includes an ATAR score of 70.A completed High School Certificate with a minimum ATAR of 70 (including adjustment factors) or equivalent. ORCharles Sturt Undergraduate Certificate of Health Studies with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 ORSuccessful completion of the CSU Connections – First Nations Direct Entry Program ORSuccessful completion of two university level subjects (AQF level Associate Degree or higher), gaining a minimum GPA of 4.0.Students from an English-speaking background must have attended and satisfactorily completed either an undergraduate degree or at least four years of any combination of secondary or tertiary education, including at least two years between years 9 to 12, taught and assessed solely in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, UK or USA.Students from a non-English-speaking background must provide IELTS results (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or equivalent test.Oral Health TherapistDental HygienistDental TherapistCommunity Oral Health PractitionerPrivate Dental Clinic PractitionerHospital Dental PractitionerSchool Dental Program PractitionerPublic Health Dental OfficerPreventive Oral Health EducatorOral Health Research or Further Study Specialist
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