<strong>Course Duration and Clinical Placement</strong><br>Learners are required on campus for a 13-week period. The balance of the course is made up of 300 hours of mandatory clinical placement, organised through the Holmesglen Clinical Placement Office.<p><strong>Course Stages – HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting</strong><br>The course is delivered in five stages, covering 10 units in total:<br><strong>Stage 1</strong> – Delivered face-to-face in the classroom or simulation laboratory for the first 4 weeks. Focus units:<br>• HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and safety<br>• CHCCOM005 – Communicate and work in health or community services<br>• CHCDIV001 – Work with diverse people<br>• BSBTWK201 – Work effectively with others<p><strong>Stage 2</strong> – Delivered over three weeks, three days per week, seven hours per day. Focus units:<br>• HLTINF006 – Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control<br>• HLTINF002 – Process reusable medical devices and equipment<br>• HLTDEN015 – Prepare and assist with dental operations<br>These units are delivered in-person at the dental simulation laboratory.<p><strong>Stage 3</strong> – Delivered over two weeks (1 day per week, seven hours per day, face-to-face). Focus unit:<br>• HLTDEN016 – Assist with dental radiography<br>Learners learn to prepare patients for dental radiography, take x-rays, and process and mount dental radiographs.<p><strong>Stage 4</strong> – Delivered over two weeks. Focus unit:<br>• HLTDEN017 – Assist with administration in dental practice<br>Learners are trained to manage appointments, record/reconcile payments, and maintain patient records.<p><strong>Stage 5</strong> – Delivered over three days. Focus unit:<br>• HLTDEN028 – Provide excellent oral hygiene training to patients<br>Learners learn to advise patients on oral hygiene practices, products, and aids tailored to individual needs.<p><strong>Clinical Placement</strong><br>The remaining course time is spent on clinical placement, spaced over a 10-month period. Learners maintain a clinical placement portfolio to track hours, have their mentor sign off daily, and receive feedback.<br>Units linked to placement:<br>• HLTDEN015<br>• HLTINF002<br>• HLTDEN017<br>• HLTDEN106<br>At the end of the course, the Holmesglen trainer conducts a workplace assessment, which includes an observation assessment. Learners must perform three full client episodes to complete the final assessment.