Dental Assistant

• Hours – Full time opportunities available
• Shift - Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm
• Status – Permanent
• Location – Canterbury community
• Salary – From $72,074 - $86,719 (based on the PSA Allied, Public Health and Technical Collective Agreement)
• Essential - A Full NZ driver licence to drive a mobile screening van to local schools

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We’re looking for energetic and enthusiastic Dental Assistants with a caring ‘can-do’ attitude to join our kapa (team).

Our service delivers dental service to 90,000+ children in the Canterbury and South Canterbury communities. We have 14 clinics located around our communities, 18 mobile units that visit schools to provide dental examinations and preventative care for children, and 4 towable van clinics around our rural communities. No day is the same!!

You will be working alongside a team of Oral Health Therapist/Dental Therapist, to deliver oral health care in a professional, and friendly environment. You will have an opportunity to complete a Level 4 certificate as a Dental Assistant, through Career Force.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Providing chair-side assistance with general clinical care
• Supporting the clinician with managing anxious children
• Processing and completing sterilisation process for instruments
• Managing administrative tasks and scheduling appointments with parents. 

About You

• Excellent communication skills
• Caring and responsive to children's needs
• A strong drive to build rapport with children and their whānau
• The ability to be adaptable with the variety of tasks
• The ability to work well in a team and communicate effectively with colleagues
• Common sense in decision making
• Intermediate to Advanced IT knowledge and skills with the ability to effectively record patient notes
• A Full NZ driver licence to drive a mobile screening van to local schools
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth 
• Ideally experience as a Hospital Aide or similar
• Experience in the dental industry is not essential.

Working for Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. 

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 23rd November. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.