Cairns-based dental graduate Tracey-lee Maher attends oral surgery simulation training with other graduates from across the state as part of a Queensland Health graduate program.
After more than a decade working as a nurse in Far North Queensland, Tracey-lee Maher made the bold decision to re-train as a dentist and has since joined the oral health team at Cairns Hospital.
“I wasn’t planning on becoming a dentist until I needed to take my young son to the dentist after he had a really bad accident with a cricket bat,” she said.
“The bat had knocked some teeth out, and the dentists were just so wonderful with him, and I thought, ‘my goodness, I would love to do this job’.”
Seeing the difference dentistry had made for her son, Tracey-lee said she wanted to help others in the same way and decided to enrol in a dentistry degree, which she completed last year.
To support the transition from studying to working in public oral healthcare, she applied for and was accepted into Queensland Health’s Early Career Dental Practitioner Program, which is fast-tracking the professional development of dentistry and oral health graduates who have newly joined the Queensland Health workforce.
She is one of 26 graduates from nine hospital and health services across the state participating in the 12-month program this year to build their skills, confidence and capability to manage dental emergencies and complex cases.
Now in its second year, the program offers participants the opportunity to undertake facilitated small-group discussions with peers and senior clinicians, clinical placements, online mentoring sessions and hands-on surgical simulations.
Last month, the graduates took part in an oral surgery simulation at the University of Queensland Oral Health Centre in Brisbane, where they practised their skills on lifelike training mannequins in a supportive learning and mentoring environment.
Dental graduates practise oral surgery on a mannequin at the Oral Health Centre in Herston, Brisbane.
For Tracey-lee, the experience was invaluable.
"Having that practical experience with supportive people around me has really helped build my confidence in surgical procedures," she said.
Beyond developing clinical skills, Tracey-lee said the program has also connected her with a network of peers navigating the same transition—support she considers just as valuable as the training itself.
Queensland's Chief Dental Officer Dr Ben Stute said last year’s inaugural early practitioner program was a great success as it provided graduates with a valuable introduction into working at Queensland Health.
“The graduates are provided with a range of practical hands on and online mentoring and placements and sessions so they have confidence to manage diverse and complex oral health presentations across the hospital and health services in which they practice,” Dr Stute said.
“This program demonstrates Queensland Health’s continued commitment to investing in its future workforce and enhancing access across the state, including in regional, rural and remote communities.”
Since completing the inaugural program last year, almost all graduates have moved into ongoing positions with public oral health services across the state.
Cairns Hinterland Hospital and Health Service dental officer Jaya Subbarethinam.
One of the inaugural participants was Cairns and Hinterland HHS dentist Jaya Subbarethinam, who said she was grateful for the knowledge and support provided by the program to help build her capabilities across a broad range of cases.
“The Early Career Dental Practitioner Program was the best possible mentorship a newly graduated dentist could ask for,” Ms Subbarethinam said.
“Being a new graduate in a new town can be overwhelming and stressful. The program was vital in surviving during my first year as a qualified dentist.
“I got to network with other new graduate dentists and oral health therapists and learn under the best people in the profession.
"I found it invaluable to be able to discuss complex cases with experienced dentists and to learn more from specialists.
“The mentorship I obtained through the program is something I know I’ll take with me for the rest of my career.”