A national review is underway to update dental qualifications to ensure they reflect current industry practices, technologies and workforce needs. The dental profession continues to evolve with the integration of digital dentistry, enhanced infection control measures and growing expectations of patient-centred care. Training must keep pace with these developments to ensure graduates are well-prepared for real-world clinical environments.
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The Australian dental sector has undergone significant transformation due to advances in technology, changes in regulatory frameworks and evolving patient care requirements. To ensure the workforce is adequately prepared for these evolving demands, this project will ensure dental qualifications are relevant and support safe, effective care across a variety of practice settings. By reviewing the structure and content of current qualifications, the project aims to improve alignment with job roles, regulatory standards and future workforce requirements.
Key objectives
- Align qualifications with technological and clinical developments in dental practice.
- Ensure consistency and clarity across qualifications and units.
- Support career pathways and practical workforce readiness.
- Reflect the skills and knowledge required for modern models of care.
Project scope
We will review 5 qualifications, 2 skill sets and 46 units of competency that support training for a range of job roles including:
- dental assisting
- dental hygiene
- dental technology
- prosthetics.
The project will consider job tasks, performance expectations, assessment conditions and the incorporation of new tools and techniques shaping the future of dentistry.
Qualifications and units of competency
Qualifications
- HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting: reflects the role of workers who assist dental practitioners during oral health care procedures. The role includes maintaining high standards of infection control, assisting with practice administration and supporting quality and professionalism in the dental sector.
- HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting: reflects the role of workers who provide an advanced level of assistance to dental practitioners, which contributes to the quality of oral health care.
- HLT35115 Certificate III in Dental Laboratory Assisting: reflects the role of a dental laboratory assistant responsible for pouring impressions, producing custom-made trays, manufacturing occlusal registration rims, transferring oral records, articulating models for a range of prostheses and constructing mouthguards.
- HLT55118 Diploma of Dental Technology: reflects the role of a dental technician responsible for the construction and repair of dentures and other dental appliances, including crowns, bridges, partial dentures, pre- and post-oral and maxillofacial surgical devices and orthodontic appliances.
- HLT65015 Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics: reflects the role of a dental prosthetist who works as independent practitioners in the assessment, treatment, management of a person who requires provision of removal dentures and who also provides unique flexible removable mouthguards used for sporting activities.
Skill Sets
Unit of Competencies
How to get involved
There are a number of ways you can get involved in this project.
1. Register to receive information on project developments and consultation activities.
Project updates
2. Submit an expression of interest to become part of the Technical Committee. The Technical Committee members provide technical, specialist and/or industry sector knowledge to assist with the training package development. Members are appointed on the basis of their expertise and experience, not as representatives of their organisations. If you would like to be considered, please complete this form or forward a covering letter and CV that illustrates your expertise to [email protected] by Wednesday 3 September 2025.
3. Complete our survey on the skills and knowledge associated with dental assistants, dental technicians and dental prosthetists. We'd love your insights which will help us from your experience, helping us capture a diverse range of perspectives. These insights will complement other research activities, e.g. functional analysis. The survey closes on Friday 26 September 2025.
Complete survey
Contact details
To contact the project team, please email [email protected].