Public Hospitals Dental Assistants (State) Award

 

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES

 

Review of Award pursuant to Section 19 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996.

 

(No. IRC 199 of 2012)

 

 

REVIEWED AWARD

 

1.        Delete clause 1, Arrangement of the award published 26 June 2009 (368 I.G. 604) and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

1.  Arrangement

 

Clause No.       Subject Matter

 

1.        Arrangement

2.        Definitions

3.        Classifications

4.        Anti-Discrimination

5.        Conditions of Employment

6.        Rates of Pay

7.        Area, Incidence and Duration

 

2.        Delete clause 2, Definitions and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

2.  Definitions

 

"Union" means HSUeast.

 

"Ministry" means the Ministry of Health.

 

"Hospital" means a public hospital as defined under section 15 of the Health Services Act 1997.

 

"Local Health District" means a Local Health District constituted pursuant to section 17 of the Health Services Act 1997.

 

"Employee" means a person employed in any Hospital or Local Health District in the classification of Junior Dental Assistant or Dental Assistant, Grade 1, 2 or 3.

 

"Service", unless the context otherwise indicates or requires, means relevant service before and/or after commencement of this award in any one or more New South Wales public health organisations or other organisations deemed acceptable by the Ministry.

 

3.        Delete paragraph (a) in subclause 3.1 "Dental Assistant-Grade 1" of clause 3, Classifications, and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

3.1      Dental Assistant Grade 1

 

(a)      A dental assistant grade 1 means a person appointed as such who has successfully completed a qualification in a relevant field recognised by the Dental Assistant Education Council of Australia or up to the level of Certificate III issued by a tertiary education institution or qualifications deemed by the Ministry to be equivalent.

 

4.        Delete subclause 3.2 "Dental Assistant-Grade 2"

 

3.2      Dental Assistant Grade 2

 

(a)      A dental assistant grade 2 means a person who is appointed to such a position and who has successfully completed a nationally recognised Dental Assisting Certificate course at Certificate Level IV or qualifications deemed by the Ministry to be equivalent.

 

5.        Delete subclause 3.4 "Dental Assistant-Grade 3" in clause 3, and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

3.4      Dental Assistant Level 3

 

(a)      Dental assistant grade 3 means a person who is appointed to such a position and who has a co-ordinating role across either a number of clinics in a Local Health District(s) or has the same level of responsibility in large teaching hospitals. The Level 3 dental assistant is a promotional position and is not eligible for a supervision allowance.  Generally, if a level 3 dental assistant is responsible in one location, no other dental assistants in that clinic would be in receipt of a supervision allowance as prescribed in Clause 3.3 above.

 

(b)      The scope of grade 3 positions is local health district(s)-wide or a comparable level of responsibility in a large clinic. Positions which require employees to perform the duties outlined below, will be graded at level 3.

 

(c)      A level 3 dental assistant will be required to do most or all of the following duties:

 

(i)       Perform the usual range of dental assistant duties when required.

 

(ii)       Recruitment of dental assistants.

 

(iii)      Manage trainee dental assistant programs.

 

(iv)      Participate in sector or local health district(s)-wide committees such as infection control, education, and performance improvement.

 

(v)      Manage/participate in conflict resolution where required.

 

(vi)      Chair dental assistant forums and meetings.

 

(vii)     Mentor other dental assistants in their role as supervisors, including performance management and review processes.

 

(viii)    Assist in managing safety issues.

 

(ix)      Manage the educational needs of dental assistants.

 

(x)      Manage staff relief across the sector/area.

 

(xi)      Prioritising of workload in conjunction with oral health practitioners.

 

(xii)     Co-ordinate and order all stock and consumables including:

 

           liaison with external providers, and

 

being fully conversant with State contract processes.

 

(xiii)    Ensure the proper maintenance of equipment through:

 

training and monitoring of dental assistants in maintenance duties,

 

           effecting minor repairs,

 

           co-ordinate the repair services provided by external and internal providers, and

 

           ensure contractual requirements of external providers are met.

 

6.        Delete clause 7, No Extra Claims, and renumber existing clauses accordingly.

 

7.        Delete existing clause 8, Area, Incidence and Duration, to read as clause 7, and insert in lieu thereof the following

 

7.  Area, Incidence and Duration

 

(a)      This Award rescinds and replaces the Public Hospitals Dental Assistants (State) Award published 10 March 2006 (351 IG 983) and all variations thereof.

 

(b)      This Award shall apply to persons employed in classifications contained herein employed in or in connection with the New South Wales Health Service as defined in the Health Services Act 1997, or their successors, assignees or transmittees.

 

(c)      The changes made to the award pursuant to the Award Review pursuant to section 19(6) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1996 and Principle 26 of the Principles for Review of Awards made by the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW on 28 April 1999 (310 I.G. 359) take effect on 19 March 2012.

 

(d)      This award remains in force until varied or rescinded, the period for which it was made having already expired.

 

 

 

 

C.G. STAFF J

 

 

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Printed by the authority of the Industrial Registrar.