❓ Mr. O'Gorman inquires about the professional recognition, career progression, and technological upgrades for Dental Assistants and dental therapy clinics. The Minister for Health provides updates on classification, salary, and planned implementation of a Clinical Information System.
AnsweredQoN 1530Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) When will Dental Assistants be recognised as professional people?
(2) What progress has been made for Dental Assistants to increase from Level 1 to Level 2?
(3) When will all dental therapy clinics receive updated office equipment such as computers, answering machines, emails, fax etc?
(4) When will the antiquated cardex system be replaced?
(5) What will replace the antiquated cardex system?
(6) Will a computer program be developed as a patient management system?
(2) What progress has been made for Dental Assistants to increase from Level 1 to Level 2?
(3) When will all dental therapy clinics receive updated office equipment such as computers, answering machines, emails, fax etc?
(4) When will the antiquated cardex system be replaced?
(5) What will replace the antiquated cardex system?
(6) Will a computer program be developed as a patient management system?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 October 2009
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
27 days
(1) Dental Clinic Assistants are not registered health professionals in Australia. If such a move were to be made, the timing is unknown. Not withstanding the above, Dental Assistants are a highly valued members of the dental treatment team.
(2) Dental Assistants are classified as Level 1 Government Officers. This classification attracts a base salary range of $36,879 to $45,653 per annum. The current actual base salary range for Dental Assistants (including a $3,000 per annum Attraction & Retention Benefit) is $39,879 to $48,653 per annum. The base salary for Level 2 Government Officers is from $47,082 to $51,126. There are no plans to reclassify Dental Assistants from Level 1 to Level 2 Government Officers.
(3)-(4)A business case for the implementation of Clinical Information Systems Infrastructure in the School Dental Service (Dental Therapy Clinics) was prepared in June 2009 and is under consideration by the North Metropolitan Area Health Service (NMAHS) for funding approval. Development of the electronic patient management system is continuing in anticipation of funding approval.
(5) The implementation of the Clinical Systems Infrastructure in the School Dental Service will enable the electronic patient management system to replace the current cardex system in use.
(6) Yes.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(2) Dental Assistants are classified as Level 1 Government Officers. This classification attracts a base salary range of $36,879 to $45,653 per annum. The current actual base salary range for Dental Assistants (including a $3,000 per annum Attraction & Retention Benefit) is $39,879 to $48,653 per annum. The base salary for Level 2 Government Officers is from $47,082 to $51,126. There are no plans to reclassify Dental Assistants from Level 1 to Level 2 Government Officers.
(3)-(4)A business case for the implementation of Clinical Information Systems Infrastructure in the School Dental Service (Dental Therapy Clinics) was prepared in June 2009 and is under consideration by the North Metropolitan Area Health Service (NMAHS) for funding approval. Development of the electronic patient management system is continuing in anticipation of funding approval.
(5) The implementation of the Clinical Systems Infrastructure in the School Dental Service will enable the electronic patient management system to replace the current cardex system in use.
(6) Yes.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.