❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding Dental Care Assistants (DCAs) in the public dental system, covering employment numbers, regional positions, housing, qualifications, and DCA to dental operator ratios. The response provides specific figures and explanations, highlighting some inconsistencies in housing provisions and a lack of data on DCA qualifications.
AnsweredQoN 8009Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Dental Care Assistants (DCAs) in the public dental system (including school clinics), and ask:
(a) how many full-time equivalent (FTE) DCAs are currently employed in the State's public dental system;
(b) how many total FTE DCA positions (both filled and unfilled positions) are there in regional and remote areas of the State's public dental system;
(c) how many current vacancies are there for FTE DCAs in the State's public dental system in regional and remote areas;
(d) how many DCA's currently receive Government Regional Officer Housing;
(e) in which locations are DCA's presently receiving Government Regional Officer Housing;
(f) why are some DCA's in regional and remote areas receiving housing while others are not;
(g) how much, on average, does it cost the Department of Health, per annum, per employee for Government Regional Officer Housing (that is, how much is the average out-of-pocket cost to the Department once the employee has paid their subsidised rent);
(h) how many DCAs in the State's public dental system currently have Certificate 4 qualifications or higher;
(i) what is the average ratio of DCA to dental operator (DCA to dental therapist or dental officer) in the State's public dental health system;
(j) which public dental service currently has the worst ratio of DCA to dental therapists and/or officers, and what is that ratio; and
(k) how many additional DCAs would need to be recruited to provide a 1:1 ratio in the State's public dental health system?
(a) how many full-time equivalent (FTE) DCAs are currently employed in the State's public dental system;
(b) how many total FTE DCA positions (both filled and unfilled positions) are there in regional and remote areas of the State's public dental system;
(c) how many current vacancies are there for FTE DCAs in the State's public dental system in regional and remote areas;
(d) how many DCA's currently receive Government Regional Officer Housing;
(e) in which locations are DCA's presently receiving Government Regional Officer Housing;
(f) why are some DCA's in regional and remote areas receiving housing while others are not;
(g) how much, on average, does it cost the Department of Health, per annum, per employee for Government Regional Officer Housing (that is, how much is the average out-of-pocket cost to the Department once the employee has paid their subsidised rent);
(h) how many DCAs in the State's public dental system currently have Certificate 4 qualifications or higher;
(i) what is the average ratio of DCA to dental operator (DCA to dental therapist or dental officer) in the State's public dental health system;
(j) which public dental service currently has the worst ratio of DCA to dental therapists and/or officers, and what is that ratio; and
(k) how many additional DCAs would need to be recruited to provide a 1:1 ratio in the State's public dental health system?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 July 2012
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
47 days
(a) 283.25
(b) 65.35
(c) 3.57 (as at April 2012).
(d) One.
(e) Kununurra.
(f) The above arrangement was negotiated at the time of the dental clinic assistant's employment in July 2008. The provision of subsidised accommodation by Dental Health Services for dental clinic assistants is not usually provided; this arrangement was agreed to be on a temporary basis and is under review by Dental Health Services. The availability of Government Regional Officer Housing is determined by the Department of Housing.
(g) $25,711.90 (relates to the above arrangement only).
(h) Not known. The possession of a Certificate IV is not an essential criterion for employment as a DCA.
(i) 1.00 DCA to 0.93 dental operator average.
(j) The ratio of DCAs to clinicians in the adult and special needs clinics is slightly greater than 1:1 and the School Dental Service is slightly less than 1:1. This difference in ratio is commensurate with the model of service provision.
(k) None. The average ratio in (i) is greater than 1:1 (DCA to operator).
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT AREA HEALTH SERVICE
(a) There are 6.4 full time equivalent Dental Clinic Assistants in the Dental Department at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable (more than 1 FTE currently vacant at PMH).
(d -g) Not applicable.
(h) Not known. The possession of a Certificate IV is not an essential criterion for employment as a DCA.
(i) The average ratio of Dental Clinic Assistants to dental operator in at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (PMH) is 2:1 (when at full FTE).
(j - k) Not applicable.
ORAL HEALTH CENTRE OF WA
Oral Health Centre of WA (OHCWA) (UWA) is contracted through Department of Health to provide specialist and some general dental treatment to eligible WA individuals.
(a) 62
(b) 3
(c) 1
(d - g) Not applicable.
(h) 61
(i - k) Not applicable.
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(b) 65.35
(c) 3.57 (as at April 2012).
(d) One.
(e) Kununurra.
(f) The above arrangement was negotiated at the time of the dental clinic assistant's employment in July 2008. The provision of subsidised accommodation by Dental Health Services for dental clinic assistants is not usually provided; this arrangement was agreed to be on a temporary basis and is under review by Dental Health Services. The availability of Government Regional Officer Housing is determined by the Department of Housing.
(g) $25,711.90 (relates to the above arrangement only).
(h) Not known. The possession of a Certificate IV is not an essential criterion for employment as a DCA.
(i) 1.00 DCA to 0.93 dental operator average.
(j) The ratio of DCAs to clinicians in the adult and special needs clinics is slightly greater than 1:1 and the School Dental Service is slightly less than 1:1. This difference in ratio is commensurate with the model of service provision.
(k) None. The average ratio in (i) is greater than 1:1 (DCA to operator).
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT AREA HEALTH SERVICE
(a) There are 6.4 full time equivalent Dental Clinic Assistants in the Dental Department at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable (more than 1 FTE currently vacant at PMH).
(d -g) Not applicable.
(h) Not known. The possession of a Certificate IV is not an essential criterion for employment as a DCA.
(i) The average ratio of Dental Clinic Assistants to dental operator in at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (PMH) is 2:1 (when at full FTE).
(j - k) Not applicable.
ORAL HEALTH CENTRE OF WA
Oral Health Centre of WA (OHCWA) (UWA) is contracted through Department of Health to provide specialist and some general dental treatment to eligible WA individuals.
(a) 62
(b) 3
(c) 1
(d - g) Not applicable.
(h) 61
(i - k) Not applicable.
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
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