Dental Assistant

Location: Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals Contract: Permanent, Part-time (0.80 FTE / 32 hours per week) About the Company Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and providing exceptional care to all New Zealanders. We are focused on building a health system that emphasizes partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centered care, and excellence through collaboration and integration. About the Role We are currently seeking a qualified Dental Assistant to join our Dental and Oral Health Services team in the Surgery, Women and Children's Directorate at Wellington Hospital. This role is a permanent part-time position offering a salary between $72,074 and $86,719 (pro rata). The Dental Assistant will work across our two locations, Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals, with rostered days at each site. In this position, you will provide chairside support and operative assistance to our clinical staff in both surgeries and operative theatres. Your responsibilities will include ensuring the efficient operation of our dental services, maintaining clinic and surgery equipment, preparing patients, and facilitating daily clinic flow. Key responsibilities include: - Providing chairside assistance and clinical support - Preparing the clinic and managing clinical records - Maintaining supplies and equipment, including ordering as needed - Sterilizing equipment - Assisting with basic reception tasks when requested About the Team/Service Location Our Dental and Oral Health Service provides care for a diverse range of patients across Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals. In this role, you will work with individuals who require dental care due to various circumstances, including trauma patients, children, and those needing essential dental treatment as part of their medical or surgical care. You will also assist low-income patients seeking relief from pain. Our team is made up of senior dentists, oral medicine and oral surgery specialists, house surgeons, clinical and dental technicians, receptionists, dental assistants, booking clerks, and registered nurses. The Dental and Oral Health Service operates Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with on-call house surgeons available outside regular clinic hours. About You To be successful in this role, you should have: - A NZDA dental assistant qualification or a similar credential - Experience as a Dental Assistant; familiarity with oral surgery, sedation patients, and general anesthesia lists is preferred but not essential - Exceptional organizational skills and a systematic approach to tasks - Flexibility and the ability to work effectively under varying workloads - Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks - A proactive attitude towards completing assignments - Adaptability to new challenges and responsibilities - Effective communication skills to engage with a diverse range of individuals - The ability to work cooperatively and maintain positive relationships within the team - Attention to detail Working at Health New Zealand At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for all individuals in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our people are at the core of our mission, and we are committed to being an inclusive employer that honors our equal employment opportunity obligations. We value diversity and welcome applications from individuals of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities. An inclusive workforce allows us to better understand and serve our community. We are particularly focused on equity in health for Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. How to Apply If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your application through our online careers portal by 4 January. For any questions regarding the role, please reach out to Philip Adamson at Philip.Adamson@tewhatuora.govt.nz. We will review applications as they are received and may begin the recruitment process before the closing date.