Steph’s story: From traineeship to leadership

Steph is a senior member of Bendigo Health’s dentistry team, having started out as a trainee through CVGT Australia back in 2014. Dental Assistant Traineeships are a brilliant and accessible way to get into the dental field. Please check our vacancy page to see availability, if you don’t see the traineeship listed, please contact us.

Here in her own words, Steph describes her career journey:

My traineeship journey started at the end 2013, which was when I finished Year 12. I always knew I wanted to work in the dental field, but my hopes of that quickly faded when ATAR scores were released.

A few weeks prior to the end of exams my biology teacher got in touch with me and let me know that there was a Dental Assistant Traineeship being offered through CVGT Group Training. I got in contact with CVGT and from that I went in to have what would be my first interview.

On Monday 16 December 2013 – the same day ATAR scores were released, and I knew I wasn’t going to university – I got a call from CVGT saying I had an interview at Bendigo Health Dental Services the next day. My day quickly turned around from that phone call. I was super excited to have the opportunity to try and get into the field I had always wanted to work in.

On the Tuesday I went in to Bendigo Health and had my interview. On the Wednesday I got a phone call from both CVGT and Bendigo Health telling me I was successful in obtaining the Dental Assistant Traineeship.

On the 13 January 2014 I had my first day on the job. Dental Services was very welcoming and I soon settled in and became part of the wonderful team. I was very well supported throughout my whole traineeship, which spanned over the course of 12 months. During that time I learned everything about dental assisting on the job, as well as attending week-long block releases at RMIT and a final workplace assessment to sign off my training.

I completed my traineeship in November 2014 and was lucky enough to gain full-time employment with Dental Services to continue my Dental Assistant career. After nine months of working as a full-time employee with Dental, I applied for a Senior Dental Assistant position and was successful. I have continued working as a Senior Dental Assistant at Bendigo Health ever since.

During my seven years I have been given countless opportunities to further my career and develop my skills.

In 2017 I commenced a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting Oral Health Promotion. Having completed that course I was able to start seeing my own patients and educating the community on the importance of oral health.

Another opportunity I was given was to be Acting Clinic Coordinator – the position I am currently in. It has given me the chance to further my skills and learn lots of new things, in particular leadership and management roles.

I have absolutely loved, and will continue to love, the world of Dental. I couldn’t be more grateful to CVGT and Bendigo Health for giving me the chance seven years ago to complete this traineeship and build a career for myself.