Oral Health Therapist
Graduate Program
Start your OHT career practising to your full scope
Join our structured, paid 12-month program with real patient experiences, dedicated mentorship, and the confidence to practise independently.
Why should you choose Bupa Dental OHT Graduate Program?
The jump from university to real practice can feel overwhelming.
Our program is designed to support that transition — helping you build confidence, capability, and independence at the right pace.
Most importantly, you’ll actually practise across your full scope — not just observe or repeat limited procedures. Whether you're interested in working in prevention, restorative, aged care or oral health promotion, you'll be backed by experienced mentors and a learning journey tailored to you.
This 12-month program has been developed to meet a growing need across our network, but also the broader industry, to support, retain and develop talented OHTs.
About the program
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What makes this program different
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What you'll gain
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Practice across your full clinical scope
Unlike many graduate roles, you won’t be limited to basic procedures or observation. From early in the program, you’ll be supported to practise across your full clinical scope — building real experience, not just theory. You’ll develop confidence in delivering a wide range of treatments, supported by experienced clinicians and structured mentoring every step of the way.
During the program, you’ll gain real experience in:
- Preventive and periodontal care
- Restorative treatments
- Orthodontics, including aligner therapy
- Oral health promotion and patient education
- First Nations health and working with priority populations
- Working with a wide range of patient needs
- Digital tools and modern clinical workflows
By the end of the program, you'll be able to:
- Confidently treat patients across your full scope
- Make informed clinical decisions independently
- Deliver comprehensive care — not just single treatments
- Communicate treatment options clearly and confidently
- Manage your own caseload in a real practice setting
Learning and Development
You’ll be supported through a mix of face-to-face workshops, online modules and structured mentoring. Your development will cover both clinical and non-clinical areas, with a strong focus on working across diverse patient groups and delivering culturally safe, person-first care.
- Three in-person CPD workshops delivered alongside the Graduate Dentist cohort
- Monthly online webinars and learning modules tailored to OHT scope
- Support from a dedicated OHT mentor, Clinical Educator and Consultant OHT
What your year may look like
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Month 1–2: Get started
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Month 3–6: Build confidence
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Month 7–12: Step into independence
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Who we’re looking for
This program is ideal for you if you:
- Are a final-year student or recent graduate in OHT, DH or DT (Class of 2026)
- Are registered or eligible for AHPRA registration
- Want to practise across your full scope and contribute to better oral health outcomes
- Are eager to build confidence through experience, learning and team collaboration
- Are interested in making a difference through prevention, education and community care
How to apply
Submit your expression of interest through our Graduate Programs portal.
Our Talent Team will guide you through the process, from screening and interviews through to matching you with the right practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question about your application, our processes or what happens next? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about applying for the Dental and Oral Health Therapist Graduate Programs at Bupa
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