Growing your career in public dentistry
Our early career dental practitioner program (ECDPP) helps newly registered dental practitioners working at Queensland Health move from academic learning into professional practice. As you start your career, you’ll build the skills you need to manage a broad range of cases in the public health service. You’ll work in a supportive and inclusive team, and gain experience in a variety of settings.
About the program
During the 12 month program we’ll help you to build confidence and a solid foundation for your dental career. All of your training will be in your working hours.
Each month, you’ll take part in:
- online CPD lectures
- one-on-one mentoring with senior clinicians
- participant led small groups sessions with peer and mentor feedback.
You’ll get to present your own clinical cases and do clinical placements in a diverse range of settings.
What you’ll focus on
The program will help you diagnose and treat patients using a range of methods that lead to healthier mouths and high quality care for Queenslanders.
You’ll enhance your skills in:
- diagnosing common oral conditions
- comprehensive care and clinical decisions for simple and complex cases
- informed consent and shared decision making for a range of dental procedures
- technical procedures and time management
- managing patients with complex needs, including people from a range of backgrounds and cultures
- working with dental specialists, medical specialists and allied health professionals.
Who can apply
To join the program, you’ll need to:
- be a newly graduated dentist or oral health therapist
- start in your job with us by March in the year of the program
- be working as a dental practitioner with Queensland Health for at least 4 days a week
- employed until December of the year of application, either permanent or temporary.
If you’d like to work with us, you can apply for jobs through the Smartjobs website. Ask us about your options for the ECDPP program during your interview.
How to apply
Applications for the 2026 ECDPP program are now open.
To apply, fill in the ECDPP 2026 application form and we'll email you with further information.
For more information email qh_ecdpp@health.qld.gov.au.
What being in the program is like
Olivia
Oral health therapist
Mount Isa Hospital
Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to travel from the rural and remote region of North West Queensland to take part in the first clinical placement with the Early Career Dental Practitioner Program in Brisbane.
Over 5 days in June, I worked alongside highly knowledgeable and supportive mentors, engaging with other dental practitioners from several different Queensland Health districts.
After only 5 days of immersing myself within a new clinical setting, I feel more confident in my clinical skills and better equipped to provide high quality care to my patients.
I would highly recommend this course to all future new graduate oral health therapists and dentists to expand their clinical skills and stay current with their education in the ever-evolving field of oral health.
Jaya
Dentist
Innisfail Hospital
The Early Career Dental Practitioner Program (ECDPP) was the best possible mentorship a newly graduate dentist could ask for. Being a new graduate in a new town can be overwhelming and stressful. The ECDPP was vital in surviving during my first year as a qualified dentist.
I got to network with other new graduate dentists and oral health therapists and learn under the best people in the profession. I found it invaluable to be able to discuss complex cases with experienced dentists and to learn more from specialists.
I was lucky enough to be able to go to Brisbane and work under the specialists in their respective fields. The mentorship I obtained through the program is something I know I’ll take with me for the rest of my career.