Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences : Guide to courses
7. Careers for medicine, dental science, oral health, physiotherapy, behavioural science (psychology) and nursing graduates

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7. Careers for medicine, dental science, oral health, physiotherapy, behavioural science (psychology) and nursing graduates
    7.1. Medicine
    7.2. Dental Science (BDSc) and Oral Health
    7.3. Physiotherapy
    7.4. Behavioural Science (Psychology)
    7.5. Nursing Science

7. Careers for medicine, dental science, oral health, physiotherapy, behavioural science (psychology) and nursing graduates

7.1. Medicine

The variety of careers available to graduates is enormous. Few professions can boast such a diversity of opportunity, ranging from general practice to surgery, pathology to obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics to psychiatry. Other specialities include anaesthetics, geriatric medicine, rehabilitation medicine, dermatology, radiology, neurosurgery and occupational medicine.

Graduates may also become medical administrators in hospitals or government departments, or medical academics and/or researchers involved with teaching and/or medical research.

Graduates are required to complete an intern year in an Australian hospital as a prerequisite for full medical registration. Many graduates will then stay in a hospital for at least one or two more years. Those who wish to train for one of the major specialities may need to continue in a teaching hospital for about five years after the intern year.

Postgraduate training for most of the specialities is supervised by speciality colleges or societies. The colleges run their own qualifying examinations, specify training programs, and attend to the professional needs of their members after they have qualified for membership.

7.2. Dental Science (BDSc) and Oral Health

BDSc: Careers are available to BDSc graduates in private practice, public hospitals, the health services (such as the School Dental Service run by Dental Health Services Victoria), academic teaching and research and the three armed services. Most graduates enter private general practice; however, a number of graduates undertake postgraduate training. The School offers a postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry, a Graduate Diploma in Forensic Odontology, a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent) by coursework and minor thesis and a Master of Dental Science (MDSc) by research and major thesis. PhD studies are also available. The Master of Science (Dental Science) is also available to BSc (Hons) graduates.

As the emphasis in dentistry changes from corrective to preventive work, dentists are increasingly working conjointly with auxiliary health professionals such as dental therapists, licensed dental nurses, dental hygienists and advanced dental technicians.

The University of Melbourne's BDSc is recognised in all Australian states and in New Zealand. Graduates may apply for registration as a dentist (without further examination) anywhere in Australia or its territories.

Registration as a dentist may also be granted in some other countries, subject to the requirements of the registering authorities being met.

Oral Health: Bachelor of Oral Health graduates provide dental care in a collaborative and referral relationship with a dentist and work as dental therapists and hygienists in both the public and private sectors, general and specialist dental practice and oral health promotion and teaching. Specifically, dental therapists:

provide dental care for children and adolescents
examine oral and dental conditions, restore and conserve permanent and deciduous teeth and
perform extractions of deciduous teeth and remove calculus.

Dental hygienists:

provide dental care for all age groups and
examine and record the nature and severity of periodontal conditions and clean, scale and root-plane teeth

Both therapists and hygienists undertake dental health promotion, a range of orthodontic and preventive procedures, including impressions, topical fluoride applications and fissure sealants and take and interpret radiographs.

The University of Melbourne's BOH is recognised in all Australian States and in New Zealand.

7.3. Physiotherapy

All Australian Physiotherapy Registration Boards recognise the BPhysio for professional registration as a physiotherapist. Physiotherapy also provides its graduates with opportunities for an international career. Our course prepares graduates for careers in health promotion and in health care settings such as hospitals, outpatients' clinics, private practice, rehabilitation centres, patients' homes, schools, extended care facilities, sports venues, aged-care centres, industrial and commercial premises, nursing homes, psychiatric centres and educational institutions. Physiotherapists also work with community organisations and as consultants to industry and government bodies. Physiotherapists are academics and researchers in universities and there are opportunities to undertake clinical research careers. Graduates from the course have gained employment early in the year following completion of their degree. The Bachelor of Physiotherapy qualification is well regarded overseas and graduates are highly sought after and many physiotherapists use this to their advantage and travel and work overseas as part of their career development.

Many physiotherapists commence their careers as junior physiotherapists in public health care settings such as hospitals or large private practices, where they rotate through specialist physiotherapy units and are provided with the opportunity to reinforce and consolidate their knowledge and clinical skills. Career paths in hospitals develop along clinical and administrative lines. Senior clinical physiotherapists are highly experienced in a particular area of physiotherapy and are responsible for senior and junior staff, and for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Private physiotherapy practice encompasses many sub-discipline areas and may range from individual to large multidiscipline practices.

Physiotherapy graduates of the school have established their careers within the public service and in private centres within Australia and overseas. In community centres, the physiotherapist is a resource to provide health and treatment education for local residents. Physiotherapists also work in the Department of Human Services, in School Support Centres, and in individual schools of various types. In private practices, physiotherapists work in every suburb and country district for clients who require their diverse services.

Many physiotherapists undertake postgraduate studies to enhance career opportunities in clinical practice, teaching, research and management.

7.4. Behavioural Science (Psychology)

Psychology is concerned with the study of human behaviour and experience. Psychology graduates can work in a wide variety of areas including health, education, industry, commerce, welfare and government.

To be able to practise as a psychologist in Victoria, registration is required with the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria. To register with the Board, an accredited four-year sequence in psychology, followed by either two years of full-time postgraduate training or two years supervised experience, is required. Part-time postgraduate studies is also available through the School.

The areas of specialisation for psychology students include community psychology, counselling psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, clinical neuropsychology, clinical psychology, organisational psychology and sport psychology. Upon completion of training as a psychologist, graduates may be eligible for full membership of certain professional organisations, such as the Australian Psychological Society, and their colleges.

7.5. Nursing Science

Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) graduates are eligible to apply for registration as Division 1 Nurses with the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV). Registration with the NBV may be recognised in other states and countries. During the first year of employment, it is usual for graduate nurses to undertake a Graduate Nurse Program. A Graduate Nurse Program involves paid employment while recognising your needs as a newly qualified nurse, allowing you to consolidate your knowledge in clinical practice. Division 1 Nurses may choose a variety of career paths. These include: Clinical Nurse Consultant; Clinical Nurse Specialist; Community Health Nurse; Mental Health Nurse; Nurse Educator; Nurse Manager; Nurse Researcher.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing Science (Accelerated) may continue their studies into specialist areas of interest. The School of Nursing offers opportunities for study at postgraduate level by coursework and by research. The courses offered by the School include:

Bachelor of Nursing Science (Honours);
Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice;
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice;
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing;
Master of Advance Nursing Practice by Coursework;
Master of Nursing by Research;
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

The postgraduate certificate and diploma include specialist cognate areas. These are Acute and Critical Care including: Anaesthetics; Critical Care; Emergency; Paediatric Crtical Care; Perioperative; Psychiatric; Cancer; Rural Critical Care and also: Cancer and Palliative Care; Mental Health; Paediatrics.

Further information about these courses in on the School's web site at http://www.nursing.unimelb.edu.au