Fiona’s adventurous career in Dental

Since beginning in the dental industry two decades ago, Fiona has become living proof that a career in Dental is something you can take with you through all the twists and turns of life.

Now, she shares her vast knowledge and experience with Dental Assisting students at Foundation Education.

Starting out at a general practice in Brisbane in 2001, Fiona's first role as a Dental Assistant marked the beginning of a long and prosperous career. She'd always been interested in working in health but wasn't sure which path she wanted to take.

'I finished school and was unsure of what I wanted to do. A local dental assisting job came up, and I took it and never looked back!'

She went ahead and got her formal qualification, allowing her to move on to a more advanced position as a Senior Dental Assistant at a specialist prosthodontist practice.

There, she decided to take a step further with her education and obtained her Certificate IV in Dental Assisting. That qualification was just the push her career needed to reach for bigger and better opportunities. 'In 2011, I moved on to start up a dental practice from scratch with a general dentist, and I was practice manager, receptionist and dental assistant.'

But the wider world was calling to Fiona, and it saw her take her dental career on an overseas journey 'My life took a turn, and I moved to the UK for four and a half years in 2015. I worked as a Dental Recruitment Consultant and then on to be a Dental Area Manager, managing four NHS dental practices in England.'

It proved to be a challenging yet fulfilling new direction, especially as she had to discover a whole new realm of dentistry and pick up a range of new skills as she went along, 'Having no experience as an area manager, I was trained on the job and learned an abundance about UK dentistry.'

After returning to Brisbane, having collected a huge range of knowledge and experiences throughout her career thus far, Fiona got back to her roots as a Dental Assistant in the very practice where her Dental career had first begun.

Along that journey, Fiona built up a strong skill set ranging from clinical and technical skills to skills like communication, cultural awareness and rapport building that help her do her job to the best of her ability – and the results speak for themselves. Being able to help and connect with others through her work has been the most fulfilling part of Fiona's career.

'I loved being able to help patients and make a positive impact on someone's life by providing dental care and building long-term relationships with these patients,' she explains. 'I also loved the teams I worked with, the dentists and fellow DAs; I have made life-long friends.'

But she still wasn't finished learning – even with a bub on the way!

"I wondered what my next step could be on my dental journey with all the knowledge I had acquired. Who could I share it with? I went on to study my TAE (Training and Assessment qualification) whilst on maternity leave. Then I fell into dental sales and then used some of my transferable dental management skills and managed a psychology practice.'

Fiona encourages new generations of Dental Assistants to achieve their dreams

Finally, Fiona joined us at Foundation Education to impart her dental industry wisdom onto the next generation of future Dental Assistants, 'Having the opportunity to teach and assess dental assisting students is where my passion is for now.' 

Being able to watch others walk in the same footsteps she took twenty years ago, Fiona is motivated to help students thrive through the start of a new chapter in their lives.

'I have first-hand knowledge! I have been there; I have done what the students are doing. The most rewarding aspects of my role as a Dental Trainer and Assessor are the opportunities to facilitate learning, empower students and contribute to personal and professional growth.'

As she herself worked for two years as a Dental Assistant before getting her formal qualification, Fiona is distinctly aware of the benefits of going ahead and getting that nationally recognised training.

'Formalising skills and experience with a nationally recognised qualification is a way to demonstrate professionalism, competence, and commitment. It can also open various career opportunities and advancements.'

And now that she's spent some time with us at Foundation Education, she can see the difference that online learning and a great team can make to students' learning.

'It's one of the few RTOs that offer flexible online training that fits in with busy students' lives, and we have dedicated teams of trainers and specialists to support students in each faculty,' Fiona explains. 'Providing guidance, resources, and mentorship ensures students are supported in reaching their potential and achieving their career goals in the dental industry.'

After all the incredible and challenging adventures Fiona's experienced during her time in the Dental industry, what words of advice does she have for those interested in giving it a shot?

'A career in dental can be both personally fulfilling and rewarding, with many opportunities for growth and advancement too. Take the plunge, you won't regret it!'

Ready to begin your next career adventure? Check out our range of Dental Assisting courses or speak to one of our friendly Careers Advisors today.

Or, if you're a dental practice looking to help us grow the next generation of Australian Dental Assistants, check out our Partner With Us page.