HED004 DDB307 Ethical and Legal Responsibilities of Dental Prosthetists in Australia

Ethical and Legal Responsibilities of Dental Prosthetists in Australia

Dental prosthetists in Australia occupy a critical role within the oral health care system, providing specialized services focused on removable prosthodontics. Their responsibilities extend beyond technical expertise to encompass ethical conduct and compliance with legal frameworks that safeguard patient welfare and public trust. Regulatory bodies, such as the Australian Dental Council (ADC) and the Dental Board of Australia, establish standards to ensure practitioners uphold professional integrity. Understanding these obligations fosters safe practice and supports inter-professional collaboration. This paper examines the ethical principles, legal duties, and professional standards that dental prosthetists must navigate to deliver competent and responsible care.

Ethical Principles Guiding Dental Prosthetists
Ethical practice forms the foundation of dental prosthetics, ensuring patient-centered care. Autonomy, a core principle, requires practitioners to respect patients’ rights to make informed decisions about their treatment. For instance, obtaining valid consent involves explaining procedures clearly and ensuring comprehension, particularly for vulnerable individuals. Beneficence, another key principle, obliges dental prosthetists to prioritize patient well-being by recommending appropriate interventions. Conversely, non-maleficence demands avoidance of harm, such as ensuring prosthetic devices meet safety standards. Justice, the final principle, promotes equitable access to care, addressing disparities in oral health services across public and private sectors (Kerridge et al., 2019). Together, these principles guide ethical decision-making in clinical settings.

Applying these concepts can prove challenging in practice. Patients with limited health literacy may struggle to understand treatment options, complicating consent processes. Moreover, balancing beneficence and justice becomes difficult when resource constraints limit service availability. Dental prosthetists must therefore employ effective communication strategies to bridge these gaps. Evidence suggests that training in ethical reasoning enhances practitioners’ ability to resolve such dilemmas (Graskemper, 2021). Consequently, adherence to these principles not only fulfills professional obligations but also strengthens patient trust.

Legal Obligations under National Law
The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 governs dental prosthetists as registered health professionals in Australia. This legislation mandates registration with the Dental Board of Australia, ensuring practitioners meet competency standards set by the ADC. Compliance involves maintaining professional indemnity insurance and adhering to the Code of Conduct, which outlines duties such as confidentiality and accurate record-keeping (Dental Board of Australia, 2022). Breaches, such as negligence or failure to obtain consent, can result in disciplinary action, including suspension. Thus, the National Law establishes a legal framework to protect public safety.

Specific obligations also arise in clinical contexts. Practitioners must recognize their scope of practice, referring patients to dentists or medical professionals when conditions exceed their expertise, such as suspected oral cancers. Failure to refer constitutes a breach of duty, potentially leading to legal liability (Forrester and Griffiths, 2019). Additionally, the law requires reporting of mandatory notifications if a colleague’s conduct poses a risk to patients. Statistics indicate that complaints against dental practitioners often stem from poor communication or inadequate consent processes (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2023). For this reason, dental prosthetists must remain vigilant in upholding legal standards.

Professional Standards and Inter-Professional Relationships
Professional standards reinforce ethical and legal responsibilities, promoting accountability within the dental prosthetics field. The ADC outlines competencies requiring practitioners to engage with the profession and community through health promotion activities. Participation in continuing professional development (CPD) ensures knowledge remains current, a requirement under the National Law (Dental Board of Australia, 2022). Furthermore, collaboration with other health care providers enhances patient outcomes, particularly in multidisciplinary settings. Effective inter-professional relationships rely on mutual respect and clear communication, aligning with the unit’s emphasis on professional conduct.

Challenges to these standards often emerge in practice. Time constraints may limit CPD participation, while workplace dynamics can hinder collaboration. Evidence from a 2021 study highlights that dental prosthetists who engage in regular peer review report higher confidence in managing complex cases (Smith et al., 2021). Likewise, fostering relationships with dentists and allied health professionals reduces referral delays, benefiting patients (Willis et al., 2020). Therefore, commitment to professional standards not only meets regulatory expectations but also elevates the quality of care.

Consent and Patient Rights
Obtaining informed consent represents a critical intersection of ethics and law for dental prosthetists. Patients or their legal guardians must receive comprehensive information about proposed treatments, including risks and alternatives, before consenting. The process becomes complex when patients lack decision-making capacity, necessitating involvement of a power of attorney. Practitioners must document consent meticulously to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements (Forrester and Griffiths, 2019). Failure to do so risks allegations of assault or negligence, underscoring the importance of this duty.

Cultural and social factors further complicate consent. Indigenous patients, for example, may prioritize community input in health decisions, requiring tailored approaches to communication (Willis et al., 2020). A 2022 survey found that 15% of dental complaints in Australia involved consent disputes, often linked to inadequate explanation (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2023). To address this, dental prosthetists should adopt patient-centered strategies, such as visual aids, to enhance understanding. By prioritizing consent, practitioners uphold patient autonomy and mitigate legal risks.

Conclusion
Dental prosthetists in Australia navigate a complex landscape of ethical principles, legal obligations, and professional standards. Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice guide ethical practice, while the National Law enforces accountability through registration and conduct requirements. Professional standards foster ongoing development and collaboration, ensuring high-quality care. Consent, a cornerstone of patient rights, demands careful attention to communication and documentation. Collectively, these responsibilities safeguard patient welfare and public trust, preparing practitioners to meet the expectations of the ADC and the broader health care community.

References
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (2023) Annual Report 2022-2023. Canberra: AHPRA.

Dental Board of Australia (2022) Code of Conduct for Registered Health Practitioners. Melbourne: Dental Board of Australia.

Forrester, K. and Griffiths, D. (2019) Essentials of Law for Health Professionals. 4th edn. Sydney: Elsevier Mosby.

Graskemper, J.P. (2021) Professional Responsibility in Dentistry: A Practical Guide to Law and Ethics. 2nd edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Kerridge, I., Lowe, M. and Stewart, C. (2019) Ethics and Law for the Health Professions. 4th edn. Annandale: The Federation Press.

Khatri, R.B. and Assefa, Y., 2022. Access to health services among culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the Australian universal health care system: issues and challenges. BMC public health, 22(1), p.880.

Lee, R. (2021) ‘Peer Review and Professional Development in Dental Prosthetics’, Australian Dental Journal, 66(3), pp. 245-252.

Willis, E., Reynolds, L. and Keleher, H. (2020) Understanding the Australian Health Care System. 4th edn. Sydney: Elsevier.

Mathew, S., Fitts, M.S., Liddle, Z., Bourke, L., Campbell, N., Murakami-Gold, L., Russell, D.J., Humphreys, J.S., Mullholand, E., Zhao, Y. and Jones, M.P., 2023. Telehealth in remote Australia: a supplementary tool or an alternative model of care replacing face-to-face consultations?. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), p.341.

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Unit Study Guide

Qualification Code/s and Name/s HED004 Bachelor of Dental Prosthetics
Major / Minor / Specialisation Dental Prosthetics
Name of Unit Law, Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Unit Code DDB307
Core / Elective ☒ Core ☐ Elective
Pre-Requisite Units N/A
Co-Requisite Units N/A
Unit Type ☒ Standard ☐ Non-Standard
Year Level ☐ L1 ☐ L2 ☒ L3
Study Period ☐ S1 ☒ S2 ☐ Other
Attendance Mode ☒ On campus ☐ Off campus ☐ Blended
Delivery Location/s TAFE Queensland South Bank Campus
Unit Workload (Hrs) 12 hours per week
Credit Points for the Unit ☒ 10 cp ☐ 20 cp
Course Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5
Professional Accreditation Body Australian Dental Council

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which TAFE Queensland operates. We recognise the continuing connection to land, waters, cultures and kin that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples uphold. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, who give us strength, inspiration and guidance to deliver great training outcomes for all Queenslanders.

1

Academic Integrity
TAFE Queensland is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications, as such, assessment tasks may be subject to the application of TAFE Queensland’s online Plagiarism Checker.
To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about TAFE Queensland’s approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit’s Learning Management System (LMS) – Connect.
You have the responsibility to submit only work which is your own, or which properly acknowledges the thoughts, ideas, findings and/or work of others. The TAFE Queensland Student Rules and Policies outlines student responsibilities relating to academic work. Academic student misconduct is taken seriously at TAFE Queensland and includes such things as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, recycling of assignments and misrepresentation. Penalties for academic misconduct can vary in severity and can include being excluded from the course.
Referencing is an important component of academic work. All assessment tasks should be appropriately referenced. The specific details of the referencing requirements are included in each assessment task description. The appropriate referencing style for this unit is Harvard.
TAFE Queensland libraries provide information on presentation of assignments, including referencing styles (click here) and should be referred to when completing tasks in this unit.

Staff Contact Details

Teaching Team Staff Member Room Phone Email Consultation times*

Unit Convenor John Souza A
Block, 4th Level 32445005 John.souza@tafeqld.edu.au
Thursday (9:00am – 12:00pm)

Lecturer John Souza A
Block, 4th Level 32445005 John.souza@tafeqld.edu.au
Thursday (9:00am – 12:00pm)
*Other consultation times by appointment only.

Student Participation Requirements

The workload of this unit of study comprises timetabled hours and other attendance requirements, as well as personal study hours, including completion of learning activities and assessment requirements. A 10- credit point unit for example, will require, on average, between 130 and 150 hours of study-related participation (including class attendance) over the duration of the study period, irrespective of mode of delivery.

Note that attendance at specified classes/clinical/field or site visits may be a mandatory requirement for satisfactory completion of some units of study and that additional hours may be required per week for those students in need of English language, numeracy, or other learning support.

Other mandatory attendance requirements in this Unit are:

Attendance is strongly recommended for all lectures/ practicals and discussion sessions.

Key Dates

Census Date Last date to withdraw without academic penalty
14/08/2023 15/09/2023

Assessment Task Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3
Due Date 15/08/2023 26/09/2023 Final Exam Period

Unit Description
This unit aims to prepare students to learn the responsibilities that encompass their profession to the standards outlined in the National Law and the general ethical responsibilities as a registered health practitioner. An insight to professional conduct, obligations and services rendered by the dental prosthetist, based on the approach and professional standards that restrains ethical conflicts in both private and public sector. The unit also highlights the duties owed by the practitioner to the patients, fellow practitioners while safeguarding the interests of the public seeking oral rehabilitation.
The resources and problem based activities that will introduce strategies or precautionary measures to help reduce the prospect of disciplinary complaint brought against you. An obligation to optimal professional standard of services and the need for inter-professional relationships that protects patient’s interests and your application by virtue.
This course also includes general approaches to treat/ intervene and professional responsibility to seek consent from patient or power of attorney and their pros and cons.
Also, the aim of this unit is to ensure that graduating dental prosthetist are knowledgeable and observant to refer clients to other health care providers in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases.
At the completion of this unit the level of competency of students should reach those as outlined by the Australian Dental Council (ADC).

Unit Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

No. Learning Outcomes for this Unit Graduate Attribute Mapping Professional Standards Mapping
1. Summarise local and national regulations, codes, standards and acts that govern the provision of oral health services, employment and workplace practices in oral health service facilities 1, 3, 8 1, 2, 3, 6
2. Identify and be able to discuss ethical issues, and problems including wrongful treatment or assault in the clinical context and apply ethical principles to resolve such problems 1, 3, 8 1, 2, 3, 6
3. Critique the nature of professional practice, including engagement with the profession and the community, and acknowledge the importance of health promotion activities 1, 2, 3, 8, 10 1, 2, 3, 6
4. Outline methods of self-appraisal, obligation to National Law and reflection of clinical practice with a view to professional growth 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 1, 2, 3, 6
5. Apply range of communication skills in a professional and academic context 2, 3 1, 2, 3, 6

Approaches to Learning and Teaching
This unit engages you in learning by adopting an applied learning model that may include formal lectures on specific topics (face to face or online); practical application of the theory via tutorials; and peer-assisted support through group work.

There is online content through the Learning Management System (Connect) to assist in the consolidation of the curriculum. You are expected to engage regularly with the Connect site for this unit. Updates and announcements are made by your educators via Connect.
It is strongly advised, for successful completion and for professional accreditation of this unit, that you maintain at least 80% attendance and participation. Participation through active engagement with other students, and educators will afford students the maximum opportunity for success in this unit.
Non-attendance in the unit may affect your academic outcomes and progression through the course. It is your responsibility to regularly access and apply all content, irrespective of attendance.
Note: Absences from mandatory attendance requirements (practicums/clinics/placements/simulation activity, field trips etc.) are to be supported with a Medicate Certificate and Medical Impact Statement.
The Medicate Certificate and Medical Impact Statement are to be submitted to the Unit Convenor and must cover the date/s you were absent from a mandatory learning session. Mandatory attendance learning sessions are identified in this Unit Study Guide

Unit Feedback
As part of our commitment at TAFE Queensland to improving the quality of our courses and teaching, we regularly seek feedback on your learning experiences. Student feedback informs evaluation of unit and teaching strengths and areas that may need refinement or change.
The Unit Evaluation Surveys (UES) are usually conducted towards the end of the teaching period. Responses are fed back anonymously to the Unit Convenor and key Academic personnel to form the basis for unit enhancement and recognition of excellence in teaching.
Each course provides a report on their evaluation data; highlighting good practice and documenting how problems have been addressed.
Your practical and constructive feedback is a valuable inclusion in our review process. Please ensure you complete the UES for this unit. Refrain from providing personal feedback on topics that do not affect your learning experiences. Malicious comments about staff are deemed unacceptable by TAFE Queensland.
You can also provide feedback at other times to the Unit Convenor, Course Coordinator and/or through Student Representatives.
You can view a summary of past survey outcomes via the Connect site for this unit.
In response to previous student feedback, industry consultation and other data, the following enhancements to this unit of study have been made:

Student Support Services
TAFE Queensland recognises that the learning journey is different for each student and at times, you may need additional support. Student support services are available for all students. Click on the links below to locate contact details and services available.

Learning Support
Studiosity

Counselling
Mental Health and Wellbeing

AccessAbility
International Student Support

Indigenous Student Support
Library Services

Unit Learning Resources and Requirements
The following resources are required in this unit.
Student’s additional learning resources material will be available in the supplementary resources of delivery connect shell
Students are responsible for checking the DDB307 connect site and their student email on a regular basis for any updates and notifications. (Login website: https://connect.tafeqld.edu.au).

Each week students must actively participate in the discussion forums and complete the tasks allotted in their tutorial sessions and must participate the formative assessments that are available in LMS Connect delivery shell

Work Health and Safety
The following WHS is required in this unit.
Students must be aware of and follow WH&S guidelines and teacher/staff instructions regarding access and use of resources in lecture rooms and any text books within the TAFE Queensland library services. Please peruse the Student Rules and Policies that provide information on your rights and responsibilities as a student.

Required or Recommended Readings
Throughout this unit you may be directed to journal articles and unit specific research materials available on Connect. Selected readings, learning materials and other items of relevance will be made available in the learning platform CONNECT for all students.
Recommended Readings
• AHPRA 2010-2013, Dental Board of Australia, retrieved May, 2013 from http://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Policies-Codes-Guidelines.aspx
• Burt, BA & Eklund, SA 2005 Dentistry, dental practice, and the community. Elsevier Saunders, Missouri, USA.
• Forrester, K 2009, Essentials of law for health professionals. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Mosby, Chatswood, NSW.
• Graskemper, JP 2011, Professional Responsibility in Dentistry: A Practical Guide to Law and Ethics, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, U.K.
• Higgs, J, Ajjwi, R, McAllister, L, Trede F & Loftus, S 2008 Communicating in the health sciences. 2nd ed, Oxford University Press. Melbourne, Aust.
• Willis E, Reynolds L and Keleher H, Understanding the Australian Health Care System, 3rd edition, Elsevier. Australia.
• Kerridge, I, Lowe, M & Stewart C 2009, Ethics and Law for the Health Professions. 3rd ed. The Federation Press, Annandale, NSW.
• Rule, J.T., Veatch, R.M., 2004. Ethical Questions in Dentistry, Quintessence, USA
• Stewart, C, Kerridge, I & Parker, M 2008 The Australian Medico-Legal Handbook, Churchill Livingstone: Elsevier, Missouri, USA.

Additional reading materials will be provided during the semester on Learning and Management System (LMS).

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Assessment Methods
This unit may comprise a mix of formative and summative assessment activities.
Informal assessment (Formative)
The primary focus of this kind of assessment is on providing immediate and meaningful feedback to the students on their progress. Formative assessment can help students identify their strengths and weaknesses, targeting areas for improvement, and identifying support required.
Formative assessment can be used by educators to improve their teaching and provide timely information about the areas students are struggling with so that appropriate support can be recommended. Formative assessment does not count towards any results or final grades.
Formal assessment (Summative)
Summative assessments evaluate student learning, knowledge, proficiency, and success resulting in a mark or grade against established criterion. Summative assessments are designed to assess both the effectiveness of the unit and the learning of the student. These assessments count towards the final grade in a Unit of Study.
The assessment information below identifies whether an assessment task is formal or informal.

Your lecturer will provide you with detailed assessment instructions at the start of the semester. A summary of those is included in the tables below.
You are responsible for complying with TAFE Queensland’s assessment rules and complete assessment tasks honestly, having regard for academic integrity. You need to follow all assessment instructions, including submission details and retain a copy of your assessment items.
To give yourself the best chance of passing this unit, you should:
• attempt every assessment task;
• commence your assessment tasks sooner rather than later;
• submit assessments on or by the due date to avoid any late penalties;
• seek an extension or deferral for an assessment task in a timely manner.
• participate in class discussions and activities; and
• utilise the student support services available to you.
The Assessment Task Summary below will advise you of any special conditions associated with the assessment task.

Extension of Assignments
Examples of written assignments include:
• essays
• reports
• case studies
• laboratory reports
• take-home exams
If you are experiencing a compassionate and/or compelling circumstance requiring an extension of an assignment due date you must apply for a formal extension. Please contact your faculty administration to ensure you are using the correct form.

Deferral of Examinations
If you are experiencing a compassionate and/or compelling circumstance that prevents you from attending a scheduled examination, clinical demonstration or time-based practical application of skills and knowledge, you are required to submit a deferment request. Please contact your faculty administration to ensure you are using the correct form

All assignment extensions must be submitted in writing using the correct form and include all required documentation at the time of submission. Refer to the Connect site for the unit to locate the correct forms and procedures.
Failure to submit this request in a timely manner may result in your request being declined or delayed.

Late Submission
You should be aware that if you submit your assignment after the due date without an approved extension you will have your assessment mark reduced by five (5) percentage points per day from the total mark available, up to a maximum of seven days late. An assessment task submitted more than seven days after the due date will not be accepted and a zero grade will be awarded to the item.
For example:
If your assessment task is worth 40 marks, the penalty for late submission, if imposed, will be 2 marks (out of 40) for each calendar day after the due date.
So, an assignment given a mark of 30/40, but submitted two days late, will have 4 marks deducted, and therefore receive a final mark of 26/40.

Non-Submission
If you do not attempt a summative assessment task, and no extension or deferral has been approved, you will be awarded zero marks out of all available marks for that assessment task.

Word Count Limit
The word count for a piece of assessment includes all text after the title, with the exception of the cover sheet, reference list and appendices. Quoted material is included in the word count. A word count that is within ±10% of the set length (word limit) is acceptable.
A word count that is outside the 10% will be penalised through a reduction of 10% of the total mark available for the assessment; it will not be reviewed nor feedback provided for that portion of the submission that is beyond the ten percent (10%) word count.

For example:
An assessment task with a 1500-word limit receives a mark of 72 out of 100, but because the assessment task had an actual word count of 1700, a deduction of 10 marks (which is 10% of the total available) will apply. This brings the mark down to 62 out of 100.

Hurdle Assessment Tasks
A hurdle assessment task is an assessment requirement that must be satisfactorily completed in order to pass a Unit of Study, irrespective of the marks achieved by completion of other components of assessment in the Unit of Study.

Failing to pass the hurdle assessment task will result in a fail grade being awarded for the Unit of Study.

Mandatory Assessment Tasks
A mandatory assessment task is an assessment task that must be attempted. Failure to attempt a mandatory assessment task will result in a fail grade being awarded for the Unit of Study.

Absence from clinical practicums and/or other applied practice:
Students who do not advise TAFE Queensland and seek approval for any absence may be subject to an academic penalty. A marking penalty of thirty percent (30%) of the available marks in that task will be applied unless an explained absence has been approved by the Course Coordinator.

For example:

An assessment task with mandatory clinical attendance requires at least 80% attendance. You obtain a mark of 75 out of 100, but because you did not attend 80% of the sessions and did not explain your absence, a deduction of 30 marks (which is 30% of the total available) will apply. This brings the mark down to 45 out of 100.

Special Consideration
Students who believe their performance in an individual assessment task has been affected negatively by compassionate and / or compelling circumstances may apply for Special Consideration. Students requesting Special Consideration must complete the correct form. Eligibility to apply for Special Consideration does not automatically imply eligibility to receive it. You must satisfy criteria specified within the special consideration factsheet. Please ask your faculty administration officer for the form and fact sheet or down load them from the website under Higher Education Students.

Resubmission of assessment tasks is not generally available. Please contact the Course Coordinator if you think you have grounds for resubmission.

Students’ have a responsibility to ensure that they engage with generative AI ethically and sensibly and adhere to the assessment conditions for each assessment task. Claiming authorship over work that is not your own, without acknowledgement, is a breach of academic integrity. Part of academic integrity is being clear about how your work has been produced and not misrepresenting where information and ideas have come from.
AI is concerned with building machines capable of performing tasks intelligently by problem solving or completing tasks. It is a broad field that involves computer science, linguistics, mathematics, cognitive science, philosophy, neuroscience, and more.

• “AI is not a primary source of information, it is a language processing model. The information that AI generates is unreliable and must be reviewed critically for accuracy and appropriateness.
• Tools such as ChatGPT are commercially oriented and use any data that is entered by users to train their algorithms. This data is not treated as confidential or secure (e.g. it is possible that the information students enter into ChatGPT could be reported to TAFE Queensland).
• ChatGPT generates content from other content on the Internet. This means that generated content may constitute repurposed or stolen intellectual property.
• AI technologies cannot process knowledge, think or feel in the same way as a human, and may not address cultural contexts and social nuances in their responses.

AI can be a useful study tool, provided you engage with it critically and are mindful of the above ethical and integrity considerations” (Adopted from Monash University).

Submission
Refer to the assessment instructions for information on how to submit your assessment. Submission methods for written assessments may include:
• Electronic (via Connect) submission process.
o Be sure to read the submission guidelines prior to commencing a task; including file types the system will accept, file name and formatting requirements, etc
• Hard copy – hand delivered submission process:
o by the student during class time.
o by the student outside scheduled class time.
When submitting hard copy written assessment items, you should obtain evidence that your submission has been accepted.
Marking/Outcome
Unless otherwise specified in the assessment Instructions, you should normally expect your marked assessment to be returned to you within 15 working days of the original due date, if your assessment was submitted/attempted on time. Assessment tasks that are submitted/attempted late or have an approved extension may not be marked and returned within this time frame.
If an assessment task is submitted on time but not returned within the 15 working days, you should make enquiries in the first instance to the Unit Convenor. If the Unit Convenor is not available, please direct your request to the faculty administration.
Note: This excludes final examinations.
If you wish to query a result, refer to the student rules for the appropriate processes and timeframes.
Return of Assessment

Refer to the assessment instructions for information on how your assessment will be returned to you. Generally:
• Assessments submitted electronically will be marked and returned electronically
• Hard copy assessments, unless they are being retained, may be returned to you:
o by the educator during class, in person.
o by the educator outside scheduled class time, in person.
When collecting hard copy assessment items, you will be required to provide evidence of your identity (Student Id/Driver Licence etc.) and you will need to acknowledge in writing receipt of a returned assessment.

Feedback can be provided to you in a number of ways depending on the nature of your assessment. This may include individual feedback via comments written on submissions, via discussion forums, and voice or video comments within electronic submissions. General feedback for the cohort may also be provided via the Announcement tool on Connect once all submissions have been marked and results returned to students.
Additional Feedback
Where you are not satisfied with the adequacy of the feedback about your work and require further comment, you first need to ensure that you have taken advantage of all forms of feedback available.
You may seek informal further feedback by making a written request (email) to the relevant Course Coordinator, within five (5) working days of receipt of your assessment feedback, which outlines:
• what feedback has been received and why it is considered inadequate;
• the steps that you have taken to obtain additional feedback; and/or
• any exceptional circumstances that have prevented you from accessing all available feedback.

This unit requires:
•

Some units of study in this course have inherent requirements. These are the fundamental abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to achieve the learning outcomes of a unit while preserving the academic integrity of the course as a whole.
Students and prospective students must be able to constantly demonstrate that they have acquired or have the ability to acquire the inherent requirements for their course.
Reasonable adjustments may be made to assist students to manage additional circumstances impacting on their studies provided these do not change the academic integrity of the course. These could include additional time in invigilated assessments, provision of a laptop during invigilated examinations or a scribe for invigilated examinations.
Reasonable adjustments do not alter the need to be able to demonstrate the inherent requirements of the course.
Students who believe they will experience challenges completing their unit or course because of a disability, health condition or other reason should discuss their concerns with a Student Services team member sooner rather than later as there may be professional accreditation requirements associated with a course.
In the case where it is determined that inherent requirements cannot be met with reasonable adjustments, the Student Services staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.

The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of each learning outcome. The following is a summary of your assessment tasks in this unit.
Please refer to the detailed assessment task instructions and relevant rubrics for further detail about each task. These documents are available on Connect under the Assessment Tab in the left-hand side tool bar.
Your lecturer will provide you with detailed assessment instructions at the start of the semester. A summary of those are outlined below.
For any assessment assistance, you are able to use the services of Studiosity. Studiosity is a free service available to all enrolled students that provides assistance across a broad range of areas, to help you get started on your assessments.

Assessment task No. 1

Type Examination – Quiz
Description Topics for this assessment include: Introduction of law for health professionals, Australian health care system, scope of practice, ethics and professionalism, ethical principle and values, code of conduct, structured professional relationship, disparities, public and private funding, .
• Individual students must complete a multiple choice quizzes on the topics assigned from lecture 1 to lecture 6 (also stated above).
Unit learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Professional competencies 1, 2, 3, 6
Hurdle task Yes
No
Mandatory task Yes
No

Weight 20%
Word limit or Duration 60 minutes
Penalty As above
Due date 7the September 2023
Individual/group Individual Group
Both
Cover sheet required Yes
No
Submission process Hard copy in classroom Return process In person feedback

Assessment task No. 2

Topics:
• Code of conduct and code of ethics.
• Professional and patient relationships, concise patient records
• Patient rights, consent, legal guardian and power of attorney
• Functions of industry associations, DBA and ADC,
• Competencies and compliance of Dental Prosthetist
• Public and private dental servicesin Australia
• Risk Management for dental practitioners
• Compensation systems, Ombudsman and Criminal law issues
• Professional misconduct and insurance fraud
• Scope, Ethics, and Professionalism for dental Prosthetist
• Recognise, manage conflicts and resolution
• Refusal and withdrawal of treatments, wrongful treatments and intentional torts
• Registration standards for Dental Prosthetists and Professional indemnity insurance.
• Negligence, Assault (by patients and by practitioners) and damage control,
• Complaints- types; acknowledgments and appraisals procedures
• Audit, appraisal and accreditation of practices
Unit learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Professional competencies 1, 2, 3, 6
Hurdle task Yes
No
Mandatory task Yes No

Weight 30%
Word limit or Duration 20 minutes
Penalty As above
Due date 5th October, 12th October 19th October, 2023
Individual/group Individual
Group
Both
Cover sheet required Yes
No
Submission process Oral presentation and On Connect Return process Feedback on Connect

Assessment task No. 3
Type Examination – written response
Description Lectures 5 to 12 and topics on:
• Legal concepts of dental prosthetist, registration and regulation, as independent health practitioners
• Recognise, manage conflicts and resolution
• Refusal and withdrawal of treatment, wrongful treatments, negligence, intentional torts.
• Risk Management, compensation systems, Ombudsman and Criminal law issues
• Contractual and industry elements for Prosthetics, Role of dental council and dental boards
Unit learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Professional competencies 1, 2, 3, 6
Hurdle task Yes
No
Mandatory task Yes No

Weight 40%
Word limit or Duration 120 minutes
Penalty As above
Due date Final Exam Period
Individual/group Individual Group
Both
Cover sheet required Yes
No

Submission process Hard copy Return process Feed In person feedback

Graded/Non-Graded Assessment
This unit of study incorporates a Graded result. Specific criteria are used to judge the level of performance, against the assessment criteria. An assessment rubric or marking guide will be provided for each piece of assessment (where relevant) to assist the students’ success in this unit.
The following grade scales are used for final grades in a Graded Unit of Study. The front information able in this Unit Study guide will tell you whether this unit is considered “Standard” or “Non-Standard”, for the purposes of grading.

Grades Point Standard Unit of Study Non-Standard Unit of Study
High Distinction 7 85-100% 90-100%
Distinction 6 75-84% 80-89%
Credit 5 65-74% 70-79%
Pass 4 50-64% 60-69%
Marginal Fail 3 35-49% 50-59%
Fail 2 21-34% 21-49%
Low Fail 1 0-20% 0-20%

Non-graded Units of Study and/or individual assessment tasks or completion requirements are graded as SH – Satisfactory or UH, Unsatisfactory.

Moderation
Assessment items and final grades will be reviewed through moderation processes. It is important to be aware that assessment is always subject to final ratification following the examination period and that no single result represents a final grade in a unit.
Plagiarism Checker
The TAFE Queensland Plagiarism Checker will be used in this unit, in order to enable:
• students to improve their academic writing by identifying possible areas of poor citation and referencing in their written work; and
• academic staff to identify areas of possible plagiarism in students’ written work.
While the plagiarism checker can help in identifying problems with plagiarism, avoiding plagiarism is more important. Information on avoiding plagiarism is available from Student Support Services.
For any assignment that has been created to allow submission through the Plagiarism Checker (check the Assignment submission details for each assessment task), you should submit your draft well in advance of the due date (ideally, several days before) to ensure that you have time to work on any issues identified by the checker. On the assignment due date, educators will have access to your final submission and the Originality Report of your submission.

TAFE Queensland Graduate Attributes
TAFE Queensland is committed to supporting students to develop a range of attributes that, upon successful completion of your course, will enable you to participate effectively in the workforce and contribute positively to the community in which you live. Each unit in your course contributes in some way to the achievement of the following TAFE Queensland Graduate Attributes.
1. Critical and Reflective Thinkers
2. Ethical, Culturally and Socially Responsible
3. Active, Independent and Life-Long Learners
4. Creative and Innovative Thinkers
5. Knowledgeable and Skilled
6. Communicators, Collaborators and Leaders
7. Information and Digital Literate

Course Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes for this course are:
1. Integrate theoretical and technical dental prosthetics knowledge in removable prosthodontics, pathology, anatomy, histology, prosthetic practices, pathophysiology, pharmacology and radiology.
2. Exercise judgment to resolve a range of straightforward problems as well as some more complex problems in dental prosthetics.
3. Critique issues and communicate outcomes to a range of audiences, both dental prosthetists and non-dental prosthetists.
4. Critically apply theoretical and technical knowledge in removable prosthodontics, pathology, anatomy, histology, prosthetic practices, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and radiology to solve a broad range of routine and some complex problems in dental prosthetics.
5. Evaluate and reflect on performance to identify and act upon opportunities for self-improvement.

Professional Standards/Competencies (as prescribed by the accrediting body)

Content in this unit incorporates a number of professional requirements as defined by the Professional Competencies which are available here.

Learning Schedule What will be covered in each class / session?
This learning schedule is a guide only and is intended to assist you in successfully completing this unit of study. It provides information about the activities you are required to complete in association with your lecturer/tutor (guided delivery) as well as activities to be completed in your own time and the suggested timeframes. Please note, the sequence of some topics may change due to staff availability, resourcing, or due to unforeseen circumstances.

Week Week Beginning Topic Covered / Content Learning and Assessment Activities
1 3rd July Orientation and Lecture Introduction to Ethics and Professionalism
2 10th July Australian health care system and Dental Prosthetist Tutorial and discussion on private and public health and disparity
3 17th July Ethical theory and philosophy
4 24th July Ethical Principles and values
• Ethical Principles and values, ethical decision making, principles of justice, capacity and confidentiality, practice by virtue.
5 31st July Code of Conduct and code of ethics
• Disparities and Professionalism (interlinked): Initiatives for ADP, DBA and QLD Health.
6 7th August Accreditation standards, state dental practices, disparities and private health insurance
7 14th August Legal Concepts for health professionals
Mid Semester Break
8 28th August Professional and patient relationships, consent
• ADP-Patient and ADP-employer/ employee relationships Power of attorney and guardianship,
9 4th Septmber Risk Management, compensation systems and criminal law issues
10 11th September Refusal and withdrawal of treatment, wrongful treatments, negligence, intentional torts.
Mid Semester Break

Week Week Beginning Topic Covered / Content Learning and Assessment Activities
11 25th September Assessment task 2: Poster presentation and written assignment (in report format) on Medico-legal issues in oral health.
12 2rd October Contractual and industry elements for Prosthetics, Role of dental council and dental boards.
• Role of council and dental board controlling services delivered by ADP. Employee-employer contracts
13 9th October Registration and regulation of ADP as health practitioners
14 16th October Review and feedback for assessment 2
Study Week (23rd October to 3rd November)
Final Exam Block (6th November to 17th November)

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