The oral health discipline is a branch of medicine that involves research, preservation, diagnosis and treatment of a person’s oral health and function. A career in oral health can be challenging, yet rewarding. Providing relief of pain and enabling people to smile are just some of the benefits to a career in oral health. Working as a clinician in oral health requires clinical competence, ethical behaviour, cultural awareness, and excellent communication, empathy and building a rapport with the patient based on trust. Oral health is continually developing with new evidence based recommendations on the care of patients. Therefore clinicians need…

Dentist/Ngaio Niho A dentist can examine, diagnose and treat diseases, trauma and other problems of the oro-facial structures. Treatment may also require referral to other dental specialists. Becoming a dentist, may also lead on to specialisation, academic research or teaching pathways. Working independently as your own boss or within a supportive setting such as the hospital are just some of the options available after graduating. There are just over 2000 registered dentists working in NZ, of which 55 or 2.8% of those surveyed in 2009 by NZDC identified their ethnicity as Māori. Entry Requirements: A Bachelor of Dental Surgery or…

There are plenty of organisations, tertiary institutes, government agencies and iwi trusts who are giving away money to students; all you need to do is apply. The eligibility criteria amongst the scholarships will differ slightly, and a little effort is required to apply, but the financial support enables you to focus on what is important, your study. There are a lot of databases advertising secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships. Below are a few possible website avenues for directing your efforts, however the list is not exhaustive so please do not limit further research into other avenues. www.matatini.co.nz/scholarship www.fis.org.nz/index.php?page=BreakOut www.otago.ac.nz/study/scholarships www.aut.ac.nz/study-at-aut/fees,-scholarships-and-finance/scholarships…

  Ngā Mōkai O Ngā Whetū is the NZ Māori Dental Students' Association, that was founded in 2007, and set up by the students', for the students', to help support and promote participation, development and success of all Māori students in Oral health. The association includes postgraduate and undergraduate students from all fields in Oral health, including Dentistry, Dental Specialities, Dental Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Dental Technology, Bachelor of Oral Health. The logo above was designed by Raniera Ellison in 2016, and symbolises bringing things to fruition; being guided by the heavens in creating their will; moving in a way of…