Unit of competency Outline
Information current as of
20/10/2026 3:56 PM AWST
20/10/2026 3:56 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Provide information and strategies in oral health
Provide information and strategies in oral health
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTAHW423B
HLTAHW423B
State Code
D5685
D5685
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
22/07/2011
Original Release Date
25/03/2011
Nominal Hours
40
Field of Education
061305 - Indigenous Health
Description
This unit describes the competencies required to conduct health promotion related to oral health as part of primary health care services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communitiesSpecific advice provided may be limited by close supervision or established guidelines in line with community needs and health provider guidelines
General notes
N/A
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Provide information and guidance related to oral health
- 1.1 Provide accurate information to the community about oral health and risk factors related to oral health
- 1.2 Provide information about the importance of regular oral checks, dental hygiene, causes and prevention of oral diseases and the need to follow up oral problems
- 1.3 Discuss issues relating to the impact ofdiet on oral health
- 1.4 Discuss importance of oral health in relation to specific client groups, such as young mothers, children, adolescents, those with chronic diseases, including diabetes
- 1.5 Provide information on available oral health care resources and services, including specialist resources
2. Demonstrate oral hygiene techniques and aids
- 2.1 Demonstrate presence of plaque
- 2.2 Demonstrate a variety of relevant oral hygiene techniques and the use of appropriate aids and explain their advantages in terms of achieving and maintaining effective oral hygiene
- 2.3 Assist clients to use relevant techniques as appropriate
- 2.4 Give clients the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback about information provided and techniques demonstrated
- 2.5 Encourage clients to follow effective oral hygiene programs
3. Follow up oral health promotion
- 3.1 Evaluate oral health promotion in line with organisation guidelines and community requirements
- 3.2 Maintain client confidentiality in line with organisation guidelines
- 3.3 Regularly update and maintain records of oral health care programs according to organisational policies and procedures
- 3.4 Implement strategies to improve oral health in line with community requirements and organisation guidelines
RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Cultural respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Oral health education programs may include, but are not limited to:
Prescribed home fluoride treatments
Recommended toothpaste, toothbrush and oral hygiene aids for home use
Modifications due to disability and aged care requirements
Age dependent modifications for children
Causes and prevention of oral diseases may include, but are not limited to:
Role of plaque in development of dental caries and periodontal disease
Risk factors in development of dental caries, periodontal disease and non-carious tooth wear
Role of mouthguards in the prevention of trauma to dentition
Risk factors of cigarette smoking on oral soft tissues
Risk factors in diet related to the development of dental caries
Role of saliva in the prevention of dental caries
Oral hygiene techniques may include, but are not limited to:
Manual and electric tooth brushing technique
Use of dental floss
Use of fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses when appropriate
Use of other specific oral hygiene aids when appropriate
Modifications to toothbrush handles for specific needs of client/carer
Modifications to application of program for carers of special needs and aged care clients
Modifications for young children
Modifications to techniques required for clients wearing oral appliances
Issues relating to diet and oral health may include:
Impact of cariogenic and low pH food, including:
level of intake
frequency of intake
consistency
content
Importance of reviewing current dietary habits
Oral diseases targeted in an oral health program may include those for:
Dental caries (decay of dentition)
Periodontal disease ( supporting structures of dentition)
Non carious tooth wear
Damage to dentition due to trauma
Damage to oral tissues due to cigarette smoking
Effects of low salivary flow
Appropriate aids may include:
Range of manual and electric toothbrushes
Range of oral hygiene aids, including a range of dental floss
A range of toothpastes
Range of mouth rinses
Face mirror for client
Strategies to improve oral health may include:
Collection of data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing oral health problems
Identification of relationships between oral health and nutrition, demography, culture, socio-economic status and general health
Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to improve oral health
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Cultural respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Oral health education programs may include, but are not limited to:
Prescribed home fluoride treatments
Recommended toothpaste, toothbrush and oral hygiene aids for home use
Modifications due to disability and aged care requirements
Age dependent modifications for children
Causes and prevention of oral diseases may include, but are not limited to:
Role of plaque in development of dental caries and periodontal disease
Risk factors in development of dental caries, periodontal disease and non-carious tooth wear
Role of mouthguards in the prevention of trauma to dentition
Risk factors of cigarette smoking on oral soft tissues
Risk factors in diet related to the development of dental caries
Role of saliva in the prevention of dental caries
Oral hygiene techniques may include, but are not limited to:
Manual and electric tooth brushing technique
Use of dental floss
Use of fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses when appropriate
Use of other specific oral hygiene aids when appropriate
Modifications to toothbrush handles for specific needs of client/carer
Modifications to application of program for carers of special needs and aged care clients
Modifications for young children
Modifications to techniques required for clients wearing oral appliances
Issues relating to diet and oral health may include:
Impact of cariogenic and low pH food, including:
level of intake
frequency of intake
consistency
content
Importance of reviewing current dietary habits
Oral diseases targeted in an oral health program may include those for:
Dental caries (decay of dentition)
Periodontal disease ( supporting structures of dentition)
Non carious tooth wear
Damage to dentition due to trauma
Damage to oral tissues due to cigarette smoking
Effects of low salivary flow
Appropriate aids may include:
Range of manual and electric toothbrushes
Range of oral hygiene aids, including a range of dental floss
A range of toothpastes
Range of mouth rinses
Face mirror for client
Strategies to improve oral health may include:
Collection of data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing oral health problems
Identification of relationships between oral health and nutrition, demography, culture, socio-economic status and general health
Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to improve oral health
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Related units:
This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Related units:
This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application
No information