Graduate Diploma in Forensic Odontology

Standard full-time or part-time, on-campus program taken over two or four extended semesters in Adelaide.

Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Forensic Odontology is intended for practising dentists who wish to gain experience in the professional field of forensic odontology. The program has been designed with an emphasis on the practical aspects of Forensic Odontology.
Graduates will become competent to provide an important service to the community in both civil and criminal jurisdictions with an in-depth understanding of the correct professional handling, examination, interpretation and presentation of dental and oral evidence which may come before the legal authorities. This requires lateral thinking, good communication skills and knowledge of procedural aspects of the work and awareness of the potential legal outcomes from your results.
The nature of the concepts and casework required are often confronting and may be distressing to some people. Prospective students should consider this aspect before applying.

Program Details

This program commences in January each year with a period of orientation followed by a one week intensive course in Research Methods and Ethics. After some initial introductory seminars supervised case work will commence. Case work experience will be supported by seminars and discussions.

Program Options

1.    Full time, on campus 2 semesters
2.    Part time, on campus 4 semester

Program Delivery

Academic staff will provide orientation to the City of Adelaide and the North Terrace campus including the library, the School of Dentistry and the Adelaide Dental Hospital.  During this period students will enrol, meet other postgraduates, staff and mentors, and will be set up with IT facilities, access to building and student rooms. Assistance will be provided to students with applications for Dental Board registration, radiation licence and other professional requirements.

Research Methods and Ethics 2 units

• internal, semester 1
• five-day intensive teaching block late January or early February 
• will incorporate literature searches and databases, Evidence-based Dentistry and the Cochrane Library with Dr Michael Draper in the Barr Smith Library 
• this intensive block also allows Graduate Diploma students to work with postgraduates students in other programs and to meet a range of teaching and research staff 
• students are required to attend, and are encouraged to present at, the School’s research presentation day

Principles and Methods of Forensic Odontology 6 units

• internal semester 1
• a series of seminars held twice a week covers areas such as: history and role of forensic odontology in community dentistry, legal systems and the role and jurisdiction of Courts of Law, the coronial system and practice of the Coroner's Office, expert evidence, methods of investigation of civil and criminal matters, relationship of police to forensic odontology, preservation and recovery of dental evidence from scenes, principles and techniques of video and computer imaging in cranio-facial superimposition, age estimation techniques, procedures for investigation of bite marks and the principles of disaster victim identification.
• assessment is by seminar participation, essay or written examination.

Case work in Forensic Odontology 6 units

• internal, semester 1 and 2
• students perform and report on casework, including Coronial oral autopsies, bite mark examinations and age estimations. Preparation of case records and reports will be required for all cases. Attendance at the city mortuary and Courts of Law is required.
• assessment is by casework performance, case-book, seminar presentation, essay/ and viva voce 

Integrated Forensic Science 6 units

• internal, semester 2
• this subject introduces students to the range of forensic disciplines used by police and legal services. Students develop an understanding of the overall management of a crime investigation, and an awareness of the place of forensic odontology in an investigation. The importance of teamwork is emphasized. 
• assessment is by seminar participation and essay

Forensic Odontology Research 4 units

• internal, semester 1 and 2
• self-directed research
• reading as directed by supervisor and attendance at seminars with other postgraduates 
• assessed by satisfactory completion of research presentation and report

Barr Smith Library 

The University of Adelaide Library has an extensive dental / oral health collection housed on the North Terrace campus where you can also access related materials from other collections such as medicine, engineering and science.
With 1300 study seats and 150 computing workstations students can readily find a place to study and to access electronic resources when on campus.  When not on campus, the catalogue, online resources and many online dental journals can be accessed via the home or office computer.

Forensic Odontology Library

Collection of books, reference papers and forensic journals housed at the Unit.

Communication

Face-to-face
Discussion Boards
One-to-One and Group
Phone and Fax
Paper and Post
E-Mail and Myuni

Resources available on MyUni

All enrolled students have access to courses on the electronic teaching platform MyUni, which provides such information as:

• electronic course materials
• links to copyrighted documents held in the main Library’s catalogue 
• library information 
• sample case reports and guidelines, and information on history taking and diagnosis 
• guidelines for reviewing scientific and clinical research publications/articles, scientific writing, and seminar presentations 
• staff and mentor contact information 
• easy e-mail communication for students, mentors and staff 
• platform for formal and ad hoc online discussions

Eligibility

Applicants must

• hold a Bachelor of Dental Surgery or equivalent
• have at least two years post graduation clinical experience

Applicants may be local or international.

Fees

• full fees (local) AUS $26 784 (for 2009)
• full fees (international) AUS $41 000 (for 2009)

Local students may be eligible for Commonwealth Government support via the FEE-HELP loan scheme.  The University defers the up-front fees to the loan and repayments by the student are managed by the University and the Australian Taxation Office.

Formal Enrolment

• students will need to enrol online via Access Adelaide.  Assistance will be provided with this process.
• students will be enrolled full-time over two semesters or part-time over four

The two semester plan of enrolments, showing course units, is as follows: 

Registration with the Dental Board of South Australia

Candidates will have, ‘limited’ or ‘full” registration depending on whether they are local or international, Australian or overseas-qualified.  Registration will be at the student’s own expense.

Radiation Licence

Candidates with limited and full registration will need to obtain radiation licences from the Radiation Protection Division, Environmental Protection Division.  Licensing will be at the student’s own expense.

Professional Associations

Students in this Graduate Diploma program will be encouraged to become members of the Australian Dental Association (SA Branch Inc) (ADASA), Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS,) and Australian Society of Forensic Odontology (AuSFO). 

Contact Information 

For further information or an application form contact:
Administrative Officer
Graduate School
Ph  08  8303 6069
Fax  08  8303 3444
dental.graduate@adelaide.edu.au

Program Co-ordinator

Dr Helen James
Senior Lecturer
Forensic Odontology
Ph   08 8303 5431
Fax  08 303 4385
helen.james@adelaide.edu.au