Dentistry & Health Sciences
Mrs Helen Tane
Cert DT, PG Cert TT, MPH
Position Lecturer - Oral Health Therapy
Campus Wagga Campus
Office Building 4 Room 113
Phone (02) 6933 4207
Fax (02) 6933 2835
EMAIL HELEN TANE
Biography
In 2004 Helen graduated with a Master Degree in Public Health from the School of Medicine, University of Otago, while she was Head of Discipline for the Dental Therapy Programme 1999 – Dec 2005 in the School of Dentistry. She was a founding member of New Zealand’s Maori Dental Association, held office as the Treasurer for seven years, and is now a life-time member of the association. While in Otago, Helen progressed New Zealand’s first degree for dental therapists to the postgraduate diploma in dental therapy, and assisted medical and dental students studying issues relating to public oral health. Having studied education and sociology part time while her three daughters were young, and previous to the academic appointment when she was a practising dental therapist, Helen built on the knowledge in education and completed a postgraduate certificate in tertiary teaching also. Helen was appointed as an Advisor to the Ministry of Health from 2000 – 2005, where she assisted with forming public oral health policy. With an indigenous ancestry, Helen has enjoyed working closely with Maori and Pasifika communities, and furthered indigenous connections when Alaska sent groups of students to study dental therapy at the University of Otago. In 2004, the WHO funded a course to update dentists’ and dental therapists’ knowledge in the Cook Islands, which was lead by Helen. With an in-depth knowledge of the dental therapy curriculum, the Dental Council of New Zealand utilised Helen’s ability to critique applications from overseas dentists and dental therapists who wished to practise in New Zealand. When New Zealand’s first dual degree in dental therapy and dental hygiene was offered at AUT University, Helen was appointed the Programme Leader, where she also enjoyed teaching the final year clinical paper to registered dental therapists as an opportunity for their continuing professional development. For many years, Helen has acknowledged the need to work closely with high-need communities, taking students into rural areas in New Zealand, and further a field to India. Helen has been invited to speak at numerous New Zealand and Australian dental therapy, dental hygiene and public health conferences. In March 2009, Helen joined Charles Sturt University staff, where she is assisting with the development of the new Bachelor in Oral Health at Wagga Wagga.