Oral hygiene bootcamp – fundamentals for aged care workers
Oral hygiene bootcamp – fundamentals for aged care workers

- State or territory TAS, VIC, WA, ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA
- Type of program Online, Bootcamp
- Sector relevance Residential aged care, Home and community care, Retirement living and seniors housing, CHSP providers
- Topic relevance Wellness and reablement, Home care, Clinical, nursing, care management, Safety, quality and compliance, Customer service
Workshop overview
Poor oral health is common among older people and can significantly impact overall health, nutrition, comfort and quality of life. In keeping with the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, this practical bootcamp is designed to improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of aged care workers supporting older people with oral hygiene.
Participants will observe practical approaches to cleaning natural teeth and dentures and explore oral hygiene products and digital tools such as Smilo.ai to support ongoing oral health monitoring and care.
Using a trauma-informed approach, participants will learn communication and support methods that promote dignity, choice and comfort during oral hygiene assistance. Specific strategies for supporting persons living with dementia will be explored, helping workers reduce distress and encourage participation in care routines.
By the end of the session, participants will have practical, workplace-ready strategies to help maintain oral hygiene, prevent decline and support better health outcomes for older people.
Who should attend?
Frontline aged care workers across all settings
The outcomes are:
- Understand the link between oral and general health
- Apply a trauma-informed approach in care
- Learn how to clean natural teeth and dentures
- Use correct methods for removing and storing dentures at night
- Develop strategies for supporting persons living with dementia
- Identify available dental products and aids
- Explore the Smilo.ai digital health app
- Determine when to refer for dental treatment
Date: 24 August 2026
Time: 12-1pm AEST
Ageing Australia member price
$198.00 incl. GST each
Non member price
$257.50 incl. GST each
Note – Registration is one ticket per participant and all participants are required to access training on individual devices.
Who is facilitating?

Adjunct Associate Professor Leonie Short
CertDT, DipClinHyp, BA(UOW), MHP(UNSW), GradCertHSM(Aged Care)(UTAS), Seniors Dental Care Australia / Oral Health Care Training and Education
Leonie M. Short is a registered dental therapist and has held academic and research positions at universities in NSW, Qld and the NT. She played a key role in establishing several dental programs, including Australia’s first new dental school in 57 years at Griffith University. Currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University, she has secured over $4m million in research grants and published widely. Leonie has worked extensively in aged, home, and disability settings since 2014, providing oral health care and training.
Booking terms and conditions
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Cancellations, refunds, substitutions and transfers
Ageing Australia’s learning and professional development (L&PD) products are delivered subject to sufficient registrations, as stipulated by available tickets against each event, and tickets can be purchased directly from the what’s on page.
Training session viability of each advertised session is assessed prior to the scheduled date of delivery, when a decision is made regarding continuation or cancellation. When a training session is cancelled due to insufficient numbers or circumstances outside of the control of Ageing Australia, a full refund will be paid, directly to the customer who has made the initial purchase.
A full refund is also available if a participant withdraws from a training session, 14 or more days prior to the session being delivered, on the condition, that the customer has contacted , to inform regarding their intention to withdraw. No refunds or transfers will be considered without notification prior to the commencement of a training session. Late notifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
An organisation may choose to substitute a participant of a previously paid session, by emailing , 24 hours prior to the commencement of the training session. Full details of the substituted participant must be provided.
Payment terms
It is a condition of registration that participants pay full payment at the time of booking via credit card or by invoicing by prior arrangement. All payments must be finalised prior to commencement. Registrants who have outstanding payments will not be able to participate. Upon registration, a tax invoice will be emailed to the person making the booking.
Aligns to the following strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
- Standard 1 - The individual
- 1.1 Person-centred care
- 1.1 Person-centred care
- Standard 3 - Care and services
- 3.1 Assessment and planning
- 3.2 Delivery of funded aged care services
- 3.1 Assessment and planning
- Standard 5 - Clinical care
- 5.4 Comprehensive care
- 5.5 Safety of clinical services
- 5.4 Comprehensive care
- Standard 6 - Food and nutrition
- 6.2 Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences
- 6.2 Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences



