Leanne Smith
Huntington Heights Estate, Doonside,NSW
Summary
An experienced Research Officer and Oral Health Therapist with a PhD in Oral Health.
A strong focus on teamwork, organisational and communication skills. I work independently while respectfully reporting to the Project Lead.
Primarily involved with projects that aim to improve the oral health outcomes of disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups through improved access to services.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Assessor (casual)
Australian Dental Council
11.2024 - Current
- Second Assessor within a team to undertake program accreditation.
Research Officer
The University of Sydney
08.2021 - Current
- Support the projects Chief Investigator.
- Draft and support grant applications to provide comprehensive funding for research objectives.
- Plan and develop research study protocols.
- Prepare ethics applications (protocol, survey instruments, letter of Invitation, consent forms, patient information sheets).
- Prepare and submit ethics applications and amendments to appropriate HRECs using various online portals.
- Conduct literature reviews to inform research design and ensure relevance to current industry trends.
- Co-author of publications in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing the impact of the team's research efforts on advancing knowledge in the field.
- Referencing using EndNote.
- Format and submit manuscripts for publications.
- Create and distribute surveys using REDCap.
- Date exports, reports and statistics through REDCap.
- Review interview and focus group schedules.
- Organised and facilitate meetings.
- Develop the meeting agenda and transcribe minutes.
- Organise events associated with research activities.
- Establish strong working relationships with stakeholders, facilitating communication and collaboration on research projects.
- Mentor junior researchers, fostering professional growth and enhancing team dynamics.
- Write high-end reports (final reports, progress reports).
- Develop presentations to share insights and recommendations with stakeholders.
- Prepare and facilitate the discussions for Consumer Representative Focus Groups to better understand customer needs and behaviours.
- Quantitative and qualitative research (data collection and analysis).
- Liaise between departments to ensure timely dissemination of critical information relevant to ongoing projects.
- Development and preparation and of scripts oral health videos.
- Coordinating the filming of oral health videos.
- Development of online modules from initial draft through to editing in H5P.
- Design oral health resources.
- Organising the promotion of projects on social media.
- Daily project organisation, administration and project management.
- Contribute to Population Oral Health meetings.
Oral Health Therapist
Vivid Dental
07.2012 - Current
- Improve patient oral health by providing comprehensive dental care with adult scope.
- Maintain up-to-date patient records, including medical histories and treatment plans, to facilitate accurate diagnoses and tailored treatments.
- Develop strong rapport with patients through empathetic listening, clear communication, and excellent bedside manner.
- Educational presentations about oral health at local schools and childcare facilities.
- Mentor new staff members by sharing knowledge and best practices in oral health therapy, enhancing the overall quality of care.
- Enhance patient satisfaction through thorough assessments and tailored treatment plans for optimal results.
- Conduct interviews for new team members.
- Write and develop team newsletters.
- Write and design social medica posts.
- Organise the development of practice resources.
Lecturer in Oral Health
The University of Newcastle
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Develop strong relationships with colleagues, collaborating on curriculum development and sharing best practices in teaching strategies.
- Evaluatd student progress through regular assessments, providing detailed feedback for improvement and growth.
- Select and design lesson plans and curriculum to meet academic objectives.
- Prepare and deliver lectures.
- Prepare and deliver tutorials.
- Part of the organisation team for national conference.
- Development and delivery of presentations at conferences.
Sessional Academic
The University of Newcastle
05.2013 - 05.2016
- Clinical Tutor in simulation clinic, clinical placement and on-site dental clinic.
Dental Hygienist
Dentique Dental Solutions
09.2013 - 01.2016
Dental Hygienist
Specialist Dental Centre
09.2012 - 01.2016
Sessional Academic, The Wollotuka Institute
The University of Newcastle
05.2013 - 12.2013
- Individual tutorial support for the Graduate Diploma in Dental Therapy program in 2013.
- Provide culturally respectful teaching to maximise educational outcomes.
- Part of the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme.
Education
Ph.D. - Oral Health
The University of Newcastle
Ourimbah, NSW07-2020
Post Graduate Diploma - Dental Therapy
The University of Newcastle
Ourimbah, NSW12-2012
Bachelor of Oral Health With Distinction - Oral Health
The University of Newcastle
Ourimbah, NSW12-2011
Professional Service Activity
- AHPRA registered dental practitioner.
- DHAA Association member.
- DHAA past committee member.
- Guest Lecturer The University of Sydney.
- Guest Lecturer The University of Newcastle.
- Accepted invitations to review manuscripts (various Journals).
Publications
- Smith L, Blinkhorn A, Moir R, Brown N, Blinkhorn F. An assessment of dental caries among young Aboriginal children in New South Wales, Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2015;15:1314.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn A, Brown N, Blinkhorn F. Comparing the caries prevalence between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous children in remote New South Wales, Australia: a cross sectional study. Archives of Health Science. 2018;1(1):1-9.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn F, Blinkhorn A, Hawke F. Prevention of dental caries in Indigenous children from high-income countries (protocol). The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Dental and Oral Health Therapy. 2015;1:7-10.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn F, Blinkhorn A, Hawke F. Prevention of dental caries in Indigenous children from World Health Organization-listed high-income countries: a systematic review. Health Education Journal. 2018;77(3):332–348.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn F, Moir R, Brown N, Blinkhorn A. ‘Smiles not Tears’: a dental education program in New South Wales for young Aboriginal children. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Dental and Oral Health Therapy. 2016;1:6-11.
- Higgins D, Smith L, Masoe A, Wallace J. The PhD journey: is it for you? Report of a facilitated panel discussion and conference presentation. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Dental and Oral Health Therapy. 2015;2:21-25.
- Blinkhorn F, Wallace J, Smith L, Blinkhorn A. Developing leaflets to give dental health advice to Aboriginal families with young children. International Dental Journal. 2014;64:195–199.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn F, Moir R, Brown N, Blinkhorn A. User assessment of an early childhood oral health education training course for Aboriginal Health Workers. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. 2016;54(4):172-183.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn F, Moir R, Blinkhorn A. Results of a two year dental health education program to reduce dental caries in young Aboriginal children in New South Wales, Australia. Community Dental Health. 2018;35(4):211-216.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn A, Moir R, Brown N, Blinkhorn F. Evaluation of an oral health education program for young Aboriginal children: feedback from parents, Aboriginal Health Workers and managerial staff. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. 2020;58(2):92-103. doi: 10.1080/14635240.2019.1680306.
- H Calache, R Martin, C Loton, M-W Taing, K Mc Namara, L Smith, B Christian. Integrating oral health into primary care: a proof-of-concept for dry mouth management in the Australian community pharmacy setting. Australian Dental Journal 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.13054.
- H Man, A George, A Ghanbarzadegan, M Taing, A Masoe, L Smith, W Sohn, B Christian. Oral Health Educational Interventions for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Staff: A Scoping Review. Health and Social Care in the Community. Under Review.
Conference Presentations
- Smith L. Assessment of dental caries among young Aboriginal children in New South Wales. Caring for Country Kids, Alice Springs, 18-19 April, 2016.
- Smith L, Blinkhorn A, Blinkhorn F. Caries prevalence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in remote New South Wales, Australia. College of Oral Health Academics, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, 28-29, September 2017.
- Smith L. Prevention of dental caries in Indigenous children from high-income countries: a systematic review. Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Showcase, Sydney, 1 November, 2017.
- Smith L, Smiles not Tears oral health promotion program. 2014 International Indigenous Oral Health Conference, Adelaide, 27-29 August, 2014.
- Smith L, Moir R. Smiles not Tears dental education program. Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Showcase, Sydney, 28 July, 2016.
- Wallace J, Higgins D, Smith L, Masoe A. The PhD journey: is it for you? Facilitated panel discussion and conference presentation at the Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists’ Association New South Wales, ‘Cutting Edge Oral Health’ conference, Port Macquarie, 25-27 September, 2014.
- Smith, L. Assessment of an early childhood oral health education training course for Aboriginal Health Workers. ADOHTA NSW, 2016 State Conference, ‘Working Together’, Wollongong, 29 April, 2016.
- Smith L. Results of an education program to prevent dental caries in Aboriginal children. 6th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium ‘Outback Infront’, Canberra, 11-12 April, 2018.
- Smith L. Results of an education program to prevent dental caries in Aboriginal children, School of Health Sciences Research Day, Newcastle, 6 July, 2018.
Relevant Courses and CPD
- Qualitative Measures in Health Research,The University of Newcastle, PUBH 6210, 2013
- Biostatistics A, The University of Newcastle, BIOS6910, 2015
- Best Practices in Qualitative Healthcare Research, Lumivero, 2024
- Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods: What is Qualitative Research (Module 1), 2024
- Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods: Developing a Qualitative Research Question (Module 2), Yale University, 2024
- Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods: Interviews (Module 3), Yale University, 2024
- Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods: Focus Groups (Module 4), Yale University, 2024
- Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods: Data Analysis (Module 5), Yale University, 2024
- Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods: Scientific Rigor (Module 6), Yale University, 2024
Timeline
Assessor (casual)
Australian Dental Council
11.2024 - Current
Research Officer
The University of Sydney
08.2021 - Current
Lecturer in Oral Health
The University of Newcastle
01.2017 - 01.2019
Dental Hygienist
Dentique Dental Solutions
09.2013 - 01.2016
Sessional Academic
The University of Newcastle
05.2013 - 05.2016
Sessional Academic, The Wollotuka Institute
The University of Newcastle
05.2013 - 12.2013
Dental Hygienist
Specialist Dental Centre
09.2012 - 01.2016
Oral Health Therapist
Vivid Dental
07.2012 - Current
Ph.D. - Oral Health
The University of Newcastle
Post Graduate Diploma - Dental Therapy
The University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Oral Health With Distinction - Oral Health
The University of Newcastle
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