Ms Melanie Hayes

Biography

Melanie is a Lecturer in the Bachelor of Oral Health program at the University of Newcastle. She completed her Bachelor of Oral Health in 2007, and then completed an Honours program achieving First Class honours and a Faculty Medal. She is currently completing a PhD examining the occupational health of dental hygienists, with a particular focus on musculoskeletal pain. Melanie has had a number of papers published in peer reviewed journals, co-authored a book chapter and presented her research at a number of national and international conferences.

Melanie is also currently practising as a dental hygienist in Newcastle.

Melanie has been an active member in the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia since graduating, and was the President of the New South Wales Branch from 2010-2012. She currently chairs the Dental Hygiene Research Fund Advisory panel for the National Branch of the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours), University of Newcastle, 2008
• Registered Dental Practitioner - Dental Hygienist, Dental Board of Australia, 2010
• Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Newcastle, 2007

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Research

Research keywords

• Dental hygiene
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Oral health

Research expertise

Melanie has completed an honours program, investigating musculoskeletal disorders among dental hygiene students. She is currently completing a PhD investigating musculoskeletal disorders in the dental hygiene profession.

Melanie alse co-supervises honours students from the Bachelor of Oral Health program.

Languages

• English

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
110599	Dentistry Not Elsewhere Classified	100

Memberships

Editorial Board.

• Member - International Journal of Dental Hygiene

Awards

Honours.

2009	Faculty Medal University of Newcastle (Australia) Outstanding achievement in Honours program
2009	High achievement in end-on honours University of Newcastle (Australia) High achievement in end-on honours program

Other

2009	Australian Postgraduate Award Australian Government (Australia) Scholarship for PhD studies

Recognition.

2008	Golden Scaler Award Hu Friedy (Australia) Clinical excellence in the Bachelor of Oral Health

Research Award.

2009	Award for research Denstply (Australia) Achievements in oral health research

Invitations

Musculoskeletal pain and the dental professional. NSW Health Oral Health Continuing Professional Development Day Westmead Centre for Oral Health, NSW, Australia, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2012
Musculoskeletal injuries in dental hygienists. The Safety Conference. Sydney, NSW, Australia, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2012
Musculoskeletal pain and dental hygienists: Putting loupes under the microscope. Dental Hygienists Association of Australia National Symposium. Brisbane, QLD, Australia, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2012
Work related pain and the oral health practitioner. Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association International Conference. Canberra, ACT, Australia, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2012
A blind date with knowledge: A personal experience in oral health research. Dental Hygienists’ Association of Australia National Symposium. Darwin, NT, Australia, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2011
Hayes MJ, Smith DR, Taylor JA. Musculoskeletal disorders among the Australian dental hygiene profession. (Oral Presentation) International Association for Dental Research, ANZ Division. Kiama, NSW, Australia, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2010
External examiner - dental hygiene University of Sydney, Australia (External Examiner.)	2010
Hayes MJ, Smith DR, Cockrell D. Prevalence and correlates of musculoskeletal disorders among Australian dental hygiene students. (Poster presentation) International Symposium on Dental Hygiene. Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2010
Musculoskeletal disorders in the dental profession: A real pain in the neck. NSW Dental and Oral Health Therapists Professional Development Day. Terrigal, NSW, Australia, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2009
Hayes MJ, Smith DR, Cockrell D. Prevalence and correlates of musculoskeletal disorders among Australian dental hygiene students. (Poster presentation) 16th International Student Congress of Medical Sciences (ISCOMS). Groningen, The Netherlands, Netherlands (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2009

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

Academic placement liaison for the Bachelor of Oral Health Program.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Dental hygiene
• Oral health

Teaching expertise

Lecturer in the Bachelor of Oral Health program since January 2010.

Course co-ordinator for:

HLSC1000 Transition to Health Sciences Education and Practice (Interdisciplinary course)

ORHL1001 Oral health and ill health

ORHL1004 Communicating oral health messages

ORHL2002 Oral Pathology

ORHL3001 Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice 1