Dr Kay Franks
Honorary Lecturer
School of Health Sciences (Oral Health)
Career Summary
Biography
Kay Franks is a registered oral health therapist with extensive clinical practice and managerial experience in the public sector. Kay has qualifications in dental therapy, dental hygiene, business management and tertiary education. Kay completed her PhD in 2019.
Kay has worked in areas throughout NSW, in rural, remote and metropolitan areas providing quality oral health care for populations that were often under-serviced and many in low socio-economic areas. A confident and capable practitioner, she often mentored younger, less experienced operators and as a result developed an interested in teaching.
Kay has worked external to oral health in a role that designed and delivered vocational education to dental and allied health professionals. During this stage of her working life, Kay designed and delivered a training course for dental assistants working with dentists and oral surgeons in operating theatres on the NSW, Central Coast. assistants working with
A leader in the profession Kay was active in the Dental and Oral Health Therapist Association for many years. During her terms as President from 2004 - 2010, she was instrumental in enabling dental therapists to gain private practice rights in NSW. The combination of therapy and hygiene qualifications saw Kay lead a change in name and format of the professional association to support a changing workforce. In later years, Kay provided an advisory service for ADOHTA NSW.
Kay was an clinical tutor at the University of Sydney and an external examiner for Central Queensland University. She is currently a member of the assessors pool for the Australian Dental Council (ADC) and a member of the assessment committee for the Dental Council of NSW.
Kay is a member of the Senior Smiles preventive oral health research team and has contributed to services on the NSW, Central Coast.
A love of teaching has seen Kay lead the first service - learning oral health student placement program to Cambodia in 2017 and 2018, where Kays clinical expertise provided students with a learning experience that can't be replicated in Australia. Leading a team of staff and students, Kay inspires and motivates students to achieve clinical competency in working conditions that are third - world. The experience builds resilience, compassion and a desire to help communities that are in need. This student placement experience returns students who have developed and grown professionally and personally.
Kay's PhD in the area of oral health and diet and nutrition. This is an area of great need and an area that potentially can have a positive effect on preventing dental disease. Her PhD is entitled, The Development of an Educational Resource to Increase Oral Health Therapy Students Knowledge, Skills and Delivery of Dietary and Nutritional Advice as Part of Preventive Oral Health Care. Kay has presented her research at national and international conferences and holds two 'first prizes' for posters submitted to international conferences in Northern Ireland and Singapore.
As part of the oral health therapy quality management team Kay is the clinical tutors educator providing orientation and continuing education in the areas of student feedback and self - reflection in practice.
A highly valued member of the oral health therapy program, Kay is committed to excellence in teaching and producing safe and ethical oral health therapists that can operate at the top of their scope of practice.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy in Oral Health, University of Newcastle
- Certificate in Dental Care of Children, Health Commission of NSW
- Registered Dental Practitioner, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
- Diploma of Business (Frontline Management), NSW Health
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Newcastle
- Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies, University of Newcastle
- Master of Educational Studies, University of Newcastle
- Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology, Curtin University
Keywords
- Education
- Indigenous oral health
- Nutrition and oral health education
- Oral Health
- Oral health therapy
- aged care oral health
- education and curriculum development
- overseas student placements
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|
Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Health Sciences Australia |
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/12/2008 - 30/11/2010 | Acting education and training consultant - allied health | Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS) Australia |
2/6/2008 - 31/12/2010 | Oral Health Therapist | Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS) Australia |
30/11/2002 - 31/12/2008 | Manager Child Dental Services | Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS) Australia |
3/1/1989 - 31/12/2002 | Senior Dental Therapist | Central Coast Health Australia |
1/1/1981 - 3/1/1989 | Dental Therapist | Central Coast Health Australia |
1/1/1981 - 3/1/1983 | Dental Therapist | Northern Metro Health Region Australia |
1/1/1980 - 31/12/1981 | Dental Therapist | Inner Sydney Metro Health Region Australia |
1/1/1979 - 31/12/1980 | Dental Therapist | Murray Health Region Australia |
Teaching appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/1/2015 - 31/12/2015 | Lecturer/clinical tutor | UON Australia |
1/11/2010 - 31/1/2014 | Education manager, vocational education and training | Northern Sydney Central Coast Health Australia |
3/6/2008 - 30/11/2009 | Clinical educator/lecturer | The University of Sydney Australia |
Awards
Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
2006 |
Services to Dental Therapy Dental Therapists Association Inc |
Prize
Year | Award |
---|---|
2019 |
Second Prize -Poster Asia Pacifc Oral Health Therapy Conference Singapore Association for Oral Health Therapists Singapore |
2019 |
Third Prize Poster Asia Pacific Oral Health Therapy Conference Singapore Association for Oral Health Therapists Singapore |
2017 |
First Prize - Poster - British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy Belfast,UK British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy |
2017 |
First Prize - Poster - Asia Pacific Oral Health Therapy Singapore Oral Health Therapists Association Singapore |
2007 |
Aboriginal Oral Health Award - Koori Kids Koori Smiles NSW Health |
Professional
Year | Award |
---|---|
2007 |
Life member Dental and Oral Health Therpists Association NSW Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association Inc |
Invitations
External Examiner
Year | Title / Rationale |
---|---|
2019 |
External Examiner for Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy Final Year Students External Examiners for the Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Central Queensland |
2017 |
External Examiner for Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy Final Year Students External Examiners for the Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Central Queensland |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (7 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2021 |
Franks K, Baines S, Taylor J, Wallace J, 'Creating preventive practitioners: an investigation into teaching diet and nutrition education in Australian Bachelor of Oral Health programmes', Annual Clinical Journal of Dental Health, 10 16-21 (2021) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
2020 |
Church L, Franks K, Wallace J, 'Australian oral health therapy students' experience of an overseas placement', Annual Clinical Journal of Dental Health - The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, 16-20 (2020) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
2019 |
Franks K, Wallace J, Taylor J, Baines S, 'Diet and nutrition education as part of preventive oral healthcare: exploring Australian dental and oral health therapists experiences in contemporary practice', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Dental and Oral Health Therapy, 7 24-28 (2019) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
2015 |
Yi Mohammadi JJ, Franks K, Hines S, 'Effectiveness of professional oral health care intervention on the oral health of residents with dementia in residential aged care facilities: a systematic review protocol.', JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep, 13 110-122 (2015)
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Show 4 more journal articles |
Conference (20 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
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2020 |
Wallace J, Franks K, Griffiths S, 'Senior Smiles : a preventive model of oral health care for older people living in residential aged care facilities', Senior Smiles : a preventive model of oral health care for older people living in residential aged care facilities, Sydney, Australia (2020)
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2020 |
Wallace J, Griffiths S, Franks K, 'Calvary Retirement Communities Leadership Workshop', Newcastle, Australia (2020)
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2019 |
Wallace J, Griffiths S, Franks K, 'NSW Nurses and Midwives Association annual seminar - aged care', NSW Nurses and Midwives Association publication on-line, Waterloo, Sydney (2019)
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Show 17 more conferences |
Media (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 |
Wallace JP, Franks K, Wallace L, Mohammadi J, McLaren L, '''Senior Smiles'' oral health program: a short documentary', (2016)
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Other (3 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 |
Wallace J, Higgins D, Wallace L, Franks K, Taylor J, 'Service-learning, oral health students and the experiential learning opportunities during non-traditional placement', Service-learning, oral health students and the experiential learning opportunities during non-traditional placement ( issue.1 pp.15-15) (2018)
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2017 |
Franks K, Baines S, Taylor J, Wallace J, 'Diet and Nutrition Education: Key Community Messages for improving oral health', . Singapore: Asia Pacific Oral Health Therapy (2017)
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2016 |
Franks K, Taylor J, Baines S, 'Entry knowledge of Bachelor of Oral Health students on diet, nutrtion and preventive oral health care', Entry knowledge of Bachelor of Oral Health students on diet, nutrtion and preventive oral health care. BSDHTUK Northern Ireland (2016)
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Presentation (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
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2017 |
Franks K, Baines S, Taylor J, Wallace J, 'Key community messages for improving oral health', (2017)
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Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 2 |
---|---|
Total funding | $12,926 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20201 grants / $8,264
Alliance Across Borders $8,264
Funding body: Alliance for Oral Health Across Boarders
Funding body | Alliance for Oral Health Across Boarders |
---|---|
Project Team | Janet Wallace, Sarah Griffiths, Kay Franks |
Scheme | Alliance for Oral Health Across Boarders |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | C3212 - International Not for profit |
Category | 3212 |
UON | N |
20181 grants / $4,662
PhD write up assistance $4,662
Funding body: SHS 2018 Strategic Pilot Grant
Funding body | SHS 2018 Strategic Pilot Grant |
---|---|
Project Team | Kay Franks, Jane Taylor, Surinder Baines, Janet Wallace |
Scheme | SHS 2018 Strategic Pilot Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Masters | How Readily are Dietary Messages Accepted by Type II Diabetic Patients with Periodontal Disease when Delivered by a Dental Practitioner at the Chairside? An Intervention. | M Philosophy (Oral Health), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2019 | Honours | Does a disconnection exist between the dietary choices of oral health students and the dietary messages the students are educated to provide to their patients? | Other Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Honours | Cambodia the first experience: How were a BOHT cohort impacted by their overseas placement? | Other Health, UON | Co-Supervisor |
Research Projects
The Healthy Kids Cambodia Project (Oral Health) 2017 - 2021
The Healthy Kids Cambodia project is a collaboration with the University of Newcastle's Bachelor of Oral Health program to provide oral health care to children in Phnom Penh Cambodia.
Edit
Dr Kay Franks
Position
Honorary Lecturer
School of Health Sciences
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Focus area
Oral Health
Contact Details
kay.franks@newcastle.edu.au | |
Links |
YouTube Personal webpage |
Office
Location | Ourimbah 10 Chittaway Road Ourimbah, NSW 2258 Australia |
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