Dylan Vanuffelen
"Moving countries right after finishing your degree isn't the easiest thing to do, but I've had a lot of support since arriving, and that's made the transition much smoother. I'm lucky to be in a workplace where I can openly seek guidance with the team around me."
"It definitely helped with the transition — just having someone to talk to who's going through the same experiences, we’re looking forward to where this journey takes us."
When Dylan Vanuffelen landed at Hobart Airport, he’d never set foot in Australia before.
He arrived from New Zealand, where he had grown up, having just completed his studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Dylan was stepping into the unknown — but with a sense of curiosity that has always steered him well.
"Moving countries right after finishing your degree isn't the easiest thing to do," he says now. "But I've had a lot of support since arriving, and that's made the transition much smoother. I'm lucky to be in a workplace where I can openly seek guidance with the team around me. That's been great."
Dylan now lives in Launceston working at the Northern Dental Centre and Kings Meadows clinics. As a new graduate oral health therapist, he provides dental care for young patients under 18 years.
"I've been very busy making the leap from student to clinician," he says. "That part's definitely full on. I enjoy new experiences, and I’ve been spending my time improving my clinical skills and balancing work life.”
Dylan always knew he wanted to work in healthcare. After finishing school in Palmerston North he moved to Dunedin in New Zealand’s South Island to study Health Sciences — a foundation year that feeds into medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and other allied health professions. “Health sciences helped navigate the pathways that suited me best. Oral health ticked the boxes.”
He was drawn to the community focus of oral health therapy, which is a profession that combines preventative care with treatment, and often involves outreach in schools and regional clinics. "I wanted a job where I could support communities and make a difference, especially being inclined to support paediatric care.”
"It's rewarding work," he says. "Especially when you're helping kids. I had a lot of dental work myself as a child, so I know what difference it can make to have a good experience early on. Making sure kids feel comfortable in the dental chair can go a long way in terms of how they view their oral health in adulthood."
The decision to begin his career in Tasmania came after a well-timed presentation during his final year of study. At the time, Dylan was planning to stay in New Zealand but after hearing about what was on offer in Tasmania, something clicked.
"I didn't expect to move to Australia, let alone Tasmania," he says. "But once I started thinking about it, the opportunities for growth really stood out. The graduate program, the professional development, and the relationship you have with dental officers here — it just felt like a good fit that would let me grow clinically."
As a new grad, there are so many different directions you can take. The degree is the same but it's what you do with it that matters. For me, working somewhere that really needs the support, where you gain experience and at the same time you can actually make a difference, that feels meaningful.
Tasmania's size and lifestyle also appealed. "I've always lived in smaller cities, so Launceston didn't feel like a big adjustment," he says. "And I really enjoy being able to get out into nature: the beaches, the walks, the outdoors in general."
That decision was made even easier by the fact that Dylan wasn't making the move alone. Priyanka, a fellow oral health graduate from Otago, has also relocated to Tasmania to begin work. "We went through uni together and we're now sharing a home here, which has been great," he says. "It definitely helped with the transition — just having someone to talk to who's going through the same experiences, we’re looking forward to where this journey takes us."
The pair have been making the most of their time off, exploring local favourites like Ben Lomond and Low Head, and discovering Launceston's food scene.
Dylan knows not everyone would choose to start their career in a different country, or in a smaller city like Launceston. But he's confident it was the right choice for him.
“I think especially as a new grad, there are so many different directions you can take.
The degree is the same but it's what you do with it that matters. For me, working somewhere that really needs the support, where you gain experience and at the same time you can actually make a difference, that feels meaningful."
With Priyanka by his side, fulfilling work in a supportive team, and a whole island still to explore, Dylan is happy to call Launceston home, and excited for all the exciting opportunities ahead.
Dylan is featured in partnership with our friends at Department of Health Tasmania.
We worked with southern Tasmanian writer Ruth Dawkins and northern Tasmanian photographer Nick Hanson for this Tasmanian story.
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