Senior Receptionist and Appointment setter

East St Kilda Dental is looking for a warm, confident and highly capable Dental assistant and Dental Receptionist to become an important part of our growing practice.

We are looking for someone who genuinely loves people, builds trust naturally, communicates exceptionally well, takes ownership of the appointment books, and wants the opportunity to grow with the clinic based on their performance and contribution.

You will often be the first person a new patient speaks to. That means your role matters.

A great conversation can be the difference between someone continuing to put off their dental care and someone finally feeling comfortable enough to come in. We want someone who understands that.

What you will own

Patient relationships and new enquiries

Create a warm and memorable experience from the very first interaction

Speak with inbound leads and new patient enquiries

Build rapport and trust over the phone

Ask thoughtful questions to understand what the patient actually needs

Help nervous, hesitant or uncertain patients feel comfortable

Follow up enquiries that have not yet booked

Guide suitable patients toward booking without pressure or scripts

Build genuine relationships with existing patients

Help strengthen patient loyalty and long-term retention

Manage dentist and hygiene appointment books

Identify gaps and proactively work to fill them

Maintain cancellation and short-notice lists

Follow up overdue recalls

Follow up unscheduled treatment

Reconnect with patients who have fallen out of regular care

Help reduce cancellations and failed attendance

Think ahead about upcoming capacity and opportunities





Work closely with the clinical team to keep schedules running efficiently

If you see a two-hour gap tomorrow, your instinct should be: Who can we help, who needs treatment, and how can I fill it?

The kind of person we are looking for

Skills matter, but personality and mindset matter just as much.

Naturally warm and personable

Someone patients remember

Confident and engaging on the phone

Comfortable having real conversations rather than reading from scripts

Empathetic but commercially aware

Proactive rather than waiting to be told what to do

Organised and dependable

Comfortable taking ownership

Good at solving problems

Interested in understanding how a successful dental practice operates

Motivated by improvement, responsibility and growth

We particularly value people who can combine care with initiative. You should be able to make someone feel completely looked after while also understanding that healthy appointment books, strong patient retention and responsive follow-up are critical to a successful practice.

This role can grow

For the right person, this does not need to remain a traditional reception position.

As the clinic grows, there will be opportunities to take on greater responsibility based on your strengths, performance and contribution.

New patient coordination

Appointment book performance





Recall and reactivation systems

Practice operations

Training new team members

Leadership responsibilities

We believe responsibility should grow with capability. If you perform, take ownership and help us build a stronger practice, we want your opportunities within the clinic to grow as well.

About East St Kilda Dental

East St Kilda Dental is an established community dental practice serving St Kilda East and surrounding areas.

We provide comprehensive general, preventive, restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

We want to build a practice where patients do not feel like numbers. They should feel known, remembered and cared for.

We are equally focused on building a solid team culture where good people are trusted, developed and given opportunities to grow.

What success looks like

New patients feeling comfortable before they ever walk through the door

Enquiries being followed up rather than forgotten

Appointment gaps being actively worked

Patients returning because they feel connected to the practice

Clinicians having productive, well-managed books

The front desk running calmly and professionally

The clinical team knowing they can rely on you

You taking on more responsibility as your capability grows

Hours

(Insert full-time / part-time hours and preferred days)

Flexibility may be available for the right person.

Remuneration

Salary: $75K-$85K + superannuation, with potential performance-based bonuses available on top.

There is also genuine scope for increased responsibility, progression and remuneration based on performance, contribution and the impact you make within the clinic.

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📌 Senior Receptionist and Appointment setter (Melbourne)
🏢 East St Kilda Dental
📍 Melbourne