You may be a dentist who has just employed a new graduate - a dualskilled oral health therapist (OHT) or a dental hygienist (DH). As their first employer, you are in a unique position in which to influence a person who will be entering into the oral health workforce for the first time. Admittedly, some graduates are former dental assistants or have worked as dental assistants in order to support themselves during their university studies, but for the vast majority, this is their first position as an oral health professional in Australia. Their experiences of working in your practice, with your staff and with your patients will have a dramatic impact on the rest of their working lives. The purpose of this article is to ensure that the experience of oral health therapists and dental hygienists in their formative years is a positive one for all concerned.