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As graduates of dentistry’s ‘Class of 2025’, Griffith University classmates Demi-Lee Muir and Peter Carrigy are ready to forge ahead on their career paths, while still being there for each other. By Seth Adamson
For Griffith University dental students Demi-Lee Muir and Peter Carrigy, graduation marks both an ending and a beginning. After five years of study, they’re stepping into the profession with fresh skills, clear ambition and a determination to find their way as new dentists.
As fellow students at Griffith’s Gold Coast campus, Muir and Carrigy found in each other a trusted peer. Muir, who first studied biomedical science before transferring into dentistry, took a by-the-book approach that focused on the patient’s perspective. Carrigy, who had served six years in the army and studied both pharmacy and nursing before committing to dentistry, offered additional experience as well as a mature perspective.
Now, having graduated from Griffith’s Class of 2025, the pair are ready to enter the workforce—but still be there for each other because both agree peer support at this time can be just as valuable as formal mentorship.
Demi-Lee Muir
“I never imagined I would end up in dentistry. At Griffith, I started out in biomedicine because I loved science but wasn’t sure what path to take. Then I met uni friends studying dentistry, and as I learned more about it, I realised so much of what I enjoyed aligned with dentistry. I applied, got in, and I love it.
“After studying for five years, it feels right to now be stepping out into the workforce and start applying everything I’ve learned. We’re now at a point when you’re making your own clinical decisions, diagnosing, treatment planning, and working with patients more naturally.
“Once my registration comes through, I will begin a new role at a south Brisbane practice. Finding the right practice mattered as I wanted a place with strong mentorship, supportive colleagues and room to grow in my own areas of interest.
“As exciting as starting work is, it’s also daunting and that’s why the relationships you built with other students at uni matter, and that applies to Peter. Over the years, we’ve bounced ideas off each other, collaborated on projects and learned from one another’s different perspectives. The way he operates is a good lesson in getting things in order first so that everything runs smoothly.
As much as you need mentors in the workplace, having friends who are also navigating the new graduate experience is important. Peter is someone I have always bounced ideas off or talked through different perspectives with, and I am sure that will continue.
Demi-Lee Muir
“Peter came into dentistry with a wealth of experience from his life before university, and that gives him the ability to connect easily with people. Watching him with patients, I’ve seen how he makes people feel at ease, and that can transform a nervous patient into a trusting one.
“I’ve also observed how meticulously he prepares. Peter never walks into a clinic session without having thought through exactly what he’s going to do. That level of preparation means he’s calm, efficient, and focused. Patients pick up on that confidence as a level of trust has already been created.
“Having a peer like Peter has been invaluable. I’ve also learned dentistry is not just about clinical skills; so much is also about attitude. No matter what’s going on for him personally, Peter brings positivity into his interactions with his patients.
“I plan to do further study in the future, and I can also see Peter going back to do study in some capacity. He has the curiosity and drive to keep pushing himself.
“As much as you need mentors in the workplace, having friends who are also navigating the new graduate experience is important. Peter is someone I have always bounced ideas off or talked through different perspectives with, and I am sure that will continue.”
Peter Carrigy
“I grew up in a family of dentists, with the profession often the topic at the dinner table, but I didn’t plan to follow that path. After finishing school, I began a pharmacy degree but then took what was meant to be a gap year in the army, which became six years. I trained at Duntroon, became an officer, and while I valued the experience, realised I risked becoming institutionalised. That pushed me to try something new, so I began a nursing degree.
“Halfway through nursing, I got the offer to study dentistry at Griffith. At that point, I was only 18 months away from qualifying as a nurse, but I knew I had to make the change and dentistry, finally, felt like the right fit. So in 2021, I began studying and now at 32, I’m about to graduate.
“One of the most valuable lessons of dental school has been communication. From the beginning, there was a strong emphasis on building rapport with patients. Taking the time to explain treatment plans and earn their trust is essential to shaping the way a patient feels about their care.
“As I prepare to step into the workforce, I’m focused on finding the right practice for me. I want to be somewhere that both challenges and supports me. Mentorship is a huge priority and over the coming years, I want to build my skills across the full scope of general dentistry and learn from people who not only have the experience but also remember what it felt like to be a graduate.
As we both graduate, I know Demi-Lee is someone I’ll stay in touch with. Having former classmates you can call on makes a big difference and I know I’ll reach out to her for advice, to share experiences and to compare occasional notes.
Peter Carrigy
“One of the best parts of dental school has been the cohort I studied with, and Demi-Lee has been the kind of classmate who makes you want to lift your game. She knows exactly where she wants to go and she’s incredibly motivated. Being around someone with that level of focus has kept me motivated to work harder and keep improving.
“I’ve also taken a lot from the way Demi-Lee approaches her patients, as everything with her comes back to providing the best possible care. I’ll never forget a conversation one day when she asked me, ‘If you were having a filling, would you want a rubber dam in your mouth?’ Of course, the answer was yes, but her simple question was a reminder to always put yourself in the patient’s shoes and deliver the standard of care you’d want for yourself.
“What also stands out about Demi-Lee is she’s so diligent but still willing to ask for help when she needs it. Dentistry should never be about ego, and watching her in action has reminded me that being a good dentist means balancing confidence with the awareness that you’ll always keep learning.
“As we both graduate, I know Demi-Lee is someone I’ll stay in touch with. Having former classmates you can call on makes a big difference and I know I’ll reach out to her for advice, to share experiences and to compare occasional notes. That camaraderie can be just as important as formal mentorship.”
