Delivery Mode: Online

ACECHO – AOD Collaborative ECHO

The AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO) partnership involves VAADA, Turning Point, and Goulburn Valley Health. This dedicated ECHO for Victorian AOD state-funded services aims to enhance the capabilities of AOD workers in addressing substance use issues among their clients. The primary objective of these sessions is to foster a community of AOD workers with varying levels of expertise, united by the shared goal of improving the well-being, and achieving positive outcomes, for individuals with problematic substance use.

Conducted under the guidance of Turning Point, each session commences with a presentation delivered by a Turning Point expert or a related professional, focusing on a specific topic. This is followed by an in-depth case consultation, during which attendees have the opportunity to ask questions or offer recommendations based on a case study presented by one of the participants.

ACECHO Timetable 2024 (February – July)

 

19th June, 2024

Is substance use the sign of an underlying problem, and is the underlying problem trauma?
Presenter – Vicky Phan

Trauma exposure, PTSD and related mental health problems frequently co-occur with substance use disorders. This presentation will discuss how to assess and treat these common issues in contemporary AOD practice settings, with a focus on trauma-focused psychotherapy approaches.

Vicky is an Addiction Psychiatrist working at Turning Point Eastern Treatment Services, a lecturer for the Master of Addictive Behaviours course at Monash University and Chair of the RANZCP Faculty of Addiction Psychiatry Victorian Subcommittee. Vicky has worked in AOD and mental health services in both NSW and Victoria, and believes in a holistic and person-centred approach when working with people and their families. Her areas of special interest include mental health comorbidity, harm reduction, pharmacotherapy, training and education.

 

Launch zoom meeting

 

Submit a Case Presentation to ACECHO

Case presentations by participating healthcare providers are the cornerstone of the ECHO model. Presentations are always followed by an open Q & A discussion of the case and recommendations by the hub team. To submit a case study, click Go to Form.

Go to Form

 

Family Inclusive Practice for working with Young People: Half-day Workshop

Working effectively with young people includes engaging with their social and cultural ecosystems to build resources that can sustain them into the future. This training outlines a framework for family inclusion where practitioners can better understand their role in relationship to families and communities.

Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding how engaging with families can improve outcomes for young people
  • Keeping the family in mind when care planning
  • Strategies for enhancing communication and strengthening relationship bonds

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including Peer and LLE workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as family violence, homelessness, mental health, and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend,  cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

No-shows will be charged a $50 cancellation fee.

Youth Mental Health 201 – Crisis Presentations half-day workshop

In this session, we will work to break down the “crisis” nature of acute presentations, learn how to support and respond to young people and assist them in linking in with appropriate care. We will also cover safety planning, developing our crisis response skills and what programs can do to support their workers and young people in crisis situations.

Building on Mental Health 101, this session covers how to identify and respond to crisis presentations, including:

  • Self-harm
  • Active psychosis
  • Suicidal ideation

This half-day session is designed for non-clinical youth and AOD workers.

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including Peer and LLE workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as family violence, homelessness, mental health, and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend,  cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

No-shows will be charged a $50 cancellation fee.

Youth Mental Health 101 – Half-day Workshop

Youth workers have a key role in the early intervention of mental health issues and in assisting clients to develop skills to improve their mental wellbeing. In this session, you will increase your knowledge of our client group’s most prevalent health issue and develop practical strategies that both you and your centre/program can implement to improve the mental health outcomes of young people.

This half-day session is designed for non-clinical youth and AOD workers.

Practical, no-jargon training on how to:

  • Identify mental health issues
  • Assist clients to link in with the care they need
  • Support them on their journey

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including those who are new to the AOD sector or recently employed under the COVID-19 Workforce Initiative and Peer workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as family violence, homelessness, mental health, and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend,  cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

No-shows will be charged a $50 cancellation fee.

 

2-Day Harm Reduction Masterclass

Harm Reduction Masterclass: learn the principles and best practice with peer expert trainers from Harm Reduction Victoria. Learn alongside our living experience trainers about what clients who use drugs really want and need from our services. Essential for all new and established workers in the AOD and BBV workforces.

Description

There are 7 modules delivered over 2 half-days online, with each one designed to give you a basic understanding of each topic.  There is an activity that needs to be completed before attending the second day of training. Participants will receive details via email the week before the training.

NB: do not enrol in this training if you cannot commit to attending both days.  No-shows are not acceptable and will affect your ability to enrol in other training.

Details

DAY ONE – Wednesday August 21, 12:30PM – 5:00PM

Harm Reduction 101

  • Understand the history of harm reduction in Victoria & Australia.
  • Understand the National Drug Strategy policy of Harm Minimisation and how Harm Reduction fits into this policy.
  • Understanding the Substance, Set and Setting principles as a way to understand an individual’s drug experience.

Safer Injecting

  •  Understand safer injecting practices, including injecting sites; using a tourniquet, and infection & Blood Borne Virus risk.
  • Understand the circulatory system and the difference between veins and arteries.
  • Understand through “hands-on” demonstration the drug mixing up the process and the transmission risk points during the process.

Drug Overdose & Adverse Effects

  • Understand some of the common myths around opioid overdose.
  • Be able to recognize the signs of overdose and of actions to take in different circumstances
  • Understand when and how to intervene in overdose situations.

Naloxone Administration

  • Understand where to obtain naloxone for clients
  • Understand the different formulations of naloxone available
  • Understand the difference between someone who is ‘on the nod’ or overdosing and the appropriate time to administer naloxone.

 

DAY TWO – Thursday August 22, 9:30AM – 1:00PM

Introduction to Pharmacotherapy

  • Be aware of the pharmacotherapy options available to PWUD in Victoria.
  • Understand how to access pharmacotherapy in Victoria.
  • Be aware of Victoria’s “broken system”

Working Effectively with people who use drugs

  • Understand barriers to effectively working with people who use drugs (PWUD), in particular, people who inject drugs (PWID)
  • Understand and challenge the ‘gateway drug’ theory.
  • Understand common myths about PWID, the effects of criminalisation, and the stigma on the health of PWUD

Stigma & Discrimination

  • Understand how stigma and discrimination act as a barrier in healthcare settings.
  • Understand how frameworks of morality and social discourse frame our understanding of drug use.
  • Understand how we can all contribute to eliminating stigma and discrimination in ourselves and our services

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including those who are new to the AOD sector or recently employed under the COVID-19 Workforce Initiative and Peer workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance to attend from your line manager. If you cannot attend, even if you find out the day before, please cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waiting list.

2-Day Harm Reduction Masterclass

Harm Reduction Masterclass: learn the principles and best practice with peer expert trainers from Harm Reduction Victoria. Learn alongside our living experience trainers about what clients who use drugs really want and need from our services. Essential for all new and established workers in the AOD and BBV workforces.

Description

There are 7 modules delivered over 2 half-days online, with each one designed to give you a basic understanding of each topic.  There is an activity that needs to be completed before attending the second day of training. Participants will receive details via email the week before the training.

NB: do not enrol in this training if you cannot commit to attending both days.  No-shows are not acceptable and will affect your ability to enrol in other training.

Details

DAY ONE – Wednesday August 21, 12:30PM – 5:00PM

Harm Reduction 101

  • Understand the history of harm reduction in Victoria & Australia.
  • Understand the National Drug Strategy policy of Harm Minimisation and how Harm Reduction fits into this policy.
  • Understanding the Substance, Set and Setting principles as a way to understand an individual’s drug experience.

Safer Injecting

  •  Understand safer injecting practices, including injecting sites; using a tourniquet, and infection & Blood Borne Virus risk.
  • Understand the circulatory system and the difference between veins and arteries.
  • Understand through “hands-on” demonstration the drug mixing up the process and the transmission risk points during the process.

Drug Overdose & Adverse Effects

  • Understand some of the common myths around opioid overdose.
  • Be able to recognize the signs of overdose and of actions to take in different circumstances
  • Understand when and how to intervene in overdose situations.

Naloxone Administration

  • Understand where to obtain naloxone for clients
  • Understand the different formulations of naloxone available
  • Understand the difference between someone who is ‘on the nod’ or overdosing and the appropriate time to administer naloxone.

 

DAY TWO – Thursday August 22, 9:30AM – 1:00PM

Introduction to Pharmacotherapy

  • Be aware of the pharmacotherapy options available to PWUD in Victoria.
  • Understand how to access pharmacotherapy in Victoria.
  • Be aware of Victoria’s “broken system”

Working Effectively with people who use drugs

  • Understand barriers to effectively working with people who use drugs (PWUD), in particular, people who inject drugs (PWID)
  • Understand and challenge the ‘gateway drug’ theory.
  • Understand common myths about PWID, the effects of criminalisation, and the stigma on the health of PWUD

Stigma & Discrimination

  • Understand how stigma and discrimination act as a barrier in healthcare settings.
  • Understand how frameworks of morality and social discourse frame our understanding of drug use.
  • Understand how we can all contribute to eliminating stigma and discrimination in ourselves and our services

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including those who are new to the AOD sector or recently employed under the COVID-19 Workforce Initiative and Peer workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance to attend from your line manager. If you cannot attend, even if you find out the day before, please cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waiting list.

2-Day Harm Reduction Masterclass

Harm Reduction Masterclass: learn the principles and best practice with peer expert trainers from Harm Reduction Victoria. Learn alongside our living experience trainers about what clients who use drugs really want and need from our services. Essential for all new and established workers in the AOD and BBV workforces.

Description

There are 7 modules delivered over 2 half-days online, with each one designed to give you a basic understanding of each topic.  There is an activity that needs to be completed before attending the second day of training. Participants will receive details via email the week before the training.

NB: do not enrol in this training if you cannot commit to attending both days.  No-shows are not acceptable and will affect your ability to enrol in other training.

Details

DAY ONE – Wednesday March 20, 12:30PM – 5:00PM

Harm Reduction 101

  • Understand the history of harm reduction in Victoria & Australia.
  • Understand the National Drug Strategy policy of Harm Minimisation and how Harm Reduction fits into this policy.
  • Understanding the Substance, Set and Setting principles as a way to understand an individual’s drug experience.

Safer Injecting

  •  Understand safer injecting practices, including injecting sites; using a tourniquet, and infection & Blood Borne Virus risk.
  • Understand the circulatory system and the difference between veins and arteries.
  • Understand through “hands-on” demonstration the drug mixing up the process and the transmission risk points during the process.

Drug Overdose & Adverse Effects

  • Understand some of the common myths around opioid overdose.
  • Be able to recognize the signs of overdose and of actions to take in different circumstances
  • Understand when and how to intervene in overdose situations.

Naloxone Administration

  • Understand where to obtain naloxone for clients
  • Understand the different formulations of naloxone available
  • Understand the difference between someone who is ‘on the nod’ or overdosing and the appropriate time to administer naloxone.

 

DAY TWO – Thursday March 21, 9:30AM – 1:00PM

Introduction to Pharmacotherapy

  • Be aware of the pharmacotherapy options available to PWUD in Victoria.
  • Understand how to access pharmacotherapy in Victoria.
  • Be aware of Victoria’s “broken system”

Working Effectively with people who use drugs

  • Understand barriers to effectively working with people who use drugs (PWUD), in particular, people who inject drugs (PWID)
  • Understand and challenge the ‘gateway drug’ theory.
  • Understand common myths about PWID, the effects of criminalisation, and the stigma on the health of PWUD

Stigma & Discrimination

  • Understand how stigma and discrimination act as a barrier in healthcare settings.
  • Understand how frameworks of morality and social discourse frame our understanding of drug use.
  • Understand how we can all contribute to eliminating stigma and discrimination in ourselves and our services

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including those who are new to the AOD sector or recently employed under the COVID-19 Workforce Initiative and Peer workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance to attend from your line manager. If you cannot attend, even if you find out the day before, please cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waiting list.

2-Day Harm Reduction Masterclass

Harm Reduction Masterclass: learn the principles and best practice with peer expert trainers from Harm Reduction Victoria. Learn alongside our living experience trainers about what clients who use drugs really want and need from our services. Essential for all new and established workers in the AOD and BBV workforces.

Description

There are 7 modules delivered over 2 half-days online, with each one designed to give you a basic understanding of each topic.  There is an activity that needs to be completed before attending the second day of training. Participants will receive details via email the week before the training.

NB: do not enrol in this training if you cannot commit to attending both days.  No-shows are not acceptable and will affect your ability to enrol in other training.

Details

DAY ONE – Wednesday March 20, 12:30PM – 5:00PM

Harm Reduction 101

  • Understand the history of harm reduction in Victoria & Australia.
  • Understand the National Drug Strategy policy of Harm Minimisation and how Harm Reduction fits into this policy.
  • Understanding the Substance, Set and Setting principles as a way to understand an individual’s drug experience.

Safer Injecting

  •  Understand safer injecting practices, including injecting sites; using a tourniquet, and infection & Blood Borne Virus risk.
  • Understand the circulatory system and the difference between veins and arteries.
  • Understand through “hands-on” demonstration the drug mixing up the process and the transmission risk points during the process.

Drug Overdose & Adverse Effects

  • Understand some of the common myths around opioid overdose.
  • Be able to recognize the signs of overdose and of actions to take in different circumstances
  • Understand when and how to intervene in overdose situations.

Naloxone Administration

  • Understand where to obtain naloxone for clients
  • Understand the different formulations of naloxone available
  • Understand the difference between someone who is ‘on the nod’ or overdosing and the appropriate time to administer naloxone.

 

DAY TWO – Thursday March 21, 9:30AM – 1:00PM

Introduction to Pharmacotherapy

  • Be aware of the pharmacotherapy options available to PWUD in Victoria.
  • Understand how to access pharmacotherapy in Victoria.
  • Be aware of Victoria’s “broken system”

Working Effectively with people who use drugs

  • Understand barriers to effectively working with people who use drugs (PWUD), in particular, people who inject drugs (PWID)
  • Understand and challenge the ‘gateway drug’ theory.
  • Understand common myths about PWID, the effects of criminalisation, and the stigma on the health of PWUD

Stigma & Discrimination

  • Understand how stigma and discrimination act as a barrier in healthcare settings.
  • Understand how frameworks of morality and social discourse frame our understanding of drug use.
  • Understand how we can all contribute to eliminating stigma and discrimination in ourselves and our services

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including those who are new to the AOD sector or recently employed under the COVID-19 Workforce Initiative and Peer workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance to attend from your line manager. If you cannot attend, even if you find out the day before, please cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waiting list.

Single Session Family Consultation (SSFC)

In this training, participants will be guided through a clearly articulated practical process for engaging families, which is ideally suited to contexts where a family member is the primary client of an individually oriented service (e.g. AOD Adult and Youth AOD services).

Course Description:

  • 3-hour self-paced online learning unit
  • 3-hour online training

Participants must complete a 3-hour online learning component before the in-practice sessions.

Links to online training will be provided to participants approximately six weeks prior to the in-practice training dates. (Early January)

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including those who are new to the AOD sector or recently employed under the COVID-19 Workforce Initiative and Peer workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend, even if you find out the day before, please cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waiting list.

CHCSS00093 Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Skillset

Turning Point (RTO 6948) has been contracted by the Department of Health (DH Victoria) to deliver competency training and assessment opportunities to the Victorian AOD workforce.
This training targets employees currently in the AOD sector and employed in DH-funded AOD Services. Turning Point staff delivering the AOD competencies have clinical experience and meet the training and assessment requirements outlined in the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).

Selection Criteria:

To enrol in the CHCSS00093 AOD Skill Set you must work in a publically funded organisation in the Victorian AOD sector.

Who is not eligible?

  • Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.
  • People who have partially completed the skillset

Please ensure you have clearance to attend from your line manager before enrolling.

Do not enrol if you cannot guarantee you can complete this course.  If you change your mind, cancel your registration immediately to make room for someone else.

 

Enrolment Process

  • Enrolment is by Expression of Interest (EOI) only and includes all four units of competency.  Applicants must be currently employed in Victorian DH-funded services to be eligible to apply for this training. This is an expression of interest only, and you must be available to attend all mandatory virtual classes advertised for all units of competency. These four (4) units of competency are part of the AOD Skill Set
  • You will be notified via email if you have been successful in securing a place and you will be required to accept your offer by a due date, as demand for this skill set is high and there are limited places
  • To begin the EOI process click ENROL NOW at the bottom of this page and then on the BEGIN EOI button.  You must complete the EOI to be considered for this course.  Enrolment in Elevate only does not guarantee your place

 

Course outline

 

CHCAOD001 Work in an alcohol and other drug context

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish and work within the current context, philosophy and values of the AOD sector.

This unit applies to workers who work with clients affected by alcohol and other drugs.

 

Online and virtual classes:

Online Learning Management System (LMS): opens Monday 29 January 2024 – Friday 22 March 2024.

Mandatory virtual classes from 9.30am – 1:00pm on the 8, 15, 29 February 2024

 

CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and conduct assessments of AOD clients to determine eligibility, service requirements and referral needs. This includes knowledge of factors affecting assessment for a range of different client groups, including different genders, youth, older people, mandated and voluntary clients, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

This unit applies to people who assess clients with AOD issues using established organisation or jurisdictional AOD assessment tools.

 

Online and virtual classes:

Online LMS: opens  Monday 22 April 2024 –  Friday 21 June 2024

Mandatory virtual classes 9.30am – 1:00pm on the 2, 9, 16 May 2024

 

CHCAOD009 Develop and review individual alcohol and other drug treatment plans

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work collaboratively with clients to establish treatment goals and to develop and evaluate individual treatment plans to meet those goals.

The purpose of the training is to enable participants to develop treatment plans with and for clients with AOD issues on the basis of an existing assessment and within established organisation guidelines.

 

Online and virtual classes:

Online LMS: opens Monday, 15 July 2024 – Friday 6 September 2024.

Mandatory virtual classes 9.30am – 1.00pm on the 25 July & 8 and 22 August 2024.

 

CHCAOD006 Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drug issues

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to confirm, conduct and monitor evidence-based intervention strategies to address alcohol and other drug issues. This unit includes applying standard processes and procedures to effectively manage tasks and contingencies required in the context of the work role.

The purpose of the training is to enable participants to develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to prepare clients for interventions and deliver those interventions under supervision within the scope of an established individual treatment plan.

 

Online and virtual classes:

Online LMS: opens Monday 7 October 2024 – Friday 29 November 2024.

Mandatory virtual classes 9.30am – 1:00pm on the 16, 23 October and 6 November 2024.

All units of competency are assessed, and you will be required to complete assessment tasks.

 

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