Priority Population: All

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 May-August

22nd May, 2024

Substance use and the Liver – wins, losses and getting from A to B to C
Presenter – Adam Pastor

Join Adam Pastor as he navigates the landscape of liver health in individuals grappling with substance use disorders, with a focus on alcohol and opioids. This presentation will provide insights into the latest developments in Hepatitis C, alcohol-related liver disease, screening tests for liver disease complications, and more. Explore the nuanced intersections of substance use and liver health, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, successes, and the journey from A to B to C.

Adam graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003 and was attracted to training in Addiction Medicine through its mix of pharmacology, impact on human physiology, mental health and public health. He has a particular interest in the interplay between chronic medical conditions and substance use, as well as medications used to assist in the management of alcohol and other substance use disorders. Adam has spent considerable time in the Northern Territory and is a former Director of NT Drug and Alcohol Services and current Deputy Director of Addiction Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.

 

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 on Go to Form.

Go to Form

 

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)

 

28 February 2024

Nitrous Oxide, Laughing Gas, not the best medicine
Presenter Dr Ferghal Armstrong, FRACGP, FAChAM, FASLM

An essential session for AOD workers, this presentation tackles nitrous oxide use, dependence, and its medical consequences. With a focus on the increasing prevalence, especially among young individuals, the goal is to equip workers with insights into the potential serious effects of nitrous oxide use.

Dr Ferghal Armstrong graduated from the Queen’s University Belfast in 1999. He trained and practised as a GP in Wales, UK, and then emigrated to Australia in 2014. He founded and managed Blackfish Medical Clinic, a GP practice in Koo Wee Rup in 2016. He completed training in Addiction Medicine in 2020 and now works full-time at Turning Point as an Addiction Medicine Specialist.

 

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

 

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)

 

27th March 2024

The Green Shoots of Recovery: Lifestyle Medicine and AOD
Presenter: Ferghal Armstrong

Embark on exploring the six pillars of lifestyle medicine and their impact on mental health and AOD. Uncover the intricate connections between the feet, fork, fingers, sleep, socialisation, and stress management as we delve into their pivotal roles in recovery and resilience. Join us in understanding how these lifestyle choices can be transformative green shoots, nurturing a path to holistic well-being and sustainable healing.

Dr Ferghal Armstrong graduated from the Queen’s University Belfast in 1999. He trained and practised as a GP in Wales, UK, and then emigrated to Australia in 2014. He founded and managed Blackfish Medical Clinic, a GP practice in Koo Wee Rup in 2016. He completed training in Addiction Medicine in 2020 and now works fulltime at Turning Point as an Addiction Medicine Specialist.

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 on Go to Form.

Go to Form

 

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)

 

24th April, 2024

Opioid Pharmacotherapy – What’s New
Presenter: Jon Cook

Hear about the latest in the opioid pharmacotherapy system overseas and at home in Victoria.

Jon Cook is an Addiction Medicine Specialist and has served as the Head of Addiction Medicine at Western Health for six years. With a background in community health and youth AOD services, Jon brings valuable expertise to the intersection of medicine and community well-being.

 

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

 

Symposium: A Spotlight on Women’s Issues and Perspectives with Substance Use

This 1-day symposium is for anyone supporting women with substance use issues.

Women’s experiences with substance use and support services are often shaped by distinct factors, such as societal expectations and caregiving roles amongst others. These factors can influence their reasons for using substances, create unique barriers to seeking help, and affect their recovery journey. Additionally, women often encounter systemic barriers that can disadvantage them in accessing treatment and support.

This event aims to deepen your understanding of these specific needs, helping you to provide more effective and responsive support. You will have the opportunity to engage with leading experts, hear from women with lived and living experiences, and participate in an interactive workshop that offers practical strategies for improving your practice and support services.

 

Key Focus Areas:

👉 Women’s experiences navigating AOD support, services and treatment

👉 Gender-responsive practices and approaches

👉 Integrating research and lived experience

 

View Program

Booking: via Humanitix

CHCSS00093 Alcohol and Other Drugs Skillset

This skill set reflects the skill requirements for support workers providing services to clients with alcohol and other drugs issues.  It is the minimum qualification standard for workers in the Victorian AOD sector.

The Department of Health fully funds the AOD Skillset offered under Elevate.

Eligibility

  • You must work within the Victorian AOD Sector in a State-funded AOD service.
  • You must undertake the entire skill set.  If you have completed any units in the past, you are not eligible* to enrol.
  • You must have clearance from your line manager to attend workshops during work hours.  All workshops are compulsory.

*We may take on students with only one or two units to complete, provided a spot becomes available in any of the units.  If you wish to go on the waitlist, email elevate@vaada.org.au with the units you need to complete.  Please note it is not a guarantee you will get a place in this course.

Please read all the following information carefully.

  • Once you enrol via Elevate!, you will need to complete enrolment with Uniting (see instructions below)
  • The skillset comprises four units: CHCAOD001, 004,009 and 006.  You must attend all workshops. 
  • Workshops take place during work hours in-person
  • Unit start dates occur before the workshop dates
  • Rural and regional participants may be eligible for travel contribution

 

Course Details

Induction and Orientation (attendance mandatory)

Date: Tuesday 22nd August, 2023

10:00AM-12:00PM Online

 

CHCAOD001 Work in An alcohol and Other Drugs Context – Start Tuesday 22nd August 2023

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

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

1-day Workshop (attendance mandatory)

Date: Tuesday 29th August, 2023

Time: 9:00AM – 4:30PM – in person

Address:  26 Jessie St Coburg

 

Tutorials (optional)

Dates to be confirmed

 

CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and/or other drugs issues – Start Friday 15th September 2023

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and conduct assessments of alcohol and other drugs (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 AOD workers who assess clients using established organisational or jurisdictional AOD assessment tools.

3-day Workshop (attendance mandatory)

Date: Monday 18th – Wednesday 20th September

Time: 9:00AM – 4:30PM in person

Address:  26 Jessie St Coburg

 

Tutorials (optional)

Online – Dates to be confirmed

 

CHCAOD009  Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans. Start date Friday 13th October 2023

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.

This unit applies to workers who develop treatment plans with and for clients with alcohol and other drugs (AOD) issues based on an existing assessment and within established organisation guidelines. The plan’s development may be autonomous or collaborative, depending on the context. Workers may or may not be the person conducting the assessment.

2-day Workshop (attendance mandatory)

Date: Thursday 19th October and Friday 20th October, 2023

Time: 9:00AM – 4:30PM in person

Address:  26 Jessie St Coburg

 

Tutorials (optional)

Online – Dates to be confirmed

 

CHCAOD006 Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues. Start date Friday 17th November 2023

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to confirm, conduct and monitor intervention strategies to address alcohol and other drugs (AOD) issues.

This unit applies to workers who support people with AOD issues within the scope of an established individual treatment plan. Interventions would be ongoing and conducted under the guidance of a supervisor.

2-day Workshop (attendance required)

Date: Wednesday 22nd November and Thursday 23rd November

Time: 9:00AM – 4:30PM in person

Address:  26 Jessie St Coburg

 

Tutorials (optional)

Online – Dates to be confirmed

Check with Uniting for due dates for all Assessment tasks

 

To enrol:

Change ENROL NOW to I’m Going below

Refresh this screen (click the reload button in your browser)

Click on COMPLETE ENROLMENT to visit Uniting’s enrolment portal.

Doing Difference Differently – Reflective Practice

Description

The aim of the Doing Difference Differently Reflective Practice sessions is to provide a safe, supported, reflective space to dive deeper into implementing intersectionality in practice, using peer learning models and case studies.

Practitioners will be invited to:

  • Explore and navigate case studies/practice issues/incidents together fusing an intersectional lens and utilising tools provided in the training (e.g. Power Matrix, Peer Support Model).
  • Raise questions arising from training modules for further discussion and learning.
  • Develop critical thinking/analysis through cases/video/stimulus materials provided by facilitators if time permits.

Prerequisite to this course

Students are required to complete the Doing Difference Differently self-paced learning unit.

To access the learning unit, go to Self-Paced E-Learning and click on Doing Difference Differently E-Learn. Enrol in the unit by clicking on ENROL NOW and change it to I’m Going).  Go to your dashboard and access the unit from MY COURSES.

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.

Doing Difference Differently – Reflective Practice

Description

The aim of the Doing Difference Differently Reflective Practice sessions is to provide a safe, supported, reflective space to dive deeper into implementing intersectionality in practice, using peer learning models and case studies.

Practitioners will be invited to:

  • Explore and navigate case studies/practice issues/incidents together fusing an intersectional lens and utilising tools provided in the training (e.g. Power Matrix, Peer Support Model).
  • Raise questions arising from training modules for further discussion and learning.
  • Develop critical thinking/analysis through cases/video/stimulus materials provided by facilitators if time permits.

Prerequisite to this course

Students are required to complete the Doing Difference Differently self-paced learning unit.

To access the learning unit, go to Self-Paced E-Learning and click on Doing Difference Differently E-Learn. Enrol in the unit by clicking on ENROL NOW and change it to I’m Going).  Go to your dashboard and access the unit from MY COURSES.

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.

Doing Difference Differently – Reflective Practice

Description

The aim of the Doing Difference Differently Reflective Practice sessions is to provide a safe, supported, reflective space to dive deeper into implementing intersectionality in practice, using peer learning models and case studies.

Practitioners will be invited to:

  • Explore and navigate case studies/practice issues/incidents together fusing an intersectional lens and utilising tools provided in the training (e.g. Power Matrix, Peer Support Model).
  • Raise questions arising from training modules for further discussion and learning.
  • Develop critical thinking/analysis through cases/video/stimulus materials provided by facilitators if time permits.

Prerequisite to this course

Students are required to complete the Doing Difference Differently self-paced learning unit.

To access the learning unit, go to Self-Paced E-Learning and click on Doing Difference Differently E-Learn. Enrol in the unit by clicking on ENROL NOW and change it to I’m Going).  Go to your dashboard and access the unit from MY COURSES.

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.

Doing Difference Differently – Reflective Practice

**Please note change in date from June 12t to June 19th**

Description

The aim of the Doing Difference Differently Reflective Practice sessions is to provide a safe, supported, reflective space to dive deeper into implementing intersectionality in practice, using peer learning models and case studies.

Practitioners will be invited to:

  • Explore and navigate case studies/practice issues/incidents together fusing an intersectional lens and utilising tools provided in the training (e.g. Power Matrix, Peer Support Model).
  • Raise questions arising from training modules for further discussion and learning.
  • Develop critical thinking/analysis through cases/video/stimulus materials provided by facilitators if time permits.

Prerequisite to this course

Students are required to complete the Doing Difference Differently self-paced learning unit.

To access the learning unit, go to Self-Paced E-Learning and click on Doing Difference Differently E-Learn. Enrol in the unit by clicking on ENROL NOW and change it to I’m Going.  Go to your dashboard and access the unit from MY COURSES.

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.

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