Provider: AOD Counselling

Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for AOD Workers

This is a 1-day in person training.

Description: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has evolved over the years and is a most favourably reviewed treatment approach. There is much evidence for the effectiveness of CBT with a range of Alcohol and Other Drugs issues. In recent years CBT has expanded its focus to include third wave approaches. These approaches seek to blend traditional CBT principles with concepts new to cognitive-behavioural therapies such as mindfulness and acceptance.

In this introductory workshop you will build your capacity in applying evidence-based interventions that work on the underlying processes that support behavioral change. You will discover how, when and why to apply a best practice cognitive, behavioral or emotion focused approach.

This workshop will introduce you to a range of models, techniques and interventions to help your clients to change negative thought patterns, develop coping strategies, and improve emotional wellbeing. It will be a practical and interactive workshop where you will be introduced to a range of tools, worksheets and relapse prevention strategies that you can use collaboratively with your client to implement.

Date: Thursday, 2nd October 2025

Time: 10:00pM – 4:00PM

Location: Turning Point, 110 Church Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

Cost: Free

Who should attend: AOD clinicians, counsellors, support workers and allied health working in a Victorian Department of Health funded AOD organisation.

Registration:  Click here to register

Recognising and Working with Cognitively Impaired Clients in AOD Settings

This is a 1-day in person training.

Description: Working with cognitively impaired clients can be a significant challenge, particularly when access to assessment services and resources are limited. Cognitive difficulties may arise from a range of aetiologies including acquired brain injury, mental health, substance use, or neurodevelopmental differences and together, this can have a cumulative and adverse impact on treatment outcomes and recovery. This workshop will provide practical strategies for working with clients who present with or have concerns regarding cognitive difficulties. In particular, this workshop will cover four main themes:

  • Recognising cognitive impairment
  • Underlying aetiologies across the lifespan
  • Supporting clients with cognitive impairment
  • Referral pathways: When might assessment be indicated?

Date: Friday, 28th November 2025

Time: 9:30pM – 4:30PM

Location: Turning Point, 110 Church Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

Cost: Free

Who should attend: AOD clinicians, counsellors, support workers and allied health working in a Victorian Department of Health funded AOD organisation.

Registration:  Click here to register

Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Skill Set

ENROLMENTS HAVE CLOSED

CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues (6 October 2025 – 5 December 2025)

Turning Point (RTO 6948) has been contracted by the Department of Health (DH) Victoria to provide competency learning and assessment opportunities to the Victorian AOD workforce.

Eligibility: To enrol in a unit of competency you must work in a publicly funded organisation in the Victorian Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector and be an Australian Citizen/Permanent Residence or New Zealand Citizen.

Cost: There is no cost to complete this unit of competency if you meet the selection criteria.

Details
This is only for the unit of competency CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drug issues
Delivery: Online and virtual classes. You must be available to attend the following:

  • Wednesday 15 October 2025, 9:30AM – 1:00PM
  • Wednesday 22 October 2025, 9:30AM – 1:00PM
  • Wednesday 5 November 2025, 9.30 – 1:00PM
  • In addition to the above, you must also be available for 1 hour between 9:00AM – 4:00PM to complete a live simulation between Monday 27 Oct – Thursday 30 Oct (allocated day and time will be arranged with your trainer and assessor

Application process:
This is an expression of interest only. Apply using the registration link below. 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.

Enrolment to Elevate and submitting your registration does not guarantee enrolment into the unit of competency.

Contact Student Administration – tp@turningpoint.org.au if you have any questions.

Understanding Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (trainees)

Date: Thursday, 26th February 2026 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Online

Description:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is one of the key practice skills you need for effective alcohol and other drug treatment. This interactive workshop offers an engaging and practical introduction to CBT and makes CBT meaningful in day to day practice. Improve your understanding of CBT theory and practice, learn a comprehensive CBT framework, and develop skills in tailoring strategies and treatment for different client presentations.

Key learning outcomes:

  • Gain core knowledge and clinical skills in different types of behavioural and cognitive therapies
  • Understand the CBT approach to assessment, formulation, brief interventions and treatment planning
  • Apply knowledge and practice of key alcohol and other drug specific CBT interventions

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed under the AOD Traineeship Program.

Who is not eligible?

Anyone not employed under the AOD Traineeship Program, workers from other community sectors such as family violence, homelessness, mental health, non-supervisors and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Terms & Conditions

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.

Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Skill Set (funded)

Enrolments have closed.

Eligibility & Course Details

Start date: 25 September 2025
Duration: 6 months (8–10 hours/weekly study recommended)
Delivery: Flexible, blended online | by Odyssey Institute (RTO 20995)
Cost: Fully funded by the Department of Health (limited places)
Eligibility: You must be working in a Victorian State-funded AOD service to be eligible for a funded place.

What is the Skill Set?

The AOD Skill Set is a nationally recognised qualification and provides valuable skills and AOD-specific capabilities for providing services to clients with AOD issues. This skill set is viewed as the minimum qualification for working in the Victorian AOD sector. Resources, tools and templates used in Odyssey courses are recognised and accepted by the Victoria AOD sector as industry standards including clinical guidelines, and comprehensive AOD client assessments.

Competencies

  • CHCAOD001 Work in an alcohol and other drugs context
  • CHCAOD006 Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues
  • CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues
  • CHOAOD009 Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans

Delivery format

Odyssey offers students opportunities to access a combination of delivery modes to meets their needs. Delivery modes include optional participation via flexible and blended online delivery that features:

  • Anytime-anywhere access to online learning and assessment resources
  • Trainer led web-conferenced workshops and tutorials/catch up sessions (recordings available)
  • Skills Practice and Observational assessment days held at Footscray or via web conferencing
  • Student led study groups with encouragement to form communities of practicE

Assessments: Includes question banks, other written tasks, case study analysis and observation of simulated role plays.

Enrolment to Elevate only does not guarantee enrolment into the course. Contact elevate@vaada.org.au if you have any questions.

Understanding Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Date: Thursday, 10th April 2025 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Online

Description:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is one of the key practice skills you need for effective alcohol and other drug treatment. This interactive workshop offers an engaging and practical introduction to CBT and makes CBT meaningful in day to day practice. Improve your understanding of CBT theory and practice, learn a comprehensive CBT framework, and develop skills in tailoring strategies and treatment for different client presentations.

Key learning outcomes:

  • Gain core knowledge and clinical skills in different types of behavioural and cognitive therapies
  • Understand the CBT approach to assessment, formulation, brief interventions and treatment planning
  • Apply knowledge and practice of key alcohol and other drug specific CBT interventions

 

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service including those under the AOD Traineeship Program.

Who is not eligible?

Workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Terms & Conditions

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.

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.

 

Working with LGBTIQ+ people in AOD services

This training will assist participants in building their knowledge and confidence to engage LGBTIQ+ community members in their AOD practice and will provide opportunities for participants to:

  • Individually analyse your own assumptions and values and reflect on the implications in your delivery of health care to LGBTI+ communities
  • Understand the importance and use of respectful and appropriate language
  • Identify and understand the unique vulnerabilities that LGBTI+ communities face
  • Improve your confidence in comprehensively meeting the needs of LGBTI+ consumers
  • Develop improved skills around intake and assessment
  • Understand the complexity and risk of methamphetamine use for men who have sex with men (MSM) and aim to improve treatment outcomes for this community
  • Understand the broader AOD issues for LGBTI+ communities

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 waitlist.

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.

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