Taking the Pressure Down: De-escalation Skills (online)

*To enrol, change ‘Enrol Now’ to ‘I’m Going’. Check if you’ve enrolled correctly under ‘My Courses’

Date: Thursday, 2 July 2026 9:30AM – 1:00PM

Location: Online

Description:

In this half-day workshop, we explore effective ways of managing challenging and aggressive behaviours in professional settings. Learn to recognise early warning signs, understand common triggers and respond with confidence to maintain safety and therapeutic engagement.

You’ll improve your informal screening skills and learn how to have effective conversations about challenging and aggressive behaviours. Increase your toolbox of effective responses, including brief and longer therapeutic interventions, build skills in maintaining therapeutic relationships and learn how to practice self care.

You’ll walk away with the skills you need to handle difficult situations and maintain strong professional relationships while also prioritising your own wellbeing and self care.

Learning outcomes:

  • Understand professional boundaries and their maintenance
  • Understand challenging and aggressive behaviours and their contributing factors
  • Build screening, formulation and conversation skills about challenging and aggressive behaviours
  • Learn and practice effective responses, including de-escalation
  • Enhance self and other care techniques

Suitable for new, experienced and advanced practitioners and workers in low threshold and clinical settings.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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.

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.

Taking the Pressure Down: De-escalation Skills (online)

*To enrol, change ‘Enrol Now’ to ‘I’m Going’. Check if you’ve enrolled correctly under ‘My Courses’

Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026 9:30AM – 1:00PM

Location: Online

Description:

In this half-day workshop, we explore effective ways of managing challenging and aggressive behaviours in professional settings. Learn to recognise early warning signs, understand common triggers and respond with confidence to maintain safety and therapeutic engagement.

You’ll improve your informal screening skills and learn how to have effective conversations about challenging and aggressive behaviours. Increase your toolbox of effective responses, including brief and longer therapeutic interventions, build skills in maintaining therapeutic relationships and learn how to practice self care.

You’ll walk away with the skills you need to handle difficult situations and maintain strong professional relationships while also prioritising your own wellbeing and self care.

Learning outcomes:

  • Understand professional boundaries and their maintenance
  • Understand challenging and aggressive behaviours and their contributing factors
  • Build screening, formulation and conversation skills about challenging and aggressive behaviours
  • Learn and practice effective responses, including de-escalation
  • Enhance self and other care techniques

Suitable for new, experienced and advanced practitioners and workers in low threshold and clinical settings.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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.

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

We are at capacity and are no longer accepting registrations.

CHCAOD009 Develop and review individual alcohol and other drug treatment plans (2 February 2026 – 27 March 2026)


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 CHCAOD009 Develop and review individual alcohol and other drug treatment plans
Delivery: Online and virtual classes.

Online learning and assessment will commence 2 February 2026 and will conclude 27 March 2026.

In addition, you must be available to attend the following online virtual classes:

  • Wednesday 11 February 2026, 9:30AM – 1:00PM
  • Wednesday 25 February 2026, 9:30AM – 1:00PM
  • Wednesday 4 March 2026, 9.30 – 1:00PM

Application process:
This is an expression of interest only and not an enrolment. You must be available to attend all virtual classes advertised.
If we can offer you a place, you will receive an email notification and must confirm your acceptance by the specified deadline, as places are limited and demand is high.

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.

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.

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.

Youth AOD Brief Interventions (online)

Date: Wednesday, 25th June 2025, 9:30AM – 4:30PM

Location: Online (Link will be sent to you closer to the training date)

Description

This session will cover how workers can provide effective brief intervention support to young people unwilling to engage in more traditional, clinical or intensive AOD support.  The workshop will also cover other experiential and novel ways to work with young people when traditional approaches aren’t fit for purpose.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • What are and when can we use AOD Brief Interventions with young people
  • Experiential and novel approaches to supporting young people experiencing AOD issues
  • Exploring creative and tailored ways to meet the needs of young people experiencing AOD issues

 

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.

Terms & Conditions

Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend, cancel your registration at least 24 hours before the cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

No shows will be charged a $50 cancellation fee.

Youth AOD Brief Interventions 1-day workshop

Date: Wednesday, 12th February 2025, 9:30AM – 4:30PM

Location: Online (Link will be sent to you closer to the training date)

Description

This session will cover how workers can provide effective brief intervention support to young people unwilling to engage in more traditional, clinical or intensive AOD support.  The workshop will also cover other experiential and novel ways to work with young people when traditional approaches aren’t fit for purpose.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • What are and when can we use AOD Brief Interventions with young people
  • Experiential and novel approaches to supporting young people experiencing AOD issues
  • Exploring creative and tailored ways to meet the needs of young people experiencing AOD issues

 

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.

Terms & Conditions

Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend, cancel your registration at least 24 hours before the cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

No shows will be charged a $50 cancellation fee.

Youth AOD Brief Interventions 1-day workshop

This session will cover how workers can provide effective brief intervention support to young people unwilling to engage in more traditional, clinical or intensive AOD support.  The workshop will also cover other experiential and novel ways to work with young people who might resist traditional approaches.

 

Learning Outcomes:

  • What are and when can we use AOD Brief Interventions with young people
  • Experiential and novel approaches to supporting young people experiencing AOD issues
  • Exploring creative and tailored ways to meet the needs of young people experiencing AOD issues

 

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.

1-day Brief Interventions – Youth

This session will cover how workers can provide effective brief intervention support to young people unwilling to engage in more traditional, clinical or intensive AOD support.  The workshop will also cover other experiential and novel ways to work with young people who might resist traditional approaches.

  • What are and when can we use AOD brief Interventions with young people
  • Experiential and novel approaches to supporting young people experiencing AOD issues
  • Exploring creative and tailored ways to meet the needs of young people experiencing AOD issues

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.

1-day Brief Interventions – Youth AOD

This session will cover ways that workers can provide effective brief intervention support to young people who are not willing to engage in more traditional, clinical or intensive AOD support.  The workshop will also cover other experiential and novel ways to work with young people who might be resistant to traditional approaches.

  • What are and when can we use AOD brief Interventions with young people
  • Experiential and novel approaches to supporting young people experiencing AOD issues
  • Exploring creative and tailored ways to meet the needs of young people experiencing AOD issues