Non-accredited – Elevate

Group Facilitation Skills Training for AOD Workers (online)

1-day workshop:

Date: 23rd September 2026

Time: 10am – 4:30pm

Online: a link will be sent to you prior to the workshop date

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

Establish the culture of the group and safety within the group space.
Define content and process and apply both with balance between the two.
Identify common challenges that present in the delivery of group programs and apply strategies for managing these.
Understand how to work in a variety of group formats.
Apply skills and strategies for attending to responsivity in groupwork.
Apply skills for providing the group with a sense of closure at the end of a group program.

Eligibility Criteria

This training is open to people working in AOD-specific roles in publicly funded services (i.e. AOD, mental health locals).

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers outside of Victoria, workers not in an AOD-specific role.

Register

Registrations open 12th August

Terms & Conditions

If you cannot attend, cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

Professional Development Training – Suicide Prevention in the AOD Sector

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Through an exploration of the unique intersection between suicide risk and substance use, this workshop will equip participants with practical, evidence-informed approaches to identify risk, engage in meaningful conversations, and strengthen suicide prevention practice within AOD settings.

workshop objectives:

Understand the unique intersection between alcohol and other drug use and suicide, including current evidence, trends and contextual factors.
Recognise and respond to indicators of suicide risk in AOD settings, building confidence in conversations about suicide and safety.
Apply practical suicide prevention strategies within everyday AOD practice, including risk management, protective factors and pathways to support.

Dom Pezzutto has worked across suicide prevention, mental health and AOD services in frontline, leadership and education roles. She has contributed to suicide prevention service reform, led workforce development initiatives supporting suicide prevention services across Australia, and has experience spanning crisis intervention, suicide bereavement support, service design, policy development and sector education. Drawing on experience across multiple service settings, Dom brings a unique perspective on the intersection of suicide prevention and AOD practice, helping workers recognise how culture, context, connection and everyday interactions can act as powerful suicide prevention strategies, even when suicide prevention is not the primary focus of the work.

Who should attend? Victorian Department Health funded AOD workers new to their role and/or those looking to refresh and update existing knowledge.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This workshop is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role.

Date: Monday November 9, 2026
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Venue: Turning Point, Level 1, Training Rooms – 110 Church St, Richmond 3121

Cost: Free (This workshop is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation.)

NB: If you register and do not attend, your organisation/manager will receive a fee

Register Now

Enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au

MARAM In Practice: Family Violence in AOD Work

This workshop is now full – you can join the waitlist here

MARAM In Practice: Family Violence in AOD Work, presented by Bella Tambakau & Sheridon Byrne

Date: Thursday 26th November 2026
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Venue: Online
Cost: Free
Enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au
IMPORTANT NOTE: this training is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role.

This workshop is designed for Victorian AOD workers, ideally who have completed foundational MARAM training although not necessary. The workshop aims to enhance practical understanding and application of the MARAM framework and applying it to day-to-day work with clients.

Participants will explore how to integrate MARAM principles into real-world scenarios through the use of case studies and facilitated breakout room discussions. These sessions will provide opportunities to apply knowledge, share insights, and learn from peers across the sector.

The workshop will focus on strategies to keep victim-survivors safe, reduce the risk of collusion with people using family violence, and strengthen confidence in responding to complex situations.

Bella Tambakau is a Specialist Family Violence Advisor in Alcohol and Other Drugs, auspice to Turning Point. Bella brings forth her extensive experience in the family violence sector in crisis and direct response to her current role, where she supports AOD services to build family violence capacity and support the alignment to the MARAM framework.

Sheridon Byrneis a Trainer within the workforce development team, with over two decades of experience in the family violence sector. Her career spans a wide range of roles, including work in women’s refuges, family violence crisis counselling, program coordination, and project leadership. Sheridon has delivered significant training and capacity-building initiatives across multiple sectors, particularly at the intersection of family violence, alcohol and other drugs, and mental health. Her work includes private consultation and the design of tailored training programs that support sustainable, effective practice. Sheridon is deeply committed to fostering systemic change and empowering practitioners to engage in family violence work with confidence and resilience.

Who should attend? This workshop is designed for Victorian AOD workers, ideally who have completed foundational MARAM training although not necessary. The workshop aims to enhance practical understanding and application of the MARAM framework and applying it to day-to-day work with clients.

NOTE: This online training is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role, please register with your WORK email, your ticket will be cancelled if you do not use your work email, thank you.

Register Here!

Cancellation policy: This training is free, however if your circumstances change please log into your Eventbrite account and cancel your registration or alternatively email tp@turningpoint.org.au to advise of your inability to complete.

Family Works Champions Program

Family-Inclusive Practice training for the Victorian Alcohol and Other Drugs Workforce

Program Description: Working with people impacted by alcohol and other drugs and often means navigating complex and changing circumstances. Research and practice experience demonstrate that outcomes for individuals can be enhanced when families and supporters are included in the therapeutic journey.

Purpose: This program is designed to support the AOD workforce alignment with the Department of Health’s AOD strategy and broader Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Capability Framework.

The program will give you the opportunity to:

Strengthen your family-inclusive practice skills
Build confidence in engaging families
Enhance your ability to motivate and support practice change
Develop practical strategies that can be applied immediately in your service
Learn alongside experienced practitioners from across the Victorian AOD sector
Become a champion for family-inclusive practice within your organisation

Cost: This training is no-cost to practitioners, as places are funded by the Department of Health, Victoria

Workshop Dates

Metro Workshop	Dates	Location
Workshop 1	19th Aug	Metro
Workshop 1	20th Aug	Metro
Workshop 2	2nd Sep	Metro
Workshop 2	8th Sep	Metro
Workshop 3	13th Oct	Metro
Workshop 3	14th Oct	Metro
Workshop 4	21st Oct	Metro
Workshop 4	28th Oct	Metro
Workshop 5	25th Nov	Metro
Workshop 5	26th Nov	Metro

Regional Workshop	Dates	Location
Workshop 1	26th Aug	Regional
Workshop 1	27th Aug	Regional
Workshop 2	23rd Sep	Regional
Workshop 2	24th Sep	Regional
Workshop 3	6th Oct	Regional
Workshop 3	7th Oct	Regional
Workshop 4	10th Nov	Regional
Workshop 4	11th Nov	Regional
Workshop 5	1st Dec and 2nd Dec	Regional

Online Workshop	Dates	Location
Workshop 1	1st Dec	Online
Workshop 1	2nd Dec	Online

Training Locations: See the website for dates, locations and expression of interest for regional workshops

Learn more and register here

Understanding Trauma and Addiction

Date: Wednesday, November 11 April 2026 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Online

Description:

This half day workshop provides AOD workers with information and strategies to work with clients who have histories of trauma and substance use. The workshop covers frameworks of trauma, its impact on the brain, the link between trauma and addiction, and recommended treatment approaches when working with this cohort.

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.

Motivational Interviewing: Foundation Skills (online)

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

Date: Wednesday, 10 February 2027, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Online

Description

Motivational Interviewing is a skills-based approach to conversations about change that focuses on the client’s needs and wants. MI offers a framework for navigating the common experiences of resistance and ambivalence that so often accompanies the change process.

This two-day workshop introduces the framework and rationale of MI, core skills and application of these skills across the change process. Combining theory with practice, the workshop provides a comprehensive overview into what MI is, what it isn’t and how it works in practice. The training is highly interactive, with a focus on practical skill development.

The workshop is suitable for both workers with no knowledge of MI and for those who want to refresh and deepen their understanding and practice of the core skills of MI.

Eligibility Criteria

This training is open to people working in AOD-specific roles in publicly funded services (i.e. AOD, mental health locals).

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers outside of Victoria, workers not in an AOD-specific role.

Terms & Conditions

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.

Understanding Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Date: Thursday 11 March 2027

Time: 9:30am – 1:00pm

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.

Walking the line – A workshop on professional boundaries (online)

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

Date: Thursday, 3 December 2026

Time: 9:30AM – 1:00PM

Location: Online (a link will be sent to your email address prior to the workshop date)

Description:

This half-day workshop will build and strengthen core knowledge and skills in understanding and maintaining professional boundaries, specifically when working with clients with alcohol and other drug issues. This will include:

Understanding professional boundaries
Strategies to prevent and respond to boundary challenges
Consideration of specific boundary issues to different AOD treatment roles, including lived experience roles
The use of technology
Selfcare

This workshop will use case based discussion throughout to ensure knowledge and skills taught are relevant to the AOD workforce.

Key learning outcomes:

Understand professional boundaries and their maintenance
Recognise and respond to boundary challenges
Build your own toolkit of practitioner-specific boundary maintenance strategies, including managing technology
Recognise your own and your colleagues’ warning signs and challenging client presentations
Enhance your self-care skills and know when to debrief and access further support

Eligibility Criteria

This training is open to people working in AOD-specific roles in publicly funded services (i.e. AOD, mental health locals).

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers outside of Victoria, workers not in an AOD-specific role.

Terms & Conditions

If you cannot attend, cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

Harm Reduction Masterclass

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

This is a 2-day training.

Day 1: Wednesday 21 October 2026, 1:00PM – 5:00PM

Day 2: Thursday 22 October 2026, 9:30AM – 12:30PM

Enrolling to Day 1 automatically enrols you into Day 2.

Location: Online

Description: An entry-level introduction to harm reduction principles and best practice, delivered by peer trainers from Harm Reduction Victoria. Across 7 modules (delivered over two half-days online), you’ll gain a basic understanding of key topics and learn directly from people with living experience about what people who use drugs really want and need from services. 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.

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed under the Victorian AOD Traineeship initiative, and AOD workers working in state funded services.

Terms & Conditions

If you cannot attend, cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

Take Note! Case notes essentials for the AOD sector

An evidence-based introduction to writing effective, clinically relevant and legally compliant case notes for the AOD sector, presented by Greg Coman.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This online training is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role.

This training aims to enable alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers to understand the benefits of writing effective case notes for them, their clients, and their workplace. It will provide the basis for the development of essential skills required for effective case note writing.

The online workshop is pitched at an introductory/ beginner level, but previous participants with some case note writing experience have reported it to be a helpful refresher. It provides: an understanding of what case notes are; an understanding of the importance and benefits of case notes; guidelines for the content and style of case notes; and opportunities to learn and practice effective case note writing. Videos are used throughout to illustrate points. Participants will be introduced to templates they can consider using in their clinical practice.

Greg Coman PhD is a Counselling Psychologist with over thirty years experience working in a wide range of mental health settings. His tertiary qualifications reflect his interests in stress, trauma and problem gambling. Greg undertook his Master of Science degree in psychology, examining stress and coping amongst Australian police personnel. His PhD thesis examined the efficacy of group telephone counselling for people with gambling difficulties. He has worked as a psychologist in community health, employee assistance programs and military settings. He has extensive experience in the adult mental health education and training environment and is passionate about providing training to assist clinicians in their work with clients.

Date: Wednesday 26th August 2026
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Venue: Online
Cost: Free

Cancellation policy: This training is free, however if your circumstances change please log into your Eventbrite account and cancel your registration or alternatively email tp@turningpoint.org.au to advise of your inability to complete.