IMPORTANT: registrations for training will become live approximately two months prior to start of training. To enrol in this or any training, you must click the link below and complete the registration. If you do not complete the registration, you will not have a place in the training. If you experience a broken link, please get in touch with us at elevate@vaada.org.au

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The Harm Reduction Masterclass comprises of seven modules over two half-days, each one designed to give you a basic understanding of each topic:

DAY ONE

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 in to this policy.
• Understand 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 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 and 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

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 doing effective work with people who use drugs (PWUD), in particular people who inject drugs
• Understand and challenge the ‘gateway drug’ theory.
• Understand common myths about PWID; the effects of criminalisation and 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

IMPORTANT: registrations for training will become live approximately two months prior to the start of training. To enrol in this or any training, you must click the link below and fill in the registration. If you do not complete the registration, you will not have a place in the training. If you experience a broken link, please get in touch with us at elevate@vaada.org.au

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This half-day training workshop is designed for AOD clinicians to prepare them to participate in reflective practice supervision to ensure they get the maximum benefit from it. The workshop will assist them to understand the purpose and benefits of supervision for their practice and wellbeing.

What is covered?

The workshop provides information and activities to build an understanding of the purpose of supervision, the roles and responsibilities of the supervisor and supervisee, supervision principles and processes and the reflective practice approach.

IMPORTANT: registrations for training will become live approximately two months prior to start of training. To enrol in this or any training, you must click the link below and fill in the registration. If you do not complete the registration, you will not have a place in the training. If you experience a broken link, please get in touch with us at elevate@vaada.org.au

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Understanding the social and biological factors that precipitate substance use in a young person is important, but support for young people in AOD withdrawal is not just about addressing the substance use.
The young person should be viewed through a bio-psycho-social lens, assessing risk factors and protective factors in the young person’s life as well as any barriers to accessing health care.
These guidelines have been developed primarily for use by YSAS staff, but also to assist individuals with a broad range of backgrounds including General Practitioners, Youth AOD services, community agencies and others to support adolescents in the community seeking to undergo AOD withdrawal.
The training will be split into two sections. Section one will be co facilitated with a senior nurse to cover medical/ clinical approaches to withdrawal. Section two will cover the biopsychosocial approaches to withdrawal

Learning outcomes:
Part 1 – AOD withdrawal – Clinical

• Adolescent Brain Development and Substance misuse
• Substance Use Disorders
• Use of Withdrawal Scales in Young People
• Medications to Support AOD Withdrawal in Young People
• AOD Withdrawal Treatment Options for Young People
• Alcohol and Other Drug Withdrawal presentations in Young People

Part 2 – Biopsychosocial approaches to withdrawal

• Using Risk and Protective Factors to advise AOD withdrawal approach
• Care planning during withdrawal:
  – Nutrition
  – Sensory Somatic practices
  – Trauma-informed practice
  – Sleep hygiene- Stages of change
  – Brief intervention- Distraction techniques
  – De-escalation

The Advanced AOD Forensics Training is delivered as either a full-day face-to-face training or two half-days online. It is targeted at senior AOD clinicians working with forensic clients who present with multiple complexities, including personality disorders, significant mental health issues and other co-morbidities in addition to their substance use. The training is delivered by experienced forensic clinicians and provides knowledge and skills for working with complex forensic clients in AOD settings.

What is covered?
The training covers the key challenges in working with complex forensic clients, understanding and strategies for working with these complexities, knowledge about how to work safely with complex forensic clients including those who have committed violent and sexual offences. The training also provides an opportunity to apply the information to your own practice using case examples and group discussion exercises.

IMPORTANT: registrations for training will become live approximately two months prior to start of training. To enrol in this or any training, you must click the link below and fill in the registration. If you do not complete the registration, you will not have a place in the training. If you experience a broken link, please get in touch with us at elevate@vaada.org.au

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The Forensic Fundamentals is a half-day training session that provides an introduction to information and clinical skills to support work with forensic AOD clients. The training is delivered by experienced forensic clinicians and aims to support AOD service providers to work effectively with forensic clients and to collaborate with Justice colleagues to achieve the best outcomes.

What is covered?
The training provides an introduction to offender models of rehabilitation, the links between AOD use and offending, building motivation, responding to treatment interfering behaviours, boundary setting, maintaining safety, collaborative practice and information sharing.