This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.
Overview
This qualification reflects the role of entry level workers who provide services and interventions to clients with alcohol and other drugs issues and/or implement health promotion and community interventions. Work in undertaken in contexts such as community based organisations, withdrawal services, residential rehabilitation services and outreach services under the guidance of other practitioners and professionals, with limited responsibility and within established parameters.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
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Financial help
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Government funding is not available for this course.
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Cost
Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.
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VET Student Loans are not available
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You may need to pay for equipment or materials.
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On-the-job training
- Apprenticeships and traineeships are not available for this course.
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Entry requirements
This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.
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Duration
You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.
- Qualification only:
6 months – 2 years
- Qualification only:
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Delivery options
You may be able to access this training in these ways:
Course content
This course is made up of units.
All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.
For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.
| Unit | Unit type |
|---|---|
| Assess co-existing needs | Core |
| Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues | Core |
| Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships | Core |
| Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans | Core |
| Provide brief interventions | Core |
| Provide First Aid | Core |
| Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues | Core |
| Use communication to build relationships | Core |
| Work in an alcohol and other drugs context | Core |
| Work legally and ethically | Core |
| Work with diverse people | Core |
| Work with people with mental health issues | Core |
| Address the needs of people with chronic disease | Elective |
| Apply and use basic oral health products | Elective |
| Assist clients with medication | Elective |
| Coordinate complex case requirements | Elective |
| Deliver structured programs | Elective |
| Develop and deliver community projects | Elective |
| Develop and implement community programs | Elective |
| Establish self-directed recovery relationships | Elective |
| Facilitate community participation and social inclusion | Elective |
| Facilitate individual service planning and delivery | Elective |
| Facilitate responsible behaviour | Elective |
| Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support | Elective |
| Facilitate the interests and rights of clients | Elective |
| Facilitate the recovery process with the person, family and carers | Elective |
| Identify and report children and young people at risk | Elective |
| Implement participation and engagement strategies | Elective |
| Improve clients' fundamental financial literacy skills | Elective |
| Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide | Elective |
| Inform and support patients and groups about oral health | Elective |
| Interpret and use information about nutrition and diet | Elective |
| Manage personal stressors in the work environment | Elective |
| Plan and conduct group activities | Elective |
| Plan health promotion and community intervention | Elective |
| Plan, facilitate and review psycho-educational groups | Elective |
| Process and maintain workplace information | Elective |
| Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety | Elective |
| Provide alcohol and other drugs withdrawal services | Elective |
| Provide community focused health promotion and prevention strategies | Elective |
| Provide group education on consumer credit and debt | Elective |
| Provide intervention support to families | Elective |
| Provide loss and grief support | Elective |
| Provide needle and syringe services | Elective |
| Provide or assist with oral hygiene | Elective |
| Provide parenting, health and well-being education | Elective |
| Provide recovery oriented mental health services | Elective |
| Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues | Elective |
| Provide suicide bereavement support | Elective |
| Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence | Elective |
| Recognise and respond to crisis situations | Elective |
| Recognise and respond to oral health issues | Elective |
| Recognise healthy body systems | Elective |
| Reflect on and improve own professional practice | Elective |
| Respond to client language, literacy and numeracy needs | Elective |
| Share health information | Elective |
| Support independence and wellbeing | Elective |
| Support people to improve relationships | Elective |
| Support the rights and safety of children and young people | Elective |
| Undertake bicultural work with forced migrants in Australia | Elective |
| Visit client residence | Elective |
| Work collaboratively with the care network and other services | Elective |
| Work effectively with young people and their nominated carer or families | Elective |
| Work to empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities | Elective |
| Work with clients to identify financial literacy education needs | Elective |
| Work with clients who are intoxicated | Elective |
| Work with forced migrants | Elective |
| Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
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Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
ANZSCO 272112
Drug and Alcohol Counsellors provide support and treatment for people with drug and alcohol dependency problems, develop strategies which assist them to set goals and affect and maintain change, and provide community education. They may work in call centres.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Community Worker
ANZSCO 411711
Develop and implement plans to improve life in the local community.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Disabilities Services Officer
ANZSCO 411712
Disabilities Services Officers work in a range of service units which provide education and community access to people with intellectual, physical, social and emotional disabilities.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Family Support Worker
ANZSCO 411713
Family Support Workers assist the work of Social Workers and Welfare Workers by providing services and support to families.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Parole and Probation Officer
ANZSCO 411714
Parole or Probation Officers supervise offenders who have been placed on probation by court order or released conditionally from corrective service institutions.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Residential Care Officer
ANZSCO 411715
Residential Care Officers provide care and supervision for children or disabled persons in group housing or institutional care.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Youth Worker
ANZSCO 411716
Support young people in the social, emotional, financial, study and employment aspects of their lives.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree
Training providers delivering Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs
It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.
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TAFE QUEENSLAND (RTO code 0275)
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF NEW SOUTH WALES (RTO code 91020)
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Australasian College of Care Leadership & Management (RTO code 40829)
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Australian College of Fitness and Personal Training (RTO code 45361)
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Australian Global Academy of Education (RTO code 41070)
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Australian Institute of Flexible Learning (RTO code 45364)
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DOVASTON TRAINING & ASSESSMENT CENTRE (RTO code 1886)
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Eva Burrows College Vocational Training (RTO code 0328)
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genU training (RTO code 5553)
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GOWORKSKILLS. COM (RTO code 21946)
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HADER INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (RTO code 45162)
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Health Security & Education Pty Ltd as trustee for Health Security & Education Unit Trust (RTO code 40907)
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INSPIRE & LEARN PTY LTD (RTO code 45125)
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Institute of Child Care (RTO code 90720)
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KAL Training (RTO code 20815)
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New Horizons Learning Centre (Perth) (RTO code 51771)
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Odyssey Institute (RTO code 20995)
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Open Colleges (RTO code 90796)
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Partners in Training Australia (RTO code 21837)
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STAR COLLEGE AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD. (RTO code 41267)
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TAFE Gippsland (RTO code 0417)
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TAFE NSW (RTO code 90003)
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THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLORS (RTO code 0670)
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The Da'Vange Group Pty Ltd (RTO code 45241)
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Upskilled (RTO code 40374)
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VACCHO (RTO code 20739)
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Victoria University (RTO code 3113)
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Wesley Vocational Institute (RTO code 90091)
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WISE Training Services (RTO code 6653)
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Youth Off The Streets (RTO code 41450)
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How to enrol in this course
To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.
When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.
The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.
How do apprenticeships and traineeships work?
Apprenticeships and traineeships let you combine hands-on work experience with training. You’ll gain job-ready skills and earn an income while you complete a qualification.
As an apprentice or a trainee, you work with an employer while completing your training. Most of your time is spent learning on the job, with some classroom or online training to support the skills you're developing in the workplace.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Find out more about apprenticeships and traineeships.
See more information about the apprenticeship or traineeship you’re interested in pursuing on the Queensland Training Information Service.
How long will this course take?
This course is competency-based training, which means you progress as you demonstrate your skills and knowledge, rather than in a set amount of time.
The duration shown here is an estimate for full-time study based on how long most people take to complete the course. You may finish earlier than other people, or it may take you a bit longer.
If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get credits or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the time needed for training.
Duration for apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships take longer than doing the qualification on its own, but you learn valuable hands-on skills.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Learn about how courses are delivered
Different courses have different delivery options. Consider your needs when you’re researching courses. Some courses may be delivered entirely online or partially online. Others may be delivered in a classroom.
Some courses, like those delivered through apprenticeships and traineeships, are mostly based in the workplace but with some classroom or online study.
If a certain type of delivery is important to you, talk to your provider before you enrol to make sure they offer that delivery option.
How to reduce the cost of your course
There are lots of ways you can reduce the cost of your course.
- The government could partly or fully cover the cost of your course. See information about financial help and government funding on this page.
- The government also offers funding for some costs related to your course.
- If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get a cost credit or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the cost.
Learn about financial help and government funding
The main cost of training is usually the course fees, which vary depending on things like which course and training provider you choose.
You may be able to get your training for free or at a reduced cost, or you could get help with paying for training-related costs. You can also pay for some courses with a VET Student Loan.
Find out more about getting help paying for your training or check if you're eligible.
What are entry requirements?
Some courses have conditions you need to meet before you can enrol in the course. They help make sure you have the right background or skills for the training.
Entry requirements might include a certain education level, skills or knowledge, work status, or experience.