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 workers who work under broad supervision and guidance and provide services to clients with alcohol and other drugs issues. They can provide counselling, referral and promotion services. These workers require high level specialist knowledge, skills and competencies especially in regard to laws affecting clients, the range of services available to them and health issues related to alcohol and drugs use and misuse.
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 available
See training providers offering VET Student Loans -
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:
1–2 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 |
| Collaborate in professional practice | Core |
| Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans | Core |
| Develop strategies for alcohol and other drugs relapse prevention and management | Core |
| Establish and manage client relationships | Core |
| Provide advanced interventions to meet the needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues | Core |
| Provide First Aid | Core |
| Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues | Core |
| Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues | Core |
| Provide systems advocacy services | Core |
| Reflect on and improve own professional practice | Core |
| Research and apply evidence to practice | Core |
| Work effectively in trauma informed care | Core |
| Work in an alcohol and other drugs context | Core |
| Work with diverse people | Core |
| Apply and manage use of basic oral health products | Elective |
| Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills | Elective |
| Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing | Elective |
| Assess the needs of clients with problem gambling issues | Elective |
| Assist clients with medication | Elective |
| Coordinate complex case requirements | Elective |
| Counsel clients affected by domestic and family violence | Elective |
| Develop and implement service programs | Elective |
| Develop quality systems in line with registration standards | Elective |
| Develop, implement and review quality framework | Elective |
| Establish and confirm the counselling relationship | Elective |
| Establish self-directed recovery relationships | Elective |
| Facilitate the counselling relationship and process | Elective |
| Facilitate the recovery process with the person, family and carers | Elective |
| Implement participation and engagement strategies | Elective |
| Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity | Elective |
| Implement trauma informed care | Elective |
| Inform and support patients and groups about oral health | Elective |
| Interpret and use information about nutrition and diet | Elective |
| Manage and maintain tenancy agreements and services | Elective |
| Manage budgets and financial plans | Elective |
| Manage head lease | Elective |
| Manage partnership agreements with service providers | Elective |
| Manage personal stressors in the work environment | Elective |
| Meet statutory and organisation information requirements | Elective |
| Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety | Elective |
| Provide Advanced First Aid | Elective |
| Provide alcohol and other drugs withdrawal services | Elective |
| Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation | Elective |
| Provide community focused health promotion and prevention strategies | Elective |
| Provide counselling for clients with problem gambling issues | Elective |
| Provide early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs | Elective |
| Provide loss and grief support | Elective |
| Provide needle and syringe services | Elective |
| Provide or assist with oral hygiene | Elective |
| Provide recovery oriented mental health services | Elective |
| Provide suicide bereavement support | Elective |
| Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives | Elective |
| Recognise and respond to oral health issues | Elective |
| Recognise healthy body systems | Elective |
| Recruit, induct and support volunteers | Elective |
| Respond to client language, literacy and numeracy needs | Elective |
| Support counselling clients in decision-making processes | Elective |
| Work collaboratively with the care network and other services | Elective |
| Work to empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities | Elective |
| Work with carers and/or families in complex situations | Elective |
| Work with clients who are intoxicated | Elective |
Job prospects
The Diploma of 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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Liaison Officer
ANZSCO 224912
Liaison Officers establish and facilitate communication between different community groups, organisations and governments.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Health Promotion Officer
ANZSCO 251911
Health Promotion Officers assist health and community groups to improve the health of individuals and the community by raising awareness of healthy lifestyles, disease and disability, and other health-related issues.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
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 Diploma of 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)
Contact this provider
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Australian College of Fitness and Personal Training (RTO code 45361)
Contact this provider
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Eva Burrows College Vocational Training (RTO code 0328)
Contact this provider
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GOWORKSKILLS. COM (RTO code 21946)
Contact this provider
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HADER INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (RTO code 45162)
Contact this provider
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New Horizons Learning Centre (Perth) (RTO code 51771)
Contact this provider
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Partners in Training Australia (RTO code 21837)
Contact this provider
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TAFE Gippsland (RTO code 0417)
Contact this provider
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TAFE NSW (RTO code 90003)
Contact this provider
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THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLORS (RTO code 0670)
Contact this provider
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VACCHO (RTO code 20739)
Contact this provider
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Wollongong First Aid (RTO code 40833)
Contact this provider
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.