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Volunteering Group

CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs - with community services electives

Training provided by Partners in Training Australia, RTO 21837.

Course Overview

The Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs 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.
 

Please note you will not be studying through Fresh Futures Australia but Partners in Training Australia a Nationally Recognised Registered Training Organisation.

Course Essentials

Course Essentials

Qualification Code: CHC43215

Qualification Name: Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (with community services electives)

Recognition: Nationally recognised - meets Australian Qualifications Framework.

Study mode: Classroom-based

Class time: 9.30am to 4.30pm

Duration: Approximately 11 months

Assessment: Knowledge evidence, direct demonstration and observation, portfolios, projects, role plays, case studies and presentations.

Practical Placement Hours: Minimum 80 hours

Admin Fee: $110 (Upfront & non-refundable)

Tuition Fee if eligible for Government funding: $250 (No Concession) or $50 (Concession/ Asylum Seeker) or $0 (Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander)

Requirements

Interested in this course? Here's what you need to know before diving in:
 

Education: There are no formal education entry requirements for this course. However, students will be expected to undertake study for unit HLTAID011 Provide First Aid at another education provider if they do not hold this unit.
 

Minimum Age: This course is only open to those aged 18 and above.
 

Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Partners in Training Australia want to make sure this course is the perfect fit for you, so they’ll assess your language, literacy, and numeracy skills before enrolment.
 

Enrolment Application & Pre-Training Review: Ready to take the first step with Partners in Training Australia? You can enrol and do your pre-training review face-to-face by attending one of their onsite Information Sessions or online via Zoom. Easy peasy!
 

Equipment: You will use Cloud Assess, an online cloud-based platform to access all course materials and submit assessments. Therefore, you'll need a trusty laptop or iPad with internet connectivity to complete research, course assessments, and to check your emails from Partners in Training Australia. It is also compulsory to bring your laptop or iPad to class as Partners in Training Australia is transitioning to a more digital approach, reducing reliance on paper-based materials.
 

Police Check and Working With Children's Check: Safety is a top priority, which is why these checks are needed before you can start your practical placement. Let's make sure everyone feels secure and comfortable.

Requirements

CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs - with Community Services electives

Learn More

Potential job titles:

Typical employers of community workers:

  • Detoxification worker

  • Case Worker (Community Services)

  • Family Support Worker

  • Support Worker (Community Services)

  • Alcohol and Drugs Community Support Worker

  • Outreach Officer (Alcohol and Other Drugs)

  • Mental Health Outreach Worker

  • Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker

  • Organisations concerned with particular groups (women, travellers, new communities)

  • Organisations concerned with issues (unemployment, migrant rights, drugs, poverty)

  • Community development groups

  • Outreach & homeless facilities, houses, kitchens

  • Welfare agencies

  • Private businesses

  • Adult service units

  • Community Engagement Committees

  • Community Corrections Offices

  • The Salvation Army

  • Education Departments

  • Triple Zero Emergency Call-Takers

  • Police Academy (This course is not an entry requirement)

Responsibilities

As an Alcohol and Drugs Worker some tasks you could perform throughout your day can include:

Outreach work - Visiting substance users and helping with immediate needs.
Drop-in centre work - Talking to clients about their needs and finding ways of supporting them towards recovery.
Counselling and rehabilitation - Giving support and dealing with the causes of substance misuse.
Arrest referral work - Supporting clients arrested for drug-related offences.
Education and training - Helping clients access services.
Healthcare - Working as a specialist nurse in an addiction clinic.

Skills and Interests

As an Alcohol and Drugs Worker some personal attributes should be

  • Empathy and a calm, caring approach.

  • An understanding of substance misuse issues and their impact on people.

  • A non-judgemental attitude.

  • The ability to build trusting relationships.

  • Excellent communication and listening skills.

  • The ability to work closely with a range of different organisations.

  • Tact and sensitivity patience and resilience.

  • Good organisational and planning skills.

  • The ability to relate to people from all backgrounds.

  • Patience and perseverance, for coping with challenges and setbacks.

  • A non-judging attitude initiative, enthusiasm and motivation.

  • Skills in researching, analysing statistics and writing reports.

  • Commitment to equality and diversity.

Skills and Interests

What you'll learn

Throughout your studies, you will discover the knowledge of:

  • Developing and delivering a range of relapse prevention strategies for people with AOD issues.

  • Developing and implementing a behaviour response plan.

  • Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and colleagues.

  • Providing services to people with complex needs.

  • Supporting the recovery process.

  • Trauma informed care.

  • Supporting people with co-existing issues.

  • Assess promote and review emotional and physical wellbeing.

  • Communication techniques to build and maintain relationships.

Course Units

To be awarded the CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, you must successfully complete 16 of 17 units of competency (and provide Partners in Training with your Statement of Attainment for unit HLTAID011 for the purpose of Credit Transfer).
CHCAOD001 Work in an alcohol and other drugs context (Core)
CHCAOD004 Assess needs of client with alcohol and other drugs issues (Core)
CHCAOD006 Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues (Core)
CHCAOD009 Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans (Core)
CHCCCS004 Assess co-existing needs (Core)
CHCCCS014 Provide brief interventions (Core)
CHCCOM002 Use communication to build relationships (Core)
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people (Core)
CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically (Core)
CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues (Core)
CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships (Core)
CHCADV001 Facilitate the interests and rights of clients (Elective)
CHCCCS003 Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide (Elective)
CHCDFV001 Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence (Elective)
CHCSOH001 Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness (Elective)
HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practiced for direct client care (Elective)
HLTAID011 Provide first aid (via Credit Transfer) (Core)

Course Units

Assessment

Unlocking your potential has never been more thrilling! Assessment is a crucial element in your learning journey, paving the way to attaining a nationally recognised qualification. Get ready to showcase your skills and knowledge through assessment methods such as questions, projects, case studies, role plays, presentations and placement. Your learning will propel you towards achieving your educational goals with confidence!

Trainer Support

Partners in Training Australia take pride in their top-notch trainers! They're hand-picked for their industry expertise and teaching skills. In every class session, your trainer will draw upon their own wealth of industry experience to foster a dynamic, fulfilling and engaging learning environment. With their passion for teaching, you'll be guided towards success by a dedicated training organisation who is committed to making your learning journey truly enjoyable. Get ready to thrive under their guidance and unlock your full potential!

Practical Placement Hours

Gain hands-on experience! Exciting placement opportunities await you during placement in a relevant community service delivery setting which involves for example, direct client work, community education or community development. You'll dive into the field by undertaking a minimum of 80 hours of practical placement working under supervision with clients.
 

If you are currently working in the sector, your workplace may be used to undertake your practical placement hours, however, is subject to approval from Partners in Training Australia.

Further Study

Graduates of CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs may wish to further their studies and expand their employment opportunities by enrolling in the following courses:
• CHC53315 Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs; and/or
• CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services; and/or
• CHC62015 Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management

Working with Children's Check & Police Check

These checks are compulsory in order to commence practical placement. It is recommended that you apply for these closer to when practical placement starts so they are current.
 

The Working with Children Check assists in protecting children from sexual or physical harm by ensuring that people who work with, or care for them are subject to a screening process. If you are doing or intending to do child-related work and do not qualify for an exemption, you need a Check. Visit me for more information.
Children's Check: Approximately $130
Volunteer Card: Free
 

The Victoria Police provides a service to all Victorians who wish to obtain a National Police Certificate for employment, voluntary work and occupation-related licensing or registration purposes. Information about an individual's criminal history will not be released without an applicant's written consent other than for law enforcement purposes.
 

Partners in Training Australia have been issued with a CVF Number (Community Volunteer Fee) to reduce the cost when you submit your application directly through the Victoria Police website (including via partner agency Service Victoria). You’ll be provided with this information when you attend their information session for this qualification.

Police Check (National Name Check): Approximately $19
 

*Price can be subject to change without warning.

Skills First Funding & Eligibility Criteria

Skills First is a Victorian Government scheme that helps people access subsidised vocational education and training. If you are eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your course tuition fees.
 

Eligibility criteria for Skills First government-subsidised training
 

Citizenship/Residency
You must be:
1. an Australian citizen, 
or
2. a New Zealand citizen, or
3. a Permanent Resident, or
4. an Asylum Seeker - you are exempt from the citizenship/permanent residence eligibility criteria if:
a) you have been referred to training via the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the Australian Red Cross Victims of Human Trafficking Program and have a ‘Referral to Government Subsidised Training – Asylum Seekers’ form; 
or
b) you hold, or if you are the dependant of an individual who holds a valid humanitarian, protection or refugee visa (see list below); or
- Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202)
- Humanitarian (Temporary) (subclass 449)
- Protection visa (subclass 866)
- Refugee visa 200 Refugee
- Refugee visa 201 In-country Special Humanitarian
- Refugee visa 203 Emergency Rescue
- Refugee visa 204 Woman at Risk
- Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851)
- Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)
- Temporary Humanitarian Concern (subclass 786)
- Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
c) you hold a bridging visa and have lodged an application for (or if you are the dependant of that individual):
- a humanitarian, protection or refugee visa; 
or
- under s.417 or s.48b of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) which is yet to be determined
and the visa states that the visa holder
d) has study rights, and work rights if the course you are enrolling in has placement.

 

Note: the above list of Visa’s is a general but incomplete list of refugee and humanitarian visas. If you’re unsure about your visa type, you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs.

VIC Government funding eligibility rules – what’s changed?
 

1. Your prior education is no longer taken into consideration!
Now you can enrol and study at Partners in Training Australia with government funding, regardless of what level of education you’ve completed in the past. This applies to all students who meet the citizenship/ residency requirements. Prior to this change, you had to ‘upskill’ to get government funding.. but now you don’t.
 

2. Removal of ‘2 at level in a lifetime’ limit!
You can study more than 2 courses that are at the same qualification level with government funding! Prior to 1 January 2023, you could only study 2 of the same level qualifications with government funding in your lifetime.. but now you don’t.
 

3. What hasn’t changed?
You can still only be studying no more than 2 government funded qualifications at any one point in time. This is known as the ‘2 in a year’ limit.

Course Fees & Payment Plans

If you are eligible for Skills First Funding your fees are: $110 Admin Fee (upfront and non-refundable) + a $250 Tuition Fee.
Concession or Asylum Seeker students pay the $110 Admin Fee (upfront and non-refundable) + $50 Tuition Fee.
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students pay the $110 Admin Fee (upfront and non-refundable) + $0 Tuition Fee.

 

Payment plans: Skills First funded students who pay a $250 Tuition Fee can access a payment plan if they cannot pay this in full at the time of enrolment or by Day 1 of the course. Payment plan options are:
1. * a minimum of $50 per fortnight until the Tuition Fee is fully paid.
* Students are able to nominate their 1st deduction so it aligns with their pay.
2. If you are on Centrelink, you are able to fill out a form for Centrepay.

 

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students are not eligible for a payment plan but must pay their Admin Fee at the time of enrolment or by Day 1 of the course.
 

If you are not eligible for Victorian government funding, you can still undertake the course as a Fee For Service student. Students in this category automatically go onto a payment plan to pay off their Tuition Fees. The payment plan instalment is paid fortnightly over 11 months equal to 22 instalments of $218, plus a final instalment of $204.
Course fees: $110 Admin Fee (upfront and non-refundable) + $5,000 Tuition Fee

Course Fees

Centrelink

Please note that some Centrelink Payments may be affected by undertaking study. We strongly advise you speak to your Centrelink Coordinator to see if you are affected. Fresh Futures Australia accepts no responsibility or liability for affected payments.

Meet your Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Partners in Training Australia is a trusted provider of high-quality vocational education in Victoria for over 16 years, empowering students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the Community Services and Health Care sectors. With campuses in Shepparton and Sale, they also cater to students from all over Melbourne and regional Victoria.
 

As an ASQA Registered Training Organisation, they are proud to hold a Victorian Skills First funding contract with the Department of Education, offering eligible students the opportunity to enjoy low-cost tuition fees. They believe that education should be accessible and affordable for everyone.
 

What sets them apart is their team of experienced Trainers & Assessors who have ongoing professional links with the Community Services and Health Care sectors. From Nursing and Aged Care to Disability, Leisure and Health, Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Education Support, and Early Childhood Education, their industry expertise is unparalleled.
 

You can be confident that you'll receive the right training to gain the skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in your chosen field.

Enrolment Process

1. Fill out our Student Questionnaire

The Student Questionnaire is designed for me to get to know you a little better before I pass your details over to the RTO providing the course. This doesn't guarantee your acceptance into the course at Partners in Training Australia nor is it a part of their enrolment process.
 

2. Speak to one of our Student Liaison Coordinators

Once you have completed your Student Questionnaire, one of our Student Liaison Coordinators will give you a courtesy call to:
- Further discuss your eligibility.
- Ensure you have read over the study details.
- Speak further about your career goals and suitability for the course.
- Give you additional information and answer any further questions you may have.

 

If you decide that you would like to proceed with the application process after speaking with one of our Student Liaison Coordinators then we will organise Partners in Training Australia to contact you and invite you to attend one of their information sessions.
 

3. Information Session

The course information session is your opportunity to speak to one of Partners in Training's friendly course advisors, listen to valuable information about the course and ask them as many questions as you need. Then, if you choose to study the qualification, you’ll complete an enrolment application form. Attendance at an information session is compulsory if you want to enrol.
To apply to enrol, you will need your:

1.Unique Student Identifier (USI) - Create your USI here.

2.Victorian Student Number (VSN) - Only required for students who have attended a Victorian school since 2009.

3.Evidence of Citizenship/Residency such as a Green Medicare Card.
 

Please have these documents with you at the Information Session. Completion of the Enrolment Application Form does not guarantee enrolment. A Partners in Training Australia Authorised Delegate will review your application and determine the progression of enrolment.
 

A Partners In Training Australia Information Session covers:
- Information about their registered training organisation and available course locations.
- Qualification details and any course entry requirements.
- Expected hours of study, Student Handbook, Refund policy and other policies you need to be
aware of.
- Course Fees including payment plan options.
- Student Support mechanisms in place.
- Further study and employment pathways available to you upon course completion.
- Mandatory practical placement hours that form part of the course and how placement is organised.
- Any Working with Children Check &/or Police Check requirements.

 

The Information Session is designed to provide enough time to:
- Determine whether your eligible for a Victorian Skills First government subsidised training place.
- Confirm your course fees.
- Assess your Language, Literacy and Numeracy skills (LLN).
- Conduct a Pre-Training Review with you.
- Have you complete the enrolment form.

We're here to support you every step of the way in your journey to enrol in this course at Partners in Training Australia. If you've submitted your Student Questionnaire, we take it as a positive sign that you're ready to find out more and attend an information session, with a view to enrol. However, if you still have questions or uncertainties, please don't hesitate to reach out to me personally. I'm here to address any further queries you may have.

If you see a missed call, voicemail, or text message from us or from Partners in Training Australia, please be courteous and call us back - even if it's to let us know you're no longer interested. We won't be offended!

We eagerly anticipate receiving your Student Questionnaire and discussing your career path with you further. Let's speak soon and take the first step towards achieving your goals!

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