• Mental Health Support Worker

• Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker

• Case Worker

• Mental Health Outreach Worker

• Drug and Alcohol Community Support Worker

• Outreach Officer (Alcohol and Other Drugs)

• Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Worker

• Assistant Community Health Worker

• Alcohol and other drug treatment and rehabilitation services

• Community health centres and harm reduction programs

• Non-government organisations (NGOs) and not-for-profits

• Residential detox and recovery facilities

• Government health and human services departments

• Youth and family support agencies

• Outreach and mobile support teams

• Mental health and dual diagnosis services

• Local councils and community wellbeing programs

• Housing, homelessness, and crisis accommodation services
  

• Providing client-focused support – Assisting individuals affected by substance use to improve their health and wellbeing.

• Conducting AOD assessments – Identifying patterns of use, underlying issues, and risks to create personalised support plans.

• Delivering brief and structured interventions – Supporting clients through motivational counselling, harm minimisation, and relapse prevention.

• Referring clients to services – Connecting individuals to detox programs, mental health care, housing support, and legal aid.

• Running group education sessions – Facilitating programs that promote recovery, life skills, and peer connection.

• Advocating for client needs – Helping clients access services, understand their rights, and navigate complex support systems.

• Engaging in outreach work – Meeting clients in the community to build trust and provide practical assistance.

• Maintaining case records – Documenting case notes accurately, handling sensitive information, and following legal and ethical standards.

• A genuine interest in addiction recovery, health promotion, and community support.

• Empathy, patience, and a non-judgemental approach when working with vulnerable individuals.

• Strong communication and active listening skills to build meaningful client relationships.

• The ability to foster trust and respect across diverse cultural and social backgrounds.

• Emotional resilience and the ability to manage challenging or high-pressure situations.

• Practical problem-solving and sound decision-making capabilities.

• A commitment to inclusive practice and harm reduction principles.

• Good organisational skills and time management.

• Confidence working both independently and within a multidisciplinary team.

• A passion for empowering individuals and supporting long-term positive change.

• Provide advanced alcohol and other drug interventions that support recovery, harm reduction, and relapse prevention.

• Assess complex client needs and develop personalised, evidence-based treatment and support plans.

• Deliver trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care for individuals with co-existing AOD and mental health issues.

• Establish and manage effective therapeutic relationships using respectful and client-centred communication.

• Promote emotional, physical, and social wellbeing through early intervention, health promotion, and wellness planning.

• Collaborate with service networks, families, and community supports to ensure integrated care.

• Advocate for clients navigating health, justice, and community systems, while upholding legal and ethical responsibilities.

• Apply reflective practice and research to continuously improve your professional skills and service delivery.

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!

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!

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 160 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.

Graduates of the CHC53215 Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs may wish to further their studies and broaden their career opportunities by enrolling in the following courses:

• CHC62015 Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management

• CHC82015 Graduate Certificate in Client Assessment and Case Management

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): $29.40

*Price can be subject to change without warning.

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 Citizenship or Residency Status To be eligible, you must be one of the following:

• An Australian citizen; or

• A New Zealand citizen; or

• A Permanent Resident; or

• An Asylum Seeker – for which you are exempt from meeting the citizenship/permanent residence requirements if you meet one of a, b or c below:

a) You can provide a signed letter from one of the below agencies, referring you to government subsidised training:

• the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), or

• the Australian Red Cross Support for Trafficked People Program or

b) You hold a Bridging Visa and have lodged an application (or are the dependant of an applicant) for:

• a Humanitarian, Protection or Refugee visa, such as:

• 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) under s.417 or s.48b of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) which is yet to be determined or

c) You hold, or you are the dependant of someone who holds, a valid Humanitarian, Protection, or Refugee visa (refer applicable visa types listed above) Note: This list of visa types provided above is not exhaustive. Please contact the Department of Home Affairs if you're unsure about your visa type. For both b and c above:

• Your VEVO check must confirm unlimited study rights, and

• If your course includes placement, you must also have unlimited work rights.

Live in NSW or SA Border Region?

• You may still be eligible for Victorian Government funding if you live in specific postcodes classified as border regions and meet all other eligibility criteria.

• You must complete all training, including any placement, while physically present in the approved postcode area (this applies regardless of the mode of delivery of the course).

Limits on Government-Funded Training

• 2 in a Year Rule: You can commence a maximum of 2 subsidised qualifications, and 2 subsidised skill sets per calendar year.

• 2 at a Time Rule: You can only study a maximum of 2 Skills First subsidised programs at once.

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.

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.