Requirements
Individual AOD agencies seeking staff may value particular skills and qualifications over others. However skilled staff with qualifications can be difficult to find and are always in demand. If you are working in the AOD sector and want to improve your skillset or you want to find out which qualifications are most valued, contact a local AOD agency or a state or territory peak body to find out more about the skills that are in demand.
At present there is no national, formal minimum qualification standard for AOD work. However Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) have introduced a minimum qualification strategy (MQS) for AOD workers.
Levels of education
Certificate IV
Certificate IV in Alcohol and other Drugs Work.
Diploma level
Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol other Drugs and Mental Health)
Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and other Drugs)
Bachelor level ( examples only course titles vary)
Bachelor of Health Science (Addiction Studies)
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Addiction Studies)
Bachelor of Community Mental Health, Alcohol and other Drugs
It might help to know how all the different qualification methods fit together.
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
The AQF provides the standards for Australian qualifications. Education and training in Australia is a shared responsibility across the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the AQF is jointly owned by them. In July 2011 the first edition of the AQF was published and can be viewed from the QF website.
Training.gov.au
Training.gov.au is a database of vocational education and training in Australia. There is information about courses, training, competencies and qualifications. For example you can easily search for accredited courses at different levels available in your state or territory.
The current minimum qualification is CHC40408 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs Work and this is the mandatory qualification in the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.
Nurses
Nurses can visit the Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia site for professional information. Of particular interest may be the standards and competency page.
Page last updated: 11 April 2012