Alcohol and Other Drugs Short Course
This Alcohol & Other Drug Course is designed to provide aspiring professionals and those seeking professional development with a foundational skillset and knowledge in alcohol & other drugs.

This introductory course comprises 8 units from our nationally recognised (CHC43215) Certificate IV in Alcohol & Other Drugs. The course focuses on community-based support for people that have alcohol & other drug issues and is ideal for beginners looking to enter the mental health sector or those aiming for a pathway into further education, such as a (CHC43215) Certificate IV in Alcohol & Other Drugs or related field.
What will you learn online?
Upon completing this course, participants will be equipped to:
- Work respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including culturally sensitive approaches.
- Provide client-centred support to those affected by alcohol and other drugs.
- Understand the legal and ethical frameworks in the AOD context.
- Implement brief interventions and monitor client progress.
- Develop strategies for mental health support and crisis intervention.
Available Online Units
Core Units
CHCDIV001: Work with Diverse People
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively with a range of diverse individuals, families, carers and/or communities.
It applies to workers who interface with diverse people as part of their job role. It includes interacting with people from diverse backgrounds in a range of contexts. It also includes having an awareness of own personal values, attitudes and beliefs and how these may impact working with diverse people.
At the end of this unit, students should be able to:
- Engage diverse individuals, families, carers and/or communities in a way that meets their needs promote their strengths and are culturally safe.
- Communicate with diverse individuals, families, carers and/or communities using methods and language that are appropriate to their needs.
- Promote the inclusion and participation of diverse individuals, families, carers and/or communities.
- Use effective interpersonal skills to support the development of respectful relationships with diverse individuals, families, carers and/or communities.
- Reflect on personal values, attitudes and beliefs and how they may impact working with diverse individuals
It applies to workers across a range of community work and services contexts who take responsibility for their own outputs within an established framework. They work under broad supervision and guidance from others.
CHCDIV002: Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety within own job role.
This unit applies to workers across a broad range of community service contexts who work collaboratively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. They may work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals, families or communities in a direct service capacity or in an indirect service capacity.
Workers at this level maintain cultural safety by ensuring their own attitudes, knowledge, behaviours, and values do not judgementally affect service provision.
They work to ensure that the service environment and delivery are culturally safe for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients. This includes promoting the use of interpreters and other strategies to facilitate communication.
Workers may be required to provide leadership and guidance to others in promoting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety.
This unit applies to workers across a range of community work and services contexts who take responsibility for their own outputs within an established framework. They work under broad supervision and guidance from others.
CHCCOM002: Use Communication to Build Relationships
This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to use communication to build relationships. It includes identifying opportunities and strategies for building relationships, using effective communication techniques, and maintaining relationships.
This unit is relevant to workers in a range of community, health and human service contexts who work with clients, co-workers and other stakeholders.
This unit is important because it will provide you with the skills and knowledge to use communication to build relationships. It is also important to be able to maintain these relationships.
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify opportunities and strategies for building relationships
- Use effective communication techniques
- Maintain relationships.
CHCDFV001: Recognise and Respond Appropriately to Domestic and Family Violence
This unit covers the knowledge and skills required to recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence. This includes understanding the dynamics of domestic and family violence, identifying signs of domestic and family violence, and responding safely and effectively to disclosures of domestic and family violence.
Handling domestic and family violence is a complex task. This unit will give you the skills and knowledge to safely and effectively support people experiencing or at risk of domestic and family violence.
At the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Understand the dynamics of domestic and family violence
- Identify signs of domestic and family violence
- Respond safely and effectively to disclosures of domestic and family violence
- Refer clients who disclose domestic and family violence to appropriate services.
CHCLEG001: Work Legally and Ethically
This unit covers the legislation and professional, ethical frameworks governing the mental health industry. Learners will be able to identify and apply appropriate legal and ethical principles in the provision of mental health services.
This unit is important because it ensures that workers in the mental health industry are providing services in a legal and ethical manner. It is crucial that all workers in this industry understand the relevant legislation and professional, ethical frameworks in order to provide safe and effective services to their clients.
At the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify and apply relevant legislation and professional, ethical frameworks in the provision of mental health services
- Understand the implications of non-compliance with legal and ethical requirements
- Access and interpret mental health legislation and professional, ethical frameworks
CHCMHS001: Work with people with mental health issues
This qualification reflects the role of workers who provide services and interventions to young people with mental health issues. Workers at this level have a diploma-level qualification and work independently under broad directions from senior management.
This qualification is designed for people working in youth work and other community contexts who provide direct support to young people with mental health issues.
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will have the skills and knowledge required to:
- Work with young people with mental health issues
- Develop and implement support plans
- Provide crisis intervention
- Liaise with other agencies and professionals
- Promote the recovery model
- Reflect on and improve your own practice.
CHCAOD001: Work in an Alcohol and Other Drugs Context
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work in an alcohol and other drugs context. It covers identifying clients with AOD issues, working with clients who have AOD issues, and referral of clients with AOD issues.
This unit applies to workers who provide direct alcohol and other drugs services to clients. They work under general supervision and may have responsibility for leading other workers.
CHCCCS014: Provide brief interventions
This unit provides students with the skills and knowledge required to provide brief interventions. Students will learn how to identify and respond to the needs of individuals and groups using a range of communication methods.
This unit is important because it helps students to develop the skills they need to provide support to people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. By completing this unit, students will be better equipped to provide effective support to clients.
At the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify and respond to the needs of individuals and groups
- Use a range of communication methods
- Provide support to clients
Elective Units
What career could I have?
Graduates of this short course will be prepared for entry-level roles such as:
- Alcohol & Other Drugs Support Worker
- Community Support Worker
- Case Worker
- Outreach Worker
- Crisis Intervention Worker
FAQ
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Have completed their education to a level which is equivalent to an Australian Senior High School Year 12 or Learners are required to pass an online LLN assessment test at or above level 3 in reading, writing and numeracy.
- Have suitable language, literacy and numeracy skills to read and comprehend learning materials and perform tasks related to recording workplace documents including reading and writing detailed reports, case notes, reports and other documents, interpreting workplace policy and procedure and reporting hazards.
- Have sound computer skills to navigate simple software to complete the online component of this course and must be able to use intermediate level Word features in order to produce and present word-processed documents/ reports.
- Have access to a laptop and internet to complete this online course.
- These entry requirements will be confirmed through information collected on the online application and during the enrolment interview.
This online short course in Alcohol & Other Drugs offers a flexible, self-paced learning environment, allowing you to balance study with other commitments. The short course includes pre-recorded teaching sessions, providing an interactive and engaging learning experience. You will also have access to real-world case studies and support from experienced instructors.
Accreditation
Upon successful completion, learners will receive a statement of attainment recognising the units of competency completed. These units can be used to credit transfer to create a pathway into further education, such as a (CHC43215) Certificate IV in Alcohol & Other Drugs or (CHC53215) Diploma of Alcohol & Other Drugs or related field.
Hader Institute provides support to all learners through the trainer and the Hader Institute of Education Learner Support Officer.
Accreditation
Upon successful completion, learners will receive a statement of attainment recognising the units of competency completed. These units can be used to credit transfer to create a pathway into further education, such as a CHC42021 Certificate IV or CHC52021 in Community Services or related field.
* In-person or Virtual Meeting