Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs CHC43215

This course is perfect for people who are looking to start a career helping persons experiencing substance misuse or alcohol and other drug concerns.

The Certificate IV is also ideal for people who already work as a Case Worker or Support Worker, and are looking for additional skills to help them work with clients who struggle with drugs and alcohol.

During your studies, you will learn how to:

• Communicate with clients.
• Work with people who are under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.
• Work with people with mental health issues.
• Determine the needs of clients with alcohol and drugs issues.
• Develop and review treatment plans.
• Refer clients to other services, and work collaboratively with other care providers.
• Understand and work from a trauma informed care perspective.
• Work within legal and ethical guidelines.

• Case studies
• Multiple choice questions
• Portfolio of evidence
• Short-answer questions
• Workplace assessments
• Written reports

The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

Recommended Local Entry Requirements

Students will need to be at least 18 years old. Students under 18 will need a parent or guardian to complete the parent or guardian declaration on the Enrolment Form.

Students residing in WA/NT under the age of 18, who are not currently studying for their year 12 certificate cannot be enrolled.

Students are recommended to have the language, literacy, and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to read and comprehend technical terms and communicate effectively through email.

These skills are equivalent to:

• Successfully completed Year 12 OR
• Certificate III or higher OR
• 2 years’ work experience in a role that requires the use of written documentation and communication

Tools, equipment, and skills required:

• Learners may need to provide appropriate clothing and uniforms for placement.
• Access to a modern computer with high-speed internet
• Access to Microsoft Office
  

Additional Requirements:

• Most of the units of competency include both physical and psychological requirements that reflect the realities of working in the community services and mental health sector. Learners must have the physical capacity to respond to emergency situations, including kneeling to perform CPR, assisting with or participating in safe restraint where required, and maintaining visual awareness of clients to support ongoing assessment. In addition, learners need the psychological resilience to engage in confronting and emotionally demanding situations, such as working with individuals experiencing mental illness, trauma, intoxication, or crisis, including those at risk of suicide or self harm. This also includes the ability to cope with potential personal triggers, support vulnerable populations such as children and young people at risk, and manage exposure to grief, loss, and high stress environments.
  
• Where first aid is a requirement of the host organisation, students will be required to complete 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an adult manikin while kneeling on the floor.

First Aid

The unit HLTAID011 Apply first aid (or its equivalent) is not delivered by Open Colleges. This unit can be satisfied via the completion of the nationally recognised unit of competency or its equivalent offered by an approved provider. You will need to provide a certified copy of a current certificate or Statement of Attainment to be provided credit for this unit. You will need to pay a fee directly to the provider and may be required to travel in order to undertake this unit with the provider of your choice. Whilst it is not a requirement to hold a current first aid certificate to undertake work placement in this industry, workplaces have the right to request this.

Mental health skills

During work placement you will be responsible for providing support and services to individuals and families experiencing mental health issues. This may include confidential individual, family, supporting families dealing with mental health issues, working with clients who have complex needs and working with children and young people experiencing abuse. It is important that you are able to work cooperatively in a team, act with cultural sensitivity, be accepting of diversity and be non-judgemental. Some of the learning materials are sensitive in nature and warnings are provided along with potential services that can assist with self-care and managing any personal issues that the learning may raise.

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

Focus on your studies while we handle your work placement. Through our partnership with SkilTrak, our Guaranteed Work Placement ensures you gain hands-on experience in your dream career—right in your local area. Learn more

• Meet with SkilTrak – Their team will discuss your skills, goals, location, and travel preferences to arrange the best placement for you.
• Get the details – Have a quick chat with us to go over what to expect from your work placement experience.
• Once you’ve completed your coursework, we’ll take care of finding the right placement for you.
• Start your placement – Gain real-world experience while we check in along the way to ensure everything is running smoothly.
• Complete your course – Once your placement is done, upload your workbooks, finish your final assessment, and receive your certificate.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) will require a minimum of 120 hours in the workplace.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is completed at the end of the course. Students should start looking for placement facilities once they have commenced their studies. Once they have completed 75% of their course, they can submit their workplace approval form.

There will also be specific assessment tasks including a logbook and portfolios to be completed at the workplace.

Workplaces suitable to undertake SWL include:

• Community AOD Services
• Child and Youth AOD Services
• Detoxification Units
• Residential Rehabilitation AOD Facilities
• Health Promotion and Education Services

Students will need to undertake your work placement in an organisation involved in the delivery of alcohol and other drug-related services to clients. The workplace will need to be able to provide you with access to specialist equipment and resources. The specific requirements of the workplace are outlined in the course overview.

For students to be able to undertake the practical component of the course, approved workplaces must be able to provide students with the required equipment, environments, policies & procedures, documentation, appropriate supervisor, and clients. If host organisations are unable to provide the necessary equipment, resources, and access to clients the student may be required to undertake SWL within 2 (or more) organisations.

The workplace may require the student to meet workplace-specific requirements. These will vary by state and by organisation. Some of the statutory checks and requirements the student may need to provide to commence work placement are:

• Working with Children check
• Police check/National Criminal Record check
• Screening and vaccination against infectious disease, including COVID-19
• Signing of Codes of Conduct and Confidentiality Agreements
• Provide a certified and current First Aid Certificate from a Registered Training Organisation to demonstrate competency for HLTAID003 - Provide First Aid

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Your supervisor must have at least 3 years of experience in the community services industry and hold a minimum qualification of Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs or related community services qualification (or equivalent).