Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs CHC43215

This course is perfect for people who are looking to start a career helping persons experiencing substancce 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.

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note - limitations do apply.

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.

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.

• 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.

You’ll need to find a work placement yourself and ensure it’s approved by Open Colleges. When looking for a suitable work placement host organisation, have a think about the following:

• Are you already working or volunteering in the industry your course is related to? You could potentially do your work placement at your current place of work or have contacts that could recommend a suitable work place. Ask around!
• If you’re entering a new industry, do some research and start thinking about organisations you could approach. We have plenty of resources available to help with approaching and finding a suitable work placement organisation.

All costs of work placement, including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or Open Colleges), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student. These fees will vary and are dependent on your location within Australia.

• Costs for statutory checks will range between $0 - $100 dependent on the type of check you select and your state.
• Costs for vaccinations will very between practitioners, please refer to your GP for approximate costs.
• Placement fees will vary, please discuss this with your intended host organisation for approximate costs.

You 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 theWorkplace Assessment Guide. Your workplace assessor will ascertain whether the workplace is appropriate.

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).