Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs

This course will provide you with the skills, knowledge and experience to support people with alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse problems. You'll learn to provide a range of services, and implement health promotion and community interventions.

When you graduate, you'll be job ready and have specialised knowledge relevant and transferable in other fields such as mental health and youth work.

The welfare and community services sector is one of Australia's fastest growing sectors, and is expected to continue growing (Labour Market Insights). Studying with Victoria University Polytechnic can help you get your foot in the door as an alcohol and other drugs (AOD) worker.

The role of an AOD worker is diverse, challenging and rewarding. You will have specialised skills to help clients get their lives back on track, and your career can make a fulfilling contribution to your community.

You will be able to work in entry-level jobs in a range of contexts such as:

• community mental health organisations
• AOD organisations
• residential rehabilitation services
• outreach services
• withdrawal services.

Example job titles include:

• case worker
• community support worker
• detoxification worker
• drug and alcohol worker
• family support worker
• detoxification worker
• outreach worker
• support worker.

The course structure comprises the following core and elective units. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback.

To be awarded CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, a student must complete a total of seventeen (17) units of competency, consisting of:

• twelve (12) core units, and;

• five (5) elective units, consisting of:

• three (3) units must be selected from the CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs qualification, and;

• two (2) units may be selected from the electives listed in the CHC43215 Certificate IV Alcohol and Other Drugs qualification or any endorsed training package or accredited course - these units must be relevant to the work outcome.

All electives chosen must contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome as well as be approved by the Polytechnic.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.

Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

• Credit transfer/Recognition of prior learning (RPL): If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.