Online training - access your course anytime, anywhere! Call us on 1300 009 924
Enquire now
Enquire
CHC43215

Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs

This Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (Release 3) will set you up for a career in community services, focusing on helping people deal with their drug and alcohol issues. It will prepare you to enter the workforce in a community services role, and give you skills to deal with clients who are facing problems related to drugs and alcohol.

This qualification can be done as a stand alone course or to supplement further study and provide an area of specialisation to gain a specific job role.

Upskilled Promotion Banner for CHC Courses
*Terms & Conditions Apply
Free course guide
Includes full course details
*By providing your information, you agree to our Privacy Policy and to receiving email and other forms of communication from Upskilled. You are able to opt-out at any time.
Study mode online
Enrol anytime
Nationally recognised
Average 15-18 months
17 units of competency
Flexible payment plans
AFQ NRT logos

Course Summary

Duration
Average 15-18 months
Units
17 units of competency
The CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (Release 3) could help you plan a career in a community services role that specialises in helping people deal with their drug and alcohol issues. It will prepare you to enter the workforce in a community services role, and will give you the skills to deal with clients who are facing a variety of problems related to drugs and/or alcohol.


What you'll learn

This comprehensive certificate focuses on the two main areas of demand in the alcohol and other drugs sector: outreach work and community work. Gain skills to begin a career where your specialised knowledge will be relevant across a variety of community services settings such as mental health and youth work. A work placement is included to give you real life experience to ensure you are job ready upon graduation.
Course structure

The standard course is conducted over a 18 month period; within a self-paced online learning environment. 

Upskilled will gather information about your previous experience and skills, weekly study commitment and online learning experience to provide you with an projected duration for your course based on your individual circumstance. 

Upskilled uses MyUpskilled to manage the delivery and assessment of your course. This means you can learn at your own pace.

Please note: You'll be required to undertake the unit HLTAID011 Provide first aid with an external provider at your own cost.

Inclusions
Upskilled courses include specialised learning materials, and access to:
  • Upskilled’s fully customised online learning platform, MyUpskilled
  • Student Support Team
  • Specialist trainers
Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit Transfer / Credit Transfer
Work experience or formal qualifications you have may count towards your course. If you have previously undertaken study at a recognised institution or have some relevant work experience, you might gain credit towards specific units in a course; shortening the time you have to study. You can send your application for Credit Transfer or RPL during the enrolment process.
Assessment
Upskilled takes evidence gathered from a variety of sources to deem a student as competent. Assessment processes might include some or all of the following:
  • Recognition of Prior Learning and/or credit transfer
  • summative and formative assignments
  • written reports and/or portfolio assessments
  • scenarios and/or case studies
  • projects
  • written/oral questions
  • regular training and assessment contact will be maintained by Upskilled in conjunction with the participant and their employer (where applicable). Critical dates during the program will be identified for participants to ensure compliance to assessment due dates, and attendance at monthly webinars as required.
Role-Playing and Interactive Learning Activities
This course comes with Interactive Learning Activities. Upskilled understands the importance of practical experience, so to complement the theory components of your course, our specialist trainers may run ad-hoc Interactive Learning Activities. 

You'll have the opportunity to collaborate with other students - sharing questions, thoughts and ideas, as well as participating together in interactive learning activities.

While the Interactive Learning Activities are not mandatory, your participation is encouraged. You can receive some additional benefits and support, which may include:
  • Having a study buddy where you can bounce off ideas and help each other with assessments.
  • Online Classrooms where our specialist trainers can go over learning content that's part of your course.
  • Activities that relate to your assessments, which can help boost your knowledge and skills.
Additionally, role-playing is included in some of the learning areas of this course. It will also make up some of the practical elements of your assessments, including the assessments in your work placement.


The benefits of role-playing 

Upskilled believes that you can benefit from undertaking role-playing activities throughout your studies. Not only are they fun and interactive, it gives you the opportunity to collaborate with other participants such as other students, your family, friends and or colleagues.

Below are some benefits you can experience when role-playing:
  • Improved decision-making and communication skills: Working in health and community services may involve you working in a variety of work settings. Professionals in this field are expected to make decisions and communicate effectively with clients, colleagues and stakeholders. Our role-playing assessments can help further improve your decision-making and communication skills in a community service workplace. 
  • Preparation for work placement: Role-playing is effective in helping you prepare for work placement. Before you go on work placement, you'll need to complete most of the theory components of your course. The skills and knowledge developed from your role-playing assessments are based on scenarios you may face when working in the community services industry. 
  • Develop knowledge and skills to be "work-ready": Due to the interactive nature of role-playing, it can be an opportunity to practice community service industry roles with volunteers and other students in order to enhance your knowledge and skills. Job roles within this field are "hands-on", so role-playing can prepare you for the physical nature of the work - particularly in the disability and aged care sectors.

Find out how our students actually gain employment after studying.
 

 

Course Detail

Course Structure

This qualification consists of the below units of competency. All competencies must be successfully completed to attain the qualification. The program is broken into 4 logical clusters of training:
  • Law and Diversity and The Alcohol and Other Drugs Sector
  • Assessment and Brief Interventions
  • Crisis Care, Evaluation and Recovery
  • Self care and Professional Development
  • CHCDIV001
    Work with diverse people

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work respectfully with people from diverse social and cultural groups and situations, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. This unit applies to all workers. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

  • CHCLEG001
    Work legally and ethically

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and work within the legal and ethical frameworks that apply to an individual job role. This unit applies to community services and health workers who play a proactive role in identifying and meeting their legal and ethical responsibilities. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

  • CHCCOM002
    Use communication to build relationships

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge to apply specific communication techniques to establish, build and maintain relationships with clients, colleagues and other stakeholders based on respect and trust. This unit applies to work across a range of workplace contexts where workers at all levels may communicate with individuals and/or groups both in person and in writing.

  • CHCPRP001
    Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify networking and collaboration needs and develop formal and informal partnerships to enhance service delivery and improve professional practice. This unit applies to work in all industry sectors, and to individuals who take pro-active responsibility for improving collaboration between workers and organisations.

  • CHCMHS001
    Work with people with mental health issues

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish relationships, clarify needs, and then work collaboratively with people who are living with mental health issues. This unit applies to support workers in contexts outside the mental health sector, but who come into contact with people with mental health issues. The services and support provided are not mental health specific.

  • CHCCCS004
    Assess co-existing needs

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess the diverse and multi-faceted needs of people and determine both internal and external services required to meet those needs.

  • CHCAOD001
    Work in an alcohol and other drugs context

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish and work within the current context, philosophy and values of the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector. This unit applies to workers who come into contact with clients affected by alcohol and other drugs.

  • CHCAOD004
    Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and conduct assessments of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) clients to determine eligibility, service requirements and referral needs. This includes knowledge of factors affecting assessment for a range of different client groups including different genders, youth, older people, mandated and voluntary clients, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This unit applies to people involved in the assessment of clients with AOD issues using established organisation or jurisdictional AOD assessment tools.

  • CHCAOD009
    Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work collaboratively with clients to establish treatment goals, and to develop and evaluate individual treatment plans to meet those goals. This unit applies to workers who develop treatment plans with, and for, clients with alcohol and other drugs (AOD) issues on the basis of an existing assessment and within established organisation guidelines. Depending on the context, development of the plan may be autonomous or collaborative. Workers may or may not be the person conducting the assessment.

  • CHCAOD006
    Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to confirm, conduct and monitor intervention strategies to address alcohol and other drugs (AOD) issues. This unit applies to workers who provide support to people with AOD issues within the scope of an established individual treatment plan. Interventions would be ongoing and be conducted under the guidance of a supervisor.

  • CHCCCS014
    Provide brief interventions

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess intervention needs, and then to implement and monitor brief intervention strategies for people at various stages of the change process. This unit applies to workers in a range of community services contexts.

  • HLTAID011
    Provide first aid

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty in line with first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies. The unit applies to all persons who may be required to provide a first aid response in a range of situations, including community and workplace settings.

  • CHCDIV002
    Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety

    The unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety issues in the workplace, model cultural safety in own work practice, and develop strategies to enhance cultural safety. This unit applies to people working in a broad range of roles including those involved in direct client service, program planning, development and evaluation contexts. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

  • CHCPRP003
    Reflect on and improve own professional practice

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and enhance own practice through a process of reflection and ongoing professional development. This unit applies to workers in all industry sectors who take pro-active responsibility for their own professional development. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

  • CHCMHS005
    Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess capacity to support people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues and to work collaboratively to provide support and facilitate links to other services. This unit applies to work with people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) assessments in a range of community services work contexts.

  • CHCCCS019
    Recognise and respond to crisis situations

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to recognise situations where people may be in imminent crisis, and then to work collaboratively to minimise any safety concerns and make plans to access required support services. This unit applies to any community services worker involved in crisis intervention. Management of the crisis may involve face-to-face, telephone or remote contact with persons involved. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

  • HLTWHS006
    Manage personal stressors in the work environment

    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain health and wellbeing by preventing and managing personal stress. This unit applies to work in a range of health and community services settings, in particular work roles that operate in high stress situations and circumstances.

Completion Certificate

Entry requirements

Start date

There are no formal entry requirements for this course. To make sure you get the most out of training with us, the following enrolment process applies:

  • Once you have inquired, one of our friendly Education Consultants will contact you to ensure you have the right pre-existing knowledge and skills to achieve your chosen qualification.
  • A short language, literacy and numeracy assessment will need to be completed upon enrolment. 


To successfully complete this course, we recommend the following:

  • Have the ability to read and write in English and display numeracy skills up to a minimum level of Year 10.
  • Have access to a modern computer with high-speed internet.
  • Have access to a device with audio/video recording and playback capabilities.
  • Have basic computing skills, including the ability to make and upload short videos.

Requirements for work placement

This qualification will have you undertake work placement at a nominated host organisation approved by Upskilled.

Work placement has been specifically designed to help prepare you for potential career outcomes, giving you the opportunity to further implement and gain practical skills and valuable industry insights through a real-life workplace. 

Your work placement will commence once you have completed most of the theory components of your course. 

Here are some key requirements you should be aware of for the CHC43215 - Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs:

  • You will need to undertake a minimum of 80 hours of work placement in a suitable Counselling or Community Services Environment.
  • It is your responsibility to source a suitable host organisation for work placement. Please note that this can take up to several weeks, so it is recommended to allocate sufficient time when sourcing host suitable organisations. 
  • If you are unable to locate a host organisation, Upskilled's Work Placement Officer can assist you in finding one. Please note that it is required to provide Upskilled with a list of host organisations who have declined your requests for work placement
  • Once you have successfully secured work placement with a host organisation, you will need to complete the Work Placement Agreement Form and submit via MyUpskilled. Please note that Upskilled must approve the Work Placement Agreement before you start your work placement. 

What happens if I'm already working in the industry?

If you are currently employed in the industry relevant to your qualification, you may be able to complete your work placement assessment requirements within your own workplace and may not need to source for a suitable host organisation. 

You will need to submit a Work Placement Agreement Form via MyUpskilled with the details of your employer and Workplace Supervisor. Please note that Upskilled must approve the Work Placement Agreement Form before you commence your work placement.

 

What clearance checks and documentation do I need for work placement?

Requirements vary from state-to-state. Please see below the required documentation and clearance checks needed by Upskilled and host organisations.

If you live in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, NT and WA, you will need:
  • Working with Children Check
  • National Police Check
  • Cover Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae 
If you live in ACT and TAS, you will need:
  • Working with Vulnerable People Check
  • National Police Check
  • Cover Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae 
Fees may apply when obtaining some of the clearance checks. It is a mandatory requirement that you apply for the relevant checks and submit your approved checks via MyUpskilled within the first 2 months of your course start date. 

You will also need to supply your cover letter and curriculum vitae if you require assistance from Upskilled’s Work Placement Officer. 

Upskilled reserves the right to transfer you to another course which work placement is not a mandatory requirement or cancel your enrolment if you have not obtained and submitted the required clearance checks.  

 

How will I be assessed?

An Upskilled Assessor will liaise with your host organisation's Workplace Supervisor to review and validate your practical skill ability. For certain tasks, you will need to demonstrate your skills through video recordings and when necessary, through simulated activities which will be assessed by your Upskilled Assessor. 

Please note that to successfully complete the work placement component of this qualification, you will need to be reasonably fit to undertake a variety of tasks and activities that may involve manual lifting, kneeling on the floor and other physical activities.  

Find out how our students actually gain employment after studying.
 

Physical requirements

Students will need to be reasonably physically fit to undertake the work placement as the tasks and activities associated with the work placement may involve manual lifting and other physical activities.

Payment Options

Pay Upfront & Save

Save 20% when you pay upfront  

Discounted Upfront Price: $3,160
 

Spread the cost

Payment Plans Available - $61 per week* (paid fortnightly or monthly)
Speak to our Education Consultants to know more about our Flexible Payment Plans.
Call 1300 009 924 to find out more. *Terms & Conditions Apply.

 

RRP $3,950

Government funding

At both a state and federal level, government commitment to upskilling the Australian workforce has resulted in a comprehensive framework of funding schemes and incentive opportunities. As a result, many Upskilled participants are provided incentives by the Government to undertake training and/or find that their courses are heavily subsidised.

Government funding options for:
Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs

Major schemes include:

Check your eligibility

An Upskilled education consultant will contact you within 48 hours

Career outcomes

This qualification could give you several career and/or further study outcomes. 
Career outcomes
Education pathways
This course might include a pathway to university, which are subject to change. Please speak to one of our Education Consultants for more information.

Educators

Upskilled's trainers in the CHC faculty have well-rounded skill sets and industry experience to help ensure that you're well-trained and prepared for any career challenge you experience in the community services field. 

Approaching training with empathy, compassion and openness, you'll find that our trainers in the CHC faculty will help you develop the job-ready skills needed to prepare you for a career where you can make a difference everyday.

Below are some of the examples of support you may receive in the CHC faculty:

  • Assessment walkthroughs (recorded)

  • Assessment and Academic support sessions

  • Additional resources and professional development opportunities

  • Peer support and practical practise sessions via Zoom

  • Online recorded Training facilitated by your Trainer/Assessor

FAQs

What is the CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs?

The CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs is a qualification designed to prepare individuals for a career in the community services sector, specifically focusing on helping individuals with drug and alcohol-related issues. It provides the necessary skills to work in roles that involve supporting clients facing challenges related to substance abuse.

 

How long does it take to complete the course?

The duration of the CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs can vary, but typically it can be completed within 12-18 months, depending on your study pace and any prior learning or experience you may have.

 

What career opportunities can I pursue after completing this course?

Upon completion of the CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, you can pursue various career opportunities in the community services sector. Some potential roles include Alcohol and Other Drugs Support Worker, Community Support Worker, Case Manager, or Outreach Worker in organizations focused on supporting individuals dealing with drug and alcohol-related issues.

 

Is work placement included in the course?

Yes, work placement is often included as part of the CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs. It provides valuable hands-on experience and allows you to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the course in real-world settings.

 

How can I enroll in the CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs course?

To enroll in CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs course, you must first submit an enquiry form through our website. You'll be asked to provide basic information about yourself: including your name, email address, and phone number.

Once you've completed and submitted your form, one of our education consultants will get in touch within 48 hours. You will then be assessed on your suitability for the course (i.e. questions on your current experience, skill set, and knowledge). At this stage, you'll also have the opportunity to enquire on payment options, training materials, and the online learning experience.

 

Get a free consultation & kickstart your career - Call now

We're always here to help you succeed. Get a free education consultation with one of our Upskilled Education Consultants about this course or simply find out what's best for you.
1300 009 924
9am - 5pm Mon-Fri

 



Have more questions? Check out our FAQs

Enquire today

Sounds just like the course you're after? Speak with a career consultant to discover what it's like to study the CHC43215 - Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs. Send us an enquiry and we'll get in touch.

*By providing your information, you agree to our Privacy Policy and to receiving email and other forms of communication from Upskilled. You are able to opt-out at any time.

Download course guide

Want to know all about this course? Get our course brochure to discover what it's like to study CHC43215 - Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs. Submit your details and simply click 'Download'.

Download course guide

Want to know all about this course? Get our course brochure to discover what it's like to study . Submit your details and simply click 'Download'.

Invalid widget name.

Enquire now

Start your next course with Upskilled. Enter your details in the form below.

*By providing your information, you agree to our Privacy Policy and to receiving email and other forms of communication from Upskilled. You are able to opt-out at any time.

Enquire now

Start your next course with Upskilled. Enter your details in the form below.

*By providing your information, you agree to our Privacy Policy and to receiving email and other forms of communication from Upskilled. You are able to opt-out at any time.

Government FundingĀ & Incentive Enquiry

To find out what types of Government funding incentives might be available to you, please complete the form below.

Your Information

 

Funding information

 
*By providing your information, you agree to our Privacy Policy and to receiving email and other forms of communication from Upskilled. You are able to opt-out at any time.
 
Processing