Dual Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health

Course Overview

Unlock a world of opportunities with our Dual Certificate IV Course in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health. Gain expertise in alcohol and other drugs assistance and mental health support, ensuring job readiness and a versatile skillset for a fulfilling career in community services.

What you'll learn

Alcohol and Other Drugs component:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of substance abuse and its impact
• Learn effective communication strategies for supporting individuals with addiction
• Gain skills in assessing and managing drug and alcohol-related issues
• Implement harm reduction strategies to assist clients on their recovery journey

Mental Health component:

• Work collaboratively with care teams and other services
• Apply trauma-informed care effectively
• Assess and promote social, emotional, and physical wellbeing
• Provide recovery-oriented mental health services

What you need to know

Entry Requirements

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. 

Recommended Skills and Resources:

• 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.

Self-Paced Learning and Course Duration

Upskilled's flexible, self-paced courses let you balance personal and work schedules. With a training plan to keep you on track, most students complete the course in 12-18 months, but motivated learners can finish faster. Speak with an Education Consultant to discuss your study and completion goals.

Assessment

This course will have you undertake summative and formative assessments, write reports and/or create a portfolio, and participate in role-playing scenarios. You'll also be working on a variety of projects that require your own research as well as answering various written/oral questions that apply the theory you learn into practice.

Work Placement

For the CHC43215/CHC43315 Dual Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health, the work placement requirements are as follows:

• You will need to undertake a minimum of 80 hours of work placement in a suitable Counselling or Community Services Environment.

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

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit Transfer

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Credit Transfer (CT) with supporting evidence of prior education or work experience. This can reduce your study load or course duration. Speak with your Education Consultant before enrolment for details, or download the application from MyUpskilled after enrolment. A trainer will assess your eligibility.

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.

Dedicated Community Service Trainers

Upskilled's community services trainers bring comprehensive skills and industry experience to prepare you for a rewarding career. They approach training with empathy, compassion, and openness, helping you develop job-ready skills. Support includes recorded assessment walkthroughs, academic support sessions, additional resources, professional development opportunities, peer support, practical practice sessions via Zoom, and online recorded training.

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 CHC43315 - Certificate IV in Mental Health:

• 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.

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.