Workforce development and training opportunities for people working in the alcohol and other drug sector in Western Australia.

Talking Point - Alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 epidemic in Australia

Presented by Dr Sarah Callinan
Wednesday 21 April 2021
11am - 12pm AWST / 1pm - 2pm
Online

Throughout 2020 public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic led to massive disruption in the everyday lives people around the world. Two longitudinal studies assessing the alcohol consumption of a convenience sample of Australians aged 18 and over measured the ways in which respondents changed consumption, harm and purchasing of alcohol throughout 2020. One study focussed on drinking motives, stress and harmful drinking while the other focussed on location of consumption, purchasing patterns, distress and COVID-specific socio-economic factors. Results from both studies will be presented including state-based comparisons of changes in consumption and harm as lockdown laws differed between states.

Dr Sarah Callinan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University. She is the study director of the Australian arm of the International Alcohol Control Study and the database co-ordinator for a 32 country study of alcohol’s harm others co-ordinated with the World Health Organisation. Her primary research area of interest is drinking in the home.

To register, please visit Talking Point - Alcohol Consumption in the COVID-19 Epidemic in Australia. There is no cost to attend but registrations are essential

360Edge - The how and why of motivational interviewing
Thursday 29 April 2021
7am - 2.30pm
Online
Cost: Early Bird $295 / Standard $355
Book 5 or more spaces for your team and save an additional 10% off the earlybird rate.
This workshop is eligible for 6.5 hours of CPD (self-logged).

This workshop will cover the key elements in motivational interviewing essential for AOD workers. Participants will improve their motivational interviewing skills – “the how” – and gain a deeper understanding of the spirit and philosophy of motivational interviewing – “the why”.

Learning outcomes

• Improve understanding of motivational interviewing theory and practice
• Increase knowledge of key motivational interviewing processes
• Build and strengthen core motivational interviewing skills
• Increase knowledge and practice of key motivational interviewing specific interventions

For more information and to book, please visit 360Edge - The how and why of motivational interviewing at Eventbrite.

Still have questions? Contact Brenda via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1300 988 184.

Non-Profit Training - Online Emerging Leaders Program
Wednesday 12 May and Wednesday 26 May 2021
8am - 1.30pm AWST
Cost - $560 per person.

There are many challenges faced by new and emerging leaders and those new to people management within the not for profit sector. Learning how to provide a positive and inclusive culture and how to build stronger, more effective relationships with their team, volunteers, board members and other partners around them is essential.

Delivered over two days this emerging leaders program will provide participants with an understanding of leadership in different contexts and help them establish the type of leaders they want to be. It will focus more specifically on tactics for success to lead, build effective relationships, inspire and motivate their team to achieve organisational goals.

For more information, visit Non-Profit Training - Online Emerging Leaders Program.

360Edge - Responding to trauma in alcohol and other drugs
Tuesday 13 May 2021
7am - 2.30pm
Online
Cost: Early Bird $295 / Standard $355
Book 5 or more spaces for your team and save an additional 10% off the earlybird rate.
This workshop is eligible for 6.5 hours of CPD (self-logged)

Deepen your understanding of trauma and gain real skills in managing trauma related symptoms in alcohol and other drugs settings

Do you want to add more skills to your work with clients who have experienced trauma?
This one day workshop provides participants with a practical, skills-based approach to responding sensitively and effectively to clients with co-occurring trauma and alcohol and other drug support needs.
Building on trauma-informed approaches, Dr Richard Cash, 360Edge’s trauma expert will equip participants with practical skills to recognise the biopsychosocial impacts of trauma, integrate recovery-oriented interventions into their alcohol and other drug work, and attend to their own self-care.

For more information and to book, please visit 360Edge - Responding to trauma in alcohol and other drugs at Eventbrite.

Still have questions? Contact Brenda via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on 1300 988 184.

Murdoch University - Free Training: Family-based intervention for youth alcohol and other drug use and co-occurring mental health issues in Western Australia  

Murdoch University is offering free Behaviour Exchange and Systems Therapy (BEST) facilitator training for clinicians across Western Australia.

BEST is an evidence-based, 8-week, multi-family group program for parents and their young persons (12-24yo) with substance use and/or mental health issues. Previously implemented and evaluated in Victoria, BEST was effective in engaging at-risk youth who initially refused services, reducing their substance use, problem behaviours and mental health symptoms, as well as improving family functioning.

Trained facilitators will gain accreditation through a two-day workshop and supervision in implementing the program in your service. This project is funded by the WA Department of Justice.

For more information, please download  pdf Introduction to the BEST Implementation Project (238 KB)  or contact the Murdoch Research Team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ASHM - STI Testing in Primary Care - New online learning for Western Australian health professionals!

In recent years, the incidence of some STIs in Western Australia has been rising at an alarming rate. This year a syphilis outbreak has been declared in metro Perth. It’s more important than ever for Western Australian primary care providers to screen and test for STIs.

ASHM is offering a new online learning module, funded by and developed in collaboration with WA Health. Through interactive quizzes and case studies, Western Australian GPs and other health professionals can develop their skills to confidently discuss sexual health with patients, conduct guideline-based STI screening and testing, and initiate contact tracing.

The module is an accredited learning activity with RACGP and ACRRM, and a certificate of completion is available.

Start learning today at lms.ashm.org.au (search ‘STI Testing’)

Funded by the WA Department of Health Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program.

Australian Government - COVID-19 Infection Control Training

This 30-minute online training module is for health care workers in all settings. It covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19.

Access the online COVID-19 Infection Control Training. More information is also available in the Australian Government Department of Health information sheet Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for health care and residential care workers.

Make Smoking History - Smoking Cessation Brief Advice Online Training

The online courses will help staff make conversations about smoking, using the 3-step brief advice model, a regular part of their interactions with clients or patients. It will also increase their knowledge of best practice tobacco dependence treatment, and what services and resources are available to support clients or patients to reduce and quit smoking.

Everyone who works directly with clients or patients should undertake this training.

Visit Make Smoking History for more details.

SMART Recovery Australia - Online SMART Recovery Facilitator Training

Learn how to run an online SMART Recovery meeting by completing this six-hour interactive e-learning course. Part 2 of the training is a live and interactive two-hour video conference workshop that will run through simulated meeting scenarios and get you comfortable with facilitating online support groups.

Register at SMART Recovery Australia.

Wild Butterfly Documentary Screenings

Nine years in the making, set in WA and meticulously researched. Wild Butterfly is a dramatized documentary that explores the trauma of childhood sexual violence and its relationship to ongoing mental health issues and drug use. It uncovers the hidden story behind a family’s tragic circumstances and opens our eyes to the impacts of social injustices and prejudices that could befall anyone. 

View the Wild Butterfly trailer, find out how to host your own Wild Butterfly screening.

Australian Research Webinars

• impact2020 – free webinars for the Australian for-purpose sector from the Centre for Social Impact.
• National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) Resources - Webinars
• National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED) Webinars

Training and Workforce Development Providers

• Anglicare WA - Professional Development Training - draws on more than 40 years’ experience as a leading service provider in the social services sector to develop and deliver quality training and professional development workshops to a range of audiences; from administration and teaching aids, to community service workers and psychologist through to lawyers and corporate groups.
• Connecting Up - Online Learning Program - designed to build the capability of the not-for-profit sector and give you the knowledge and skills you need for greater impact. Webinars, online workshops, and other learning opportunities available.
• Cracks in the Ice - This online training provides frontline workers, including peer workers, alcohol and other drug workers and clinicians, with information and resources about ice (crystal methamphetamine).
• Emerging Minds: National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health - free training and information.
• Evolve Events - Training and Human Development - Along with their training services, they offer a complete event management service.
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Training for Professionals - WA Mental Health Commission
• Holyoake - DRUMBEAT Facilitator Training - Holyoake is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that offers DRUMBEAT Facilitator Training to community and youth workers.
• Karen Hulls - Complex Trauma Training WA - deliver a range of comprehensive training programs for workers and carers who work with children, youth, adults and families who have experienced complex trauma.
• Mental Health Commission - AODtraining@MHC - provides a range of knowledge and skills-based training events on alcohol and other drugs and comorbidity. Events are free-of-charge and include induction training for new workers.
• Mental Health Commission - E-learning@MHC - online learning programs aimed at professionals employed in the AOD sector and other professional staff working to prevent AOD-related harm.
• National Comorbidity Guidelines Online Training - free, online training developed by by The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. Completion will take approximately 10 hours.
• Relationships Australia WA - Professional Development - provides training for family and community support professionals to develop specialist relationship counselling, mediation and management skills. Training is provided from basic to advanced professional competency levels.
• Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Assault - Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) in Western Australia e-learning package.
• Richmond Wellbeing - courses&events - provide specialist, evidence-based training in Recovery-oriented approaches and practice, corporate training courses and a number of community and cultural events within supportive and inclusive environments.
• SAFE in Oz - run workshops on working with people impacted by self-destructive behaviours.
• SMART Recovery Program Training - SMART Recovery Australia offers training in the SMART Recovery behavioural change and addiction treatment program and how to run a SMART meeting in the community or your organisation.
• Sexual Assault and Resource Centre (SARC) -  provides quality, evidence based education and training opportunities on issues related to sexual assault and sexual abuse to professional workers, students and volunteers.
• Turning Point Connect & Learn Webinars - presented by experienced clinicians from the alcohol and other drug sector.
• The Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) - offers a range of courses targeted to meet specific needs of the mental health workforce, enhance the skill development of roles which relate to mental health, and educate the wider community.
• William Street Family Therapy Centre - provides family and relationship professionals with high quality hands-on training courses, workshops and supervision.
• WISDOM in Your Life – Psychological and Aboriginal ways - provides training for mental health professionals.
• Womens Health and Family Services - Training for Health Professionals - WHFS presentations, seminars, workshops and training sessions can be tailored to specific group interests and budgets. In addition WHFS offers a professional supervision and consultancy service for individual, group and organisational issues concerning women and families.
• University of Adelaide ASSIST Program - - provides training, technical advice and support to people interested in Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening.

Useful Resources

• pdf Comprehensive Alcohol and other Drug Workforce Development in Western Australia - Full Report (2.71 MB) - WANADA
• 2018 Peer Workforce Report - WA Peer Supporters' Network

WANADA provides information about training and workforce development through our e-newsletter FYI.

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/connect-2020/?utm_source=eNews+subscribers+as+at+3+July+2018&utm_campaign=e5b351c1bf-MailChimp+Applications+Open+Innovation_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d3ae5d2857-e5b351c1bf-461701385

Turning Point - Telling Your Story - Professional Development Training  Presenter: Jenny Valentish   Wednesday 3 March 2021 6.30am - 9.30am AWST Online via Zoom Cost: $110 (payable by credit card only).    Jenny Valentish, journalist and author of the memoir Woman of Substances: A Journey into Addiction and Treatment, has created a three-hour workshop designed for clinicians and peer workers to safely help clients write their stories. When an individual writes about their life, or an era of their life, it aids in sense making. There’s a strengthening of a sense of self, a gaining of perspective and perhaps the opportunity to see a bigger picture for the first time.   Who should attend?  AOD workers, peer workers, researchers, students, allied health and welfare workers and others with an interest in the therapeutic power of storytelling.   To register, please visit Turning Point - Telling Your Story.   If you have any queries regarding registration, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.