Workforce Development

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

Upcoming Training and Workforce Development Opportunities

AODtraining@MHC - ST269 Healthy Women and Pregnancies – Aboriginal Focus on FASD Prevention in Communities
Wednesday 3 - Thursday 4 February 2021

For further information and registration, visit AODTraining@MHC - Healthy Women and Pregnancies. Applications close Wednesday 13 January 2021.

For all event details and registrations see www.mhc.wa.gov.au/aodtraining
To make enquiries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (08) 6553 0560..

AODtraining@MHC - ST340 Preventing relapse and supporting behaviour change over time
Wednesday 10 February 2020

For further information and registration, visit AODtraining@MHC - Preventing Relapse. Applications close Wednesday 20 January 2021.

For all event details and registrations see www.mhc.wa.gov.au/aodtraining
For enquiries please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone (08) 6553 0560.

360Edge - The art of thriving at work
New interactive online workshop
Thursday 11 February 2021
9am – 4.30pm
Cost: Earlybird $295 Standard $355
Book 5 or more spaces for your team and save an additional 10% off the earlybird rate!

2020 highlighted the importance of looking after ourselves as practitioners. Alcohol and other drug work can be challenging. There is a high rate of burnout and secondary trauma among practitioners. In this workshop, learn what it takes to not just survive but thrive at work. Relax, recharge and revive for 2021 to ensure you are at your best for your clients.

For further information and to book, visit 360Edge - The Art of Thriving at Work at Eventbrite. Still have questions? Contact 360Edge via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1300 988 184. Visit 360Edge 2021 Training Calendar for more upcoming events.

AODtraining@MHC ST330 Recognisi- ng and responding to amphetamine toxicity/intoxication and opioid overdose
Tuesday 16 February 2021

For further information and registration, visit AODtraining@MHC - Amphetamine Toxicity, Intoxication and Overdose. Applications close Tuesday 26 January 2021.

360Edge - The brain workshop
New interactive online workshop
Thursday 25 February 2021
9am – 4.30pm
Cost:Earlybird $295 Standard $355
Book 5 or more spaces for your team and save an additional 10% off the earlybird rate!

Better understand the brain, the impact of drugs, and how it affects treatment. Learn how to adapt your approach to improve client outcomes.

Up to 70% of people in alcohol and other drug treatment have significant cognitive impairment related to drug use, lifestyle or other factors. In this workshop, learn about the parts of the brain that can be affected by drug use and the impact on functioning.

For further information and to book, please visit 360Edge - The Brain Workshop at Eventbrite. Still have questions? Contact 360Edge via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1300 988 184. Visit 360Edge 2021 Training Calendar for more upcoming events.

Stara - Advanced Supervision Skills

Perth - 17, 18 & 19 February 2021, 8.45am - 4.30pm, Wollaston Conference Centre
Kalgoorlie - 3, 4 & 5 February 2021, 8.45am - 4.30pm, venue to be confirmed.

This workshop will provide participants with a framework to establish an effective and durable supervision/clinical education culture within health and human service orientated organisations.

By the conclusion of this workshop participants will:

Identify and explore domains of supervision
Identify and explore the CLEAR model for providing supervision
Demonstrate essential skills using the domains and model for quality supervision
Examine challenges to providing effective supervision
Demonstrate effective feedback skills
Structure responses to difficult situations in supervision
Apply elements of emotional literacy to supervision practice
Apply elements of critical reflection to supervision practice
Demonstrate self-awareness in supervision

If you have any questions,, please contact Neil on 0402 222 540 or for more information - including prices - and to register, please visit Stara - Advanced Supervision Skills.

Post Graduate Course in Systemic Therapy and Family Therapy
Foundation Level 2021
Trainers - Roxanne Garven and Jennifer Brown
This level consists of 200 hours, meeting weekly for 5 hours
Tuesdays from Tuesday 2 February 2021
3.30pm - 8.30pm
2/141 Stirling Highway, Nedlands

The foundation level focuses on understanding the concepts and developing skills in Systemic Family Therapy. The second year focuses on narrative and solution focused approaches and the integration of these with systemic therapy. There is an emphasis on understanding the clinical implications of developing relational and contextual perspectives to emotional, behavioral
and mental health problems.

The Post Graduate Course in Systemic Therapy and Family Therapy has training program accreditation from the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT). Upon satisfactory completion of the course, trainees are eligible to apply for clinical membership of the AAFT.

Participants will need a previous qualification in the medical or allied health professions and be currently working in a clinical role.

For more information, please download the Post-Graduate Course in Systemic Therapy and Family Therapy flyer. If you would like to meet or talk with Roxanne, please contact her on 0423 165 971 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing - Domestic and Family Violence Sector Training - Agency use of Technology to Support Survivors
Thursday 25 February 2021
9am - 10am - Session 1 Tech Safety for Agencies: Best Practices and Technology Security for Frontline Services
10am - 11am - break
11am - 12pm - Session 2 Supporting Survivors at a distance: Best practices for using technology with vulnerable clients
Via Zoom

As part of Commonwealth COVID-19 funding, the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing (previously WCDFVS) has organised for WESNET (The Women’s Services Network Inc.) to provide free training to DFV workers on digital technology safety.

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.

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