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

NDRI - Inclusion of Self-Determination by First Nations Australians in Alcohol-Related Policy in the Northern Territory
Wednesday 1 June 2022
11am WST (1pm AEST)
Webinar

First Nations Australians have a strong history of developing community-controlled responses to alcohol and other drug issues. Growing evidence shows that inclusion in decisions over one’s life – self-determination – can contribute to improved wellbeing; while decisions that are imposed have detrimental impacts and contribute to the cycle of poorer health and wellbeing. This study has explored how First Nations Australians’ self-determination can be recognised and evidenced in the development of alcohol policy in the Northern Territory.

Annalee Stearne, a Nyungar woman from Western Australia, is a drug and alcohol researcher with a commitment to improving the health and social inequities faced by First Nations Australians and empowering them with the knowledge to address alcohol and other drug issues in their own communities.

To register, please visit NDRI Events.

360Edge - Superskills for Supervisors
Monday 6 June 2022
7am - 2.30pm WST (9am - 4.30pm AEST)
Online
Cost: Earlybird - $325 | Standard - $395 | Group - $290

Build your leadership skills and contribute to the next generation of practitioners

The key to great practice is great supervision. If you are a practice or clinical supervisor in the alcohol and other drug sector or want to become one, and you are ready for your next professional challenge, this workshop is for you.

Gain a deep understanding of the ‘why’ as well as the ‘what’ and ensure that you have the right theoretical and practical foundation skills to offer powerful practice supervision across different contexts and supervisees. You will learn about developing and implementing supervision contracts and plans, assessing supervisee development needs, and navigating challenges and roadblocks.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the relevant approaches to supervision and which one is right for you
• Understand and apply structured practical supervisory processes to deepen core supervisory relationship skills, including listening, questioning, guiding, and giving and receiving feedback
• Increase skills in motivating staff to use reflective practice
• Understand and utilise a framework to support decision making with ethical dilemmas

This is a specialist skills workshop suitable for advanced practitioners who are current or future practice supervisors. This workshop is suitable for workers in low threshold and clinical settings.

For more information and to book, please visit Superskills for Supervisors at trybooking.

360Edge - Help! I've Been Subpoenaed
Thursday 16 June 2022
7am - 2.30pm WST (9am - 4.30pm AEST)
Online
Cost: Earlybird - $325 | Standard - $395 | Group - $290

Do you know what to say and do if you are subpoenaed to appear in court?
Are your case notes court-ready?

Nearly 50% of alcohol and other drug workers have had
their case notes subpoenaed. Are yours court-ready? Write great case notes and feel confident giving evidence in court with this fun and practical case note and court preparation training.

Join our clinical expert Paula Ross and our legal eagle Jarryd Bartle for this practical one-day workshop specially designed to assist practitioners to get court ready. Gain confidence and reduce anxiety about appearing in court.

Learning outcomes:

• Describe the different types of courts and how they operate
• Know how to respond to a subpoena
• Feel confident to appear in court and develop and apply court presentation skills
• Identify the essential components of your case notes, so they are both clinically relevant and legally sound

This is a specialist skills workshop suitable for new, experienced and advanced practitioners. This workshop is suitable for workers in low threshold and clinical settings.

For more information and to book, please visit Help! I've Been Subpoenaed at trybooking.

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.

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
• Turning Point Connect & Learn Webinars - presented by experienced clinicians from the alcohol and other drug sector.

Training and Workforce Development Providers

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.