Workforce Development

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

NCYSUR webinar on web-based program for reducing cannabis use and psychotic experience
Wednesday 27 October 2021
1pm WST
Online from Brisbane

Young Australians have one of the highest rates of cannabis use worldwide. Cannabis use a robust dose-response association with psychotic experiences (PEs), including sub-threshold positive symptoms (e.g. delusions/hallucinations). We tested the outcomes of Keep it Real (KiR), the first web-based program to target both cannabis and PEs for youth.

For more information and to register, please visit NCYSUR Webinar on Zoom.

Mental Health Commission - Valuable Conversations: Applying trauma informed care and practice (TICP) and motivational interviewing (MI) to alcohol use during pregnancy

Presented by Workforce Development, Mental Health Commission (MHC)
Kalgoorlie: 3 - 4 November
Esperance: 24 - 25 November
9am to 4.30pm

For more information and to register, download MHC - Valuable Conversations. For enquiries regarding event registrations and other FASD learning opportunities from the MHC, please contact Dionne Aitken via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ASHM - Curing Hepatitis C in Primary Care
Saturday 30 October 2021
10am - 1pm (AWST)
Online

Treatment with direct acting antivirals is easier than ever. Increasing HCV treatment in primary care is crucial to achieving HCV elimination in Australia by 2030 This course aims to provide general practitioners, nurse practitioners and other prescribing practitioners the skills and confidence to diagnose, assess, manage and treat HCV in primary care. This education is a CPD Accredited Activity under the RACGP CPD Program. Allocated 40 CPD points.

This training includes an online learning module and a live webinar. The interactive session provides an opportunity to discuss and practice strategies with peers and specialists.

Learning Outcomes

Screen, order and interpret tests appropriately to diagnose chronic HCV infection
Discuss strategies with patients to minimize transmission risk and improve liver health
Perform the recommended pre-treatment assessment, including liver disease staging
Determine the appropriate antiviral therapy for treatment of HCV and explain treatment to patients
Implement monitoring and post-treatment follow-up recommendations

To register, please visit, ASHM - uring Hepatitis C in Primary Care. For further details or assistance contact Josh Borja via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 0450 428 638.

Funded by Western Australian Department of Health

360Edge - Inside CBT: A 4 day masterclass in behavioural and cognitive therapies

Presenters: Professor Nicole Lee, past President and Honorary Fellow of the AACBT, and Paula Ross, counselling psychologist and clinical expert
9, 10, 11 and 12 November 2021
Online
Eligible for 26 hours of CPD (self-logged)
Cost: Early Bird $995 Standard $1395
Book 5 or more spaces for your team and save an additional 10% off the earlybird rate

This 4 day intensive is for you if you are an alcohol and other drug worker in a counselling or case management role. Discover exactly what makes CBT tick to build and strengthen your core CBT clinical skills, the foundation for all best practice in alcohol and other drug treatment.

You will gain new knowledge, advanced skills and greater confidence in both traditional and newer behavioural and cognitive therapy models, including mindfulness-based therapies. Immerse yourself in self-reflection and self-practice to build on your foundational skills in assessment, case formulation, intervention and responding to therapeutic challenges.

For further information and to book, visit 360Edge - CBT 4-day Masterclass.

Please direct enquiries to Jarryd via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1300 988 184.

Stara - Introduction to Supervision
Thursday 4 November 2021
8.45am-4.30pm
Nulsen Group, 32 Burton St, Cannington
Morning & Afternoon Tea & Lunch provided
Cost: First release - $330 less 10% with the discount code | Final Release: $363

The Introduction to Supervision Skills course is designed for people new to the role or seeking to take on such a role in the near future. Workers with some responsibility for students may find it of value in fulfilling that task.

For more information and to register, please visit Stara - Introduction to Supervisions - Perth. Or please contact Neil on 0402 222 540.

The Matilda Centre - - Multiple health behaviour change: perspectives from the field
Presenters: Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin (University of Newcastle), Dr. Adrian Dunlop (University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Local Health District) and Dr. Lawrence Dadd (Hunter New England Local Health District)
Tuesday 23 November 2021
10am - 11am AWST (1pm - 2pm AEST)

By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

Understand the relationship between substance use, mental health and physical comorbidity;
Understand the challenges and opportunities services face when implementing evidence into practice across the domains of mental, substance use, and physical health comorbidities;
Identify key opportunities within their own practice setting to integrate treatments for mental, substance use, and physical health comorbidities.

360Edge - The art of thriving at work
25 November 2021
Online
Eligible for 6.5 hours of CPD (self-logged)
Cost: Early Bird $295 Standard $355
Book 5 or more spaces for your team and save an additional 10% off the earlybird rate

Don’t just survive alcohol and other drug work. Really thrive! Alcohol and other drug work can be challenging and comes with a high rate of burnout. As it can be mentally demanding work, you want to employ self care strategies to prevent burnt out. In this workshop, you will find out what it takes to not just survive but thrive while working in the alcohol and other drug and mental health fields. Gain real strategies to relax, recharge and revive to ensure you are at your best for your clients for the coming year.

For further information and to book, please visit 360Edge - The art of thriving at work.

Please direct questions to Jarryd via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1300 988 184.

360Edge - Working with families advanced 2-day masterclass
New online interactive workshop
Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 December 2021
Online
Cost: Early Bird - $495 Standard - $655
Book 5 or more spaces for your team and save an additional 10% off the earlybird rate
Eligible for 6.5 hours of CPD (self-logged)

Deep dive into the 5-step model of family intervention to provide advanced treatment for families when alcohol or other drugs are a factor.

Alcohol and other drug workers often find it challenging when working with families, including managing the complexities of confidentiality and consent, workplace issues, and self-care.

This masterclass focuses on the impact of alcohol and other drugs on families and models of responding with a focus on the Orford and Velleman 5-step model.

Learn key ideas from family therapy, motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy on how to work more effectively with families and carers of people who use alcohol and other drugs.

For more information and to book, visit 360Edge - Working with families. Please direct questions to Jarryd via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1300 988 184.

The Matilda Centre - Trauma-informed care in AOD settings: what clinicians need to know
Presenters: Professor Katherine Mills (The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney) and Logan Harvey (PhD candidate, The Matilda Centre, Clinical Psychologist)
Thursday 9 December 2021
9.30am - 10.30am AWST (12.30pm - 1.30pm AEST)

By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

Understand the relationship between trauma, post-traumatic stress, and substance use;
Identify how trauma-related issues can impact substance use treatment;
Identify key elements of trauma-informed care;
Understand evidence-based treatment options for co-occurring traumatic stress and substance use.

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.