Mental health and AOD
Build your skills to effectively support people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) needs through this updated two-day workshop.
This training is being offered as part of a pilot and is exclusively available for people working within MHCC and NADA member organisations.
To check if your organisation is a MHCC and/or NADA member, see below:
Expressions of interest (EOI) from non-member organisations or individuals will not be eligible for this training pilot.
As there are limited spaces available, each course will consist of 10 spaces for mental health workers, and 10 spaces for AOD workers; this is to promote cross sector collaboration as relevant to the course content. Upon submitting your EOI, your application will be reviewed, and a decision will be made based on eligibility criteria and access and equity principles.
MHCC will confirm the outcome with each person who has submitted an EOI via email by 16 May 2024. If you are unsuccessful this round but eligible, we encourage you to apply for future course dates.
Course overview
Many people who experience mental health challenges also have co-existing needs related to alcohol and other drug use.
This course will explore the intersection of mental health and AOD to facilitate common understanding, and shared knowledge bases and frameworks.
Training will support integrated treatment approaches, cross-sector referral pathway and relationship development, address stigma and enhance treatment and support access.
This course has been designed in partnership with the Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA), the peak organisation for the non-government alcohol and other drugs sector in NSW.
Who should enrol
This training is being offered as part of a pilot and exclusively available for people working within MHCC and NADA member organisations including:
- Mental health workers
- Peer workers
- AOD workers
What you will learn
At the end of this two-day workshop participants will be able to:
- Understand the relationship between AOD and mental health
- Explore attitudes and beliefs about mental health and AOD needs
- Discuss and develop an understanding of the different practice approaches, experiences and perspectives across the mental health and AOD sectors
- Provide more effective and integrated services and support to people with co-existing
mental health and AOD needs - Understand the impacts of co-existing mental health and AOD needs
- Explain the place of trauma-informed practice in mental health and AOD context
Optional accreditation
Participants are offered the opportunity to complete a separate online learning module and related assessment tasks to achieve a Statement of Attainment for the nationally recognised unit CHCMHS005 – Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues. This unit forms part of Certificate IV and Diploma courses across mental health, peer work and AOD qualifications and may be used as credit towards a qualification.