- This is a fee-for-service course, government funding is not available. Payment plans are available
- Only Australian Citizens and Residents can apply for this course. Limited visa holders can be accepted pending a VEVO check. We are not CRICOS registered and cannot accept Subclass 500 visa holders
- Guaranteed work placement included
Course Overview
This CHC43215/CHC43315 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Certificate IV in Mental Health course will train you to assist people who are struggling with mental health, alcohol and drugs. You will graduate equipped to deliver treatment tailored to the individual, to improve their lives and give them hope for the future.
You will learn to work from a trauma-informed care perspective to help people with mental health, alcohol and drugs issues. You’ll gain the skills to provide interventions and develop and review individual treatment plans, as well as how to assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
Having a solid understanding of both mental health and addiction, and how one can have an impact on the other, will help you provide effective, holistic care and advocacy for your clients.
Who's It For?
If you are looking to start a career in the community services space, but have no experience, this dual program is perfect for you. It will ground you in the foundations of mental health, and give you a strong base to launch your career from.
Alternatively, if you are already working in the sector and are looking to take the next step in your career, this dual program is a great way to formalise your experience and get the skills and knowledge you need to get ahead.
If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note – limitations do apply.
Job Outcomes
Potential career outcomes could include:
- Case Worker
- Community Support Worker
- Detoxification Worker
- Drug and Alcohol Worker
- Family Support Worker
- Mental Health Intake Officer
- Mental Health Outreach Worker
- Mental Health Rehabilitation Support Worker
- Mental Health Worker
- Outreach Worker
- Support Worker
What You'll Learn
During this program you will learn how to:
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Build relationships.
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Work in an alcohol and other drugs context.
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Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues.
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Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans.
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Work with people with a mental health issues.
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Work effectively in trauma informed care.
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Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues.
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Work with clients who are intoxicated.
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Increase the safety of Individuals at risk of suicide.
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Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety.
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Establish self-directed recovery relationships.
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Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
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Promote and facilitate self-advocacy.
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Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships.
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Work with diverse people.
Recognition

Study Method
- OnlineOnline delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
- BlendedBlended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
- In-classIn class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
- VirtualVirtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
Duration Study Load
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Self-paced – maximum of 24 months
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Recommended hours per week: 17.5h
Delivery
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Online with Work Placement
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements may vary depending on the course. In general, you must be at least 18 years old to enrol. If you’re under 18, you’ll need permission from a parent or guardian.
Please note: This course is not available to student visa holders.
To find out more about the specific entry requirements for this course, download the course guide. If you have any questions or would like guidance on whether this course is the right fit for you, feel free to get in touch.
Course Features
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Mental health and alcohol/drug issues often exist in people side by side. This program will train you to deal with both so you can effectively treat clients
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By studying these CHC43215/CHC43315 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Certificate IV in Mental Health courses simultaneously, you may be able to complete your qualifications sooner than if you studied each separately
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This online program includes a practical work placement to ensure you are job-ready when you graduate
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Having a dual qualification will open up more job opportunities, so you have more options when you graduate and are fully job-ready
Work Placement
Duration
This course contains a minimum of 160 hours of work placement.
What are the benefits?
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By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice
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You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate
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Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence
If you’d like to learn more about the work placement component of this course, get the course guide for further details.
How do I find a work placement?
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Spend your time studying and let Open Colleges organise your work placement for you. In partnership with leading provider SkilTrak, we have introduced Guaranteed Work Placement to provide you with real-world experience in your dream career that’s close to home. Enquire now to learn more.
Recognition Of Prior Learning
We understand that you may already have many skills and areas of expertise that you have obtained in different ways and these are recognised through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
Our Credit Transfer & Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, available in the Key Student Information section of our website, provides more information about our RPL process. Alternatively, you can contact an Enrolment Consultant to discuss your RPL options.
Assessment
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Case studies
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Multiple choice questions
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Portfolio of evidence
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Short-answer questions
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Written assessments
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Written reports
Materials
Your learning materials are accessed through OpenSpace.
These include:
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Learning content
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Learning activities
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News forums
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Access to relevant articles and information sources
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Access to legislation relevant to the AOD and Mental Health sectors
Additional Information
Subjects
About Open Colleges
Open Colleges puts you at the centre of everything we do. As an institution, we measure our success in the success of our students.We have more than 125 years of experience in distance education, and this has given us the time to perfect the ways we deliver education and training to people across Australia. In the last decade alone, we’ve helped more than 450,000 students reach their potential.We understand the needs of adult learners. That’s why we created OpenSpace, our world-class online learning platform that gives you complete flexibility and control to study whenever and wherever you are. OpenSpace provides you with access to learning resources, expert trainers and assessors, a superior support network and the opportunity to connect with other learners just like you.Our nationally recognised courses could help you launch, change or accelerate your career. Now is the time to make your next move. With Open Colleges, everything could happen.Open Colleges Pty Ltd is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 90796)