Specialised Training

Patterns of drug use in Australia are constantly shifting. This training provides up-to-date information and advice on current and emerging trends. Attendees will learn about commonly used illicit drugs, how people use them, and how they are affected.

Overdose prevention covers a range of activities, from proactive conversations to referring clients to opioid substitution treatment (OST). Learn how to discuss overdose and how to prevent it with clients.

Commonly known as ‘ice’, crystal methamphetamine is a potent drug associated with a range of negative outcomes, including psychosis. This training will provide workers with the knowledge and skills to understand ice use and its effects, and how to assist clients who are using ice.

All opioids – including opioid medicines and illicit drugs like heroin – carry risks of dependence and overdose. This training provides a detailed overview of different types of opioids, how they are used, and common treatments for opioid dependence.

Each year, hundreds of Australians die from opioid overdoses. These deaths are avoidable if witnesses know the signs of overdose and how to respond. This training includes recognising and responding to opioid overdose, naloxone types, availability and administration.

Step-by-step training on how to prevent and safely respond to inappropriately discarded needles and syringes, including what to do in the event of a needle-stick injury.

Practical information and strategies designed to improve your knowledge of common prescription drugs, their risks, and how to reduce associated harms such as medication management.

Pregabalin (sold under the name Lyrica) is increasingly misused, leading to significant harms. This training focuses on pregabalin, its associated harms and known side-effects, and effective strategies to reduce them.

Learn how to effectively manage challenging behaviour and build strong relationships with clients.

Use of performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) is increasing in Australia. A wide and varied range of PIEDs drugs are easily accessible. This training provides an overview of PIED use and risk, as well as effective harm reduction strategies.

An overview of the risks of drug use, pregnancy and parenting. This training will help workers support clients through pregnancy and raising young children.

An introduction to dual-diagnosis and co-morbidity. Training will cover the relationship between mental illness and substance misuse, challenges and up-to-date knowledge on how the needs of dual-diagnosis clients can be met.

A comprehensive overview of injecting risks, safer injecting practices and effective harm reduction messages to relay to injecting clients.

How do we understand addiction and drug use? Participants will learn about addiction and the processes people who use drugs go through in their effort to reduce or cease their drug use.