Online Dual Diploma · Mental Health and AOD

Start Building a Future in Mental Health and AOD Work

You might be ready for the harder cases, where addiction and mental illness sit together. This dual diploma covers advanced interventions, relapse prevention and recovery planning. Placement runs across a working service, built for people already in the sector.

From $98per week, interest-free
16 Monthsonline, self-paced
2 Diplomasone program
160 Hourssupervised placement
At a Glance

Course Snapshot

Duration16 months, study at your own pace
CostFrom $98 a week, interest-free
DeliveryOnline with a live weekly class
Placement160 hours, arranged within 30 km of home
RecognitionCHC53315 and CHC53215, nationally recognised
SupportMonthly mentoring and a Job-Ready Program
Comes with
  • Interest-free payment plans
  • Live weekly trainer sessions
  • Placement organised for eligible learners
  • No multiple-choice exams
Who It’s For

Why Do This Course

Take On the Complex Cases

Diploma level is where you take the hard cases. Advanced interventions, relapse plans, wellness planning. It is the work services hand to people they trust.

Two Diplomas, One Run

Shared units are studied once and counted twice. You finish able to work across mental health services and drug and alcohol services.

Deep Time Inside a Service

160 placement hours is long enough to stop being the student and start being useful.

Where The Skills Fit

Where This Can Take You

These are the senior support and rehab roles across mental health and drug and alcohol services. The college publishes a range of $60,000 to $100,000 a year, by experience, location and sector.

Mental Health Worker

Working directly with people managing mental illness day to day.

Mental Health Outreach Worker

Reaching people who will not come into a service on their own.

Mental Health Rehabilitation Support Worker

Helping people get back on their feet after a bad stretch.

Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker

Support with routines, housing and staying steady.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation Worker

Support built around what the person wants to get back.

Alcohol and Drugs Advisor

Advice and planning for people working through use.

Case Worker

Holding a plan with someone and reviewing how it tracks.

Roles where these skills are useful, not promised outcomes. Pay varies with experience, location and sector, and counselling roles ask for further study.

The Course

What You Learn

Shared units carry both diplomas, with advanced AOD and recovery work on top.

01
The Shared Ground
Core skills counted toward both diplomas at once.
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people (core in both)
CHCADV005 Provide systems advocacy services (core in both)
CHCMHS005 Provide services to people with co-existing MH and AOD issues (core in both)
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice (core in both)
CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practice (core in both)
CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural
02
Recovery-Oriented Practice
Support that follows the person's goals, even when things are complex.
CHCMHS002 Establish self-directed recovery relationships
CHCMHS003 Provide recovery oriented mental health services
CHCMHS004 Work collaboratively with the care network and other services
CHCMHS010 Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity
CHCMHS012 Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives
CHCMHS009 Provide early intervention health prevention and promotion programs
03
Advanced AOD Work
Assessment, treatment plans, and holding the line on relapse.
CHCAOD001 Work in an alcohol and other drugs context
CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with AOD issues
CHCAOD006 Provide interventions for people with AOD issues
CHCAOD008 Provide advanced interventions to meet the needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues
CHCAOD009 Develop and review individual AOD treatment plans
CHCAOD007 Develop strategies for alcohol and other drugs relapse prevention and management
CHCCCS004 Assess co-existing needs
04
Trauma, Wellbeing and Safety
Working with what happened to people, and keeping the workplace safe.
CHCMHS013 Implement trauma informed care
CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care
CHCMHS011 Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
CHCCOM006 Establish and manage client relationships
CHCPRP002 Collaborate in professional practice
HLTWHS004 Manage work health and safety
Included

What You’ll Get

Learning

  • Live video classes, weekly, led by your trainer
  • Self-paced modules, structured with clear milestones
  • Work placement, 160 hours in a working service
  • Role plays, workplace scenarios, no exams

Support

  • Monthly mentoring, one-on-one by video or phone
  • Trainer replies, within 72 hours on business days
  • Learner support team, monthly outreach calls
  • Job-Ready Program, employment help while you study
Why This One

What Makes It Different

Three things carry this program: two diplomas from one run of study, a long placement arranged for you, and trainers working in the sector now.

01
Advanced, Not Introductory

You go past the basics. Advanced interventions, relapse prevention, wellness plans, and recovery work for people with complex needs.

02
Placement Arranged for You

160 supervised hours in a working service, organised through partner SkilTrak within 30 km of home. It is a placement, not a job offer.

03
Evidence Behind the Practice

Units on using evidence, and on working with other services. Your calls have something solid under them.

The Credentials

What You Walk Away With

Nationally Recognised

Dual Diploma of Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs

CHC53315 and CHC53215, delivered by a registered training organisation

Two Recognised Diplomas

CHC53315 and CHC53215 are both nationally recognised training, earned across one program.

A Long Placement Record

160 supervised hours in a working service, arranged within 30 km of home.

Job-Ready Backing

Resume polishing, cover letters, and help finding the right role while you study.

Getting Started

How It Works

Step one

Apply

Send a pre-enrolment application by phone or online. It takes a minute.

Step two

Short Quiz

A quick online literacy and numeracy quiz checks the course suits you.

Step three

Orientation Call

A pre-training interview by phone walks you through what to expect.

Step four

Accept and Start

Your letter of acceptance and login details arrive, and you begin.

The Investment

How to Get Started

$98 / week
Pay weekly or fortnightly interest-free, or pay upfront.
Interest-free weekly payments
Interest-free fortnightly payments
Upfront payment option
Full refund within 3 days of acceptance
Enquire Now
Good to Know

Common Questions

Do I need experience to enrol?

You do not need a certificate first. You need to be 18 or over, with the right to work and study in Australia. Your reading, writing and numeracy is checked at level 4. You also need sound computer skills, a laptop or desktop, and reliable internet.

How long does it take?

16 months for both diplomas. Study is self-paced around a weekly live class, so you set the hours that suit your week.

What does it cost?

From $98 a week, interest-free. You can pay weekly, pay fortnightly, or pay upfront.

How does the work placement work?

Every eligible learner is placed in a supervised service before finishing. It is organised through the college's partner SkilTrak, within 30 km of home. You need 160 hours in a suitable workplace. It is an organised placement, not a job offer.

What do I need before placement?

A valid police check, or the willingness to get one, and a Working with Children Check or your state equivalent where it applies.

How is the course assessed?

Written tasks, case studies, practical activities and demonstrations, work placement, and around 22 role plays based on workplace situations. There are no multiple-choice exams.

How is this different from the dual Certificate IV?

The certificates get you into support work. The diplomas add advanced interventions, relapse prevention, wellness planning and evidence-based practice. The placement is longer to match.

Why study both rather than one?

Because the work rarely separates them. Shared units are studied once and counted toward both, which is why two diplomas fit into 16 months. You finish able to apply across both service types.

Is this course nationally recognised?

Yes. CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health and CHC53215 Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs are both nationally recognised training, delivered by a registered training organisation, RTO 45162. You can view the registration at training.gov.au.

What if I change my mind?

Cancel before, or within 3 days of, being accepted and you get a full refund. After that point there is no refund.

Delivered By

About the College

Hader Institute of Education is a registered training organisation in Armadale, Victoria. It teaches mental health, alcohol and other drugs, counselling and community services. Students rate the college 4.9 out of 5 across more than 850 Google reviews.

RTO 45162Armadale, VIC4.9 from 850+ Google reviewsJob-Ready Program
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