Information about the Addiction Medicine specialty and training opportunities in South Australia.
Drug and alcohol training and development
There are a range of alcohol and other drug training options available in South Australia for people with differing levels of qualification, expertise and interest. The information below will assist you with your training needs and includes a list of training providers and information sources on alcohol and other drug issues.
Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA)
Training for health professionals
- Addiction medicine training
- Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)
- Training for Pharmacists
- Training for General Practitioners
Tertiary education
A number of tertiary institutions offer alcohol and other drug specific training programs. For full course information click on relevant course listed below.
University of Adelaide
- Graduate Certificate in Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Graduate Diploma in Addiction and Mental Health
- Master of Science in Addiction Studies
- Managing Addiction: A Framework for Successful Treatment
- Graduate Certificate in International Addiction Studies
- Graduate Diploma in International Addiction Studies
University of Adelaide / King's College London (UK) / Virginia Commonwealth University (USA)
Monash University (Victoria) / Turning Point
- Master of Addiction Behaviours
- Graduate Certificate of Addictive Behaviours
- Graduate Diploma of Addictive Behaviours.
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)
The NCETA is a national research centre based at Flinders University that specialises in workforce development, capacity building and research translation and dissemination. It provides a range of supports to the alcohol and other drug and broader health and community services sectors including the dissemination of practical evidence-based resources and tailored training workshops, seminars and webinars.
View NCETA’s alcohol and other drug resources.
NCETA provides a range of training activities that complement the Centre’s key research programs.
- Tailored training sessions on ways communities and different professional groups can use evidence-based findings to respond to alcohol and other drugs.
- In conjunction with Middlesex University (UK) and Matua Raki (NZ), NCETA annually offers a free international Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Falling Down: Problematic Substance Use in Later Life. The MOOC provides examples of best practice interventions to address alcohol and other drug use among older people with a specific focus on Preventing and Reducing Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Harm among Older People: A practical guide for health and welfare professionals.
For more information contact NCETA on (08) 8201 7535 or email nceta@flinders.edu.au.
Vocational education and training (VET)
There are a range of providers of vocational education and training that offer drug and alcohol units of competency or full qualifications. We recommend searching online to explore these options.
- training.gov.au
- Aboriginal Health Council South Australia (AHCSA)
A Registered Training Organisation that provides a range of training in Primary Health Care for the Aboriginal sector. - Centacare Catholic Family Services
A Registered Training Organisation that provides a range of courses covering Alcohol and Other Drugs, Mental Health, Disability and Community Services. - Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc.
A Registered Training Organisation that provides a range of courses delivered in the Aboriginal context. - NCETA have produced ''what are my options'' information sheets on available higher education and VET courses in Australia (current 2023).
Other training providers
- National Drug Research Institute (NDRI)
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)
- South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS)
- Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre
- Insight "QLD eLearning (QLD Health)
Further information
SA Health Library service (alcohol and other drugs)
Ground floor, Glenside Campus Administration and Learning Services Building.
2 Karrayarta Drive, Glenside SA 5065
Telephone: (08) 7087 1202
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
ADIS provides a confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service for the general public, concerned family and friends, students and health professionals.
Contact ADIS on 1300 13 1340 between 8.30am and 10pm any day to speak with an experienced health professional. Information pamphlets, posters and other resources can also be downloaded or ordered through the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS).