Alcohol & other drugs training
AOD courses
Courses in this section are offered at no cost due to funding provided by the Allan Government.
The area of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) is complex and rapidly changing. To assist nurses and midwives to continue to provide best-practice interventions, care and treatment, the Allan Government has again provided funding for the development and delivery of contemporary continuing professional development initiatives.
The ANMF (Vic Branch) and Turning Point, Eastern Health, have partnered to bring you a series of AOD workshops and masterclasses.
Alcohol and other drugs (AOD): Webinar series for nurses and midwives
CPD: 12 hours
Presenter: James McGregor, Senior Education & Training Officer, Turning Point
Webinar series 2: 11, 18, 25 March & 1 April 2026 FULLY BOOKED
Webinar series 3: 22, 29 April & 6, 13 May 2026 FULLY BOOKED
Webinar series 4: 20, 27 May & 3 & 10 Jun 2026
(all sessions: 9.30AM – 12.30PM) FULLY BOOKED
Webinar series 5: 3, 10, 17 & 24 August 2026
Have you ever found yourself unsure or ill-equipped to respond to patients who have alcohol or other drug use problems? This webinar (delivered over four three-hour sessions) has been developed for nurses and midwives who want to learn more about how to work effectively with patients who have problems with alcohol and other drug use. It is relevant for nurses and midwives working across all areas of the health sector. This practical and theoretical program will provide the latest evidence-based information on drug use and addiction.
The content will include an understanding of how drugs affect the neurobiological and physiological systems of the body. This will allow a greater exploration of the pharmacology of psychoactive drugs and the associated management of intoxication and withdrawal. Participants will be introduced to The Model of Change and its application. We will also consider potential bio-psycho-social harms to the patient and a range of strategies used in treatment including brief intervention strategies for engaging patients, implementing screening tools and giving timely advice.
The second part of the webinar has a major focus on co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions. This section will include undertaking a mental state examination. We will explore principles and strategies for motivational interviewing and practice the core skill of reflective listening. Finally, we will focus on identifying and effectively referring patients to appropriate treatment services. Participants will gain an understanding of the Victorian AOD treatment sector with particular emphasis on local services. This webinar is designed to assist you to be more confident and competent in your work with patients you are already seeing who use alcohol and other drugs. This is an important topic for nurses and midwives and provides an opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge and hear from industry experts and to ask any questions you may have.
This webinar will be delivered in four modules, once a week over four weeks. It will cover the same content as the two-day in-person seminar; however, the format has been modified for online delivery.
Suitable for nurses and midwives working across all areas of the health sector.
Crystal clear care: Nursing responses to methamphetamine use
CPD: 3 hours
Delivered online via Zoom
Tuesday 9 June 2026, 9.30am-12.30pm
Presenter: Dr Vicky Phan, Addiction Psychiatrist, Director of Advanced Training in Addiction Psychiatry (Victoria)
This three-hour masterclass is for nurses and midwives working with people who use methamphetamines. In this masterclass participants will explore the impacts of methamphetamine use, clinical challenges associated with methamphetamine presentations and effective health response strategies to methamphetamine use.
About Dr Vicky Phan:
Vicky (she/her) is an Addiction Psychiatrist with strong interests in mental health comorbidity, harm minimisation, pharmacotherapy, training and education. She is Medical Lead at Hamilton Centre Eastern Health and undertakes further clinical practice at Turning Point Eastern Treatment Service. Vicky is the current Director of Advanced Training in Addiction Psychiatry in Victoria and Chair of the RANZCP Faculty of Addiction Psychiatry Victorian Subcommittee. Previously she has worked as a Course Coordinator and Lecturer in the Monash University Graduate Program of Addictive Behaviours and as a Senior Medical Officer at the North Richmond Community Health Medically Supervised Injecting Room.
Opioids and methamphetamine in the perinatal period
CPD: 3 hours
Delivered online via Zoom
Wednesday 17 June 2026, 9.30am-12.30pm
Presenter: Meg Rankin, Training and Education Coordinator, Women’s Alcohol and Drug Service (WADS)
This three-hour webinar will be given within a multidisciplinary approach, with a social worker presenting. Learn about opioid use in pregnancy including prescription use, heroin, methadone, buprenorphine and more, and the effect these substances can have on the baby following birth and breastfeeding. The incidence of methamphetamine has increased more than six times since 2011 in WADS. Learn how we care for these women and their babies with a trauma informed care approach considering the many psycho-social difficulties such as family violence and homelessness. A case study will be presented with discussion from participants encouraged.
Suitable for midwives, nurses working in postnatal care and maternal and child health nurses.
About Meg Rankin:
Meg is a social worker with nearly 20 years of experience in the field, working in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland, across a range of areas including hospital based social work, outreach, case management, counselling, group work, birth debriefing, clinical supervision and training. Meg has a particular interest in women’s health, and has been at the Women's since 2015, working as a team leader in the Abortion service, and as an outreach social worker at WADS. Meg is currently the training and education co-ordinator at WADS.
Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) 2-day seminar
CPD: 12 hours
Delivered face-to-face at ANMF Education Centre, 535 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Presenter: James McGregor, Senior Education & Training Officer, Turning Point
ALL WORKSHOPS ARE BOOKED OUT
Workshop 1: 14 & 15 April 2026, 9.30am - 4pm
Workshop 2: 23 & 24 June 2026, 9.30am - 4pm
Workshop 3: 21 & 22 July 2026, 9.30am - 4pm
This two-day workshop has been developed for nurses and midwives who want to learn more about how to work effectively with patients who use alcohol and other drugs. It is relevant for nurses and midwives working across all clinical areas and is designed to assist you to be more confident in your work with patients you are already seeing who use alcohol and other drugs. This practical and theoretical program will provide the latest evidence-based information on drug use and addiction. This is an important topic for nurses and midwives and provides an opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge and hear from industry experts, and to ask any questions you may have.
Alcohol: A masterclass for nurses and midwives working in AOD
FULLY BOOKED
CPD: 3 hours
23 April, 9.30am – 12.30pm via Zoom
Presenter: Rose McCrohan
This three-hour webinar has been developed to provide an in depth focus on the cumulative impact of alcohol use by using a physiological systems base approach. Information provided will focus on alcohol related harms to the central nervous system and neurobiology, gastro intestinal, endocrine and cardio respiratory systems. Participants will be provided with information to develop a better understanding of alcohol effects intoxication and withdrawal. Treatment and nursing/midwifery interventions including implementation and maintenance of pharmacotherapy will be covered.
Suitable for nurses and midwives working in in AOD services.
Benzodiazepines, GHB & Cannabis: An online masterclass for nurses and midwives working in the AOD sector
FULLY BOOKED
CPD: 3 hours
19 March, 9.30am – 12.30pm via Zoom
Presenter: Rose McCrohan, Nurse Practitioner, Uniting mother and baby withdrawal unit
This three-hour webinar has been developed to provide an in-depth focus on the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of benzodiazepine, cannabis and GHB use. Information on the adverse effects of these psychoactive drugs will be presented as well as nursing management and responses. Participants will be provided with information to develop a better understanding of benzodiazepine, cannabis and GHB addiction, intoxication and withdrawal. Treatment and nursing/midwifery interventions including pharmacotherapy will be presented.
Suitable for nurses and midwives working in the AOD sector.