Training opportunities shrink for alcohol and drug support staff
Flinders University researchers examined AOD VET provision in Australia in 2024, comparing it with a 2011 review, and found there has been a contraction in programs despite a major increase in the share of private providers—while demand for qualified support workers continues to increase.
Flinders University researchers have found that vocational training for alcohol and drug support staff in Australia has diminished significantly over the past 13 years, despite a surge in private providers and an increase in demand for qualified workers. Lead author Dr. Kirrilly Thompson from the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) highlights that the contraction in training programs is concerning, as the need for these services continues to grow.
NCETA, a leading research center in the AOD sector for over three decades, emphasizes the importance of accessible, consistent, and culturally responsive AOD vocational education and training (VET). The study, published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues, reveals a shift from public TAFE to private delivery, fewer providers, and fewer programs.
This contraction may hinder workforce entry and preparedness, especially for rural, remote, and culturally diverse communities. Thompson and NCETA Director Professor Jacqueline Bowden call for genuine accessibility in training pathways, rather than just technical availability, to ensure that the workforce can effectively support people affected by alcohol and other drugs in Australia.
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