Course details

Summary

Learn from best-practice research. Gain evidence-based skills to work in partnership with a wide range of other professionals. You’ll practise scenarios in the classroom through roleplaying, try out triad sessions, and learn from observing your classmates. It’s a close supportive environment and your tutors will guide you through your studies.

What you will learn

• Gain an integrated understanding of the theory and practical application of addictions
• Learn strategies to assess and treat clients with addiction related disorders
• Become competent in the assessment and treatment of clients with both complex mental health and addiction disorders
• Analyse and critically evaluate the philosophies and practice frameworks of prevention and health promotion in addition to a variety of research based theories on substance use, misuse and addictions
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the classification of pharmacological and psychotropic drugs
• Learn best practice in relation to conducting a risk assessment
• In 2018 this programme will be taught at the Whitireia campus in Porirua

Professional supervision

Students will be required to engage in:

• 12 hours of professional supervision in Year 2
• 12 hours of professional supervision in Year 3

Recognised qualification

The programme aims to provide graduates with the practitioner competencies and values of the Addiction Practitioners’ Association, Aotearoa-New Zealand (Dapaanz).

Career options

Opportunities exist in addiction, alcohol, and drug services. District Health Boards, public health, non-government organisations. Social, health and community agencies. Specialised addictions opportunities are also emerging in justice roles and in services such as opioid treatment.

• Addiction Worker
• Case Manager
• Policy Advisor
• Substance Abuse Counsellor

Entry criteria

NCEA Level 3, including:

• Three subjects from the NZQA Approved Subjects list at Level 3, made up of 14 credits each
• Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing
• Numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 or above

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no sub score less than 5.5; TOEFL Internet-Based Test (iBT) score of 60 (with a writing score of 20); Cambridge English Test - FCE with a pass at Grade B; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PToE (Academic) score of 50; New Zealand Certificate in English Language (NZCEL) - Level 4 with the Academic endorsement.