Graduate Diploma in Addictions - AUT University

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Addiction is a complex problem that affects the physical and mental heath of individuals and their families and impacts on the wider social environment. This programme equips students with the knowledge and skills required to work effectively in the addictions field within New Zealand, and has been developed to meet national addiction workforce standards and competencies. Areas of specialization include problem gambling, tobacco control, drug, alcohol and substance abuse, health promotion and early intervention and treatment. Students will be prepared for potential employment as addiction support workers or counsellors and will be able to apply for provisional membership with relevant professional associations (depending on previous experience).

Programme Code: AK1014
Level: 7
Points: 120
Duration: One year full time / Two years part time
Venue: North Shore Campus
Starting date: See below for block course dates
Application deadline: AUT encourages early application. Late applications will be accepted if the programme is not full

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Undergraduate degree, preferably in an associated area, or its equivalent OR at least three years' professional experience working in addictions or a related field together with evidence of ability to succeed at the level of a graduate diploma
• Preference for relevant work or voluntary experience in the people helping and addictions field

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for whom English or Māori is not their first language are required to provide proof of an acceptable pass/grade gained in an accepted English language test. 

THE KEY SKILLS YOU WILL ACQUIRE

• Identifying and assessing a client's addiction problem
• Negotiating appropriate goals
• Planning relevant treatment and interventions within a specialty addiction area
• Support and intervention skills including public education, targeted at meeting the needs of specific client populations
• Working ethically, respectfully and inclusively with cultural perspectives including Te Iwi Māori and Pacific Peoples, and ways to integrate these into professional practice
• Critical thinking and use of evidence to support practice and decision-making processes
• Competent report writing and oral presentation skills

The graduate will also gain an understanding of:

• Prevention and harm reduction concepts including protecting vulnerable groups
• Promoting informed and balanced attitudes, behaviours and policies
• Public health and psycho educational approaches to addiction issues
• How to work respectfully and cooperatively with individuals, groups, organizations and communities.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Addiction support workers or counsellors in:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGO) associated with addiction service provision
• Justice sector
• District health
• Public health
• Problem gambling
• Smoking cessation

FURTHER STUDIES

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science
Master in Health Science
Master of Health Practice
Master of Philosophy
Doctor of Health Science
Doctor of Philosophy

PAPERS

567532 Assessment and Intervention in Addiction (5 day block course starts 25 July, 2008)
567533 Professional Practice in Addictions (5 day block course start 12 May, 2008)

SELECT TWO:
567414 Drug and Alcohol Studies (5 day block course starts 28 May, 2008)
567527 Advanced Intervention for Addiction (5 day block course starts 2 October, 2008)
567528 Smoking Cessation (5 day block course starts 14 August, 2008)
567529 Tobacco Control (start dates to be advised)
567531 Presenting Populations in Gambling (5 day block course starts 15 October, 2008)
567534 Gambling Studies (5 day block course starts 28 August, 2008)

SELECT FOUR:
556301 Intermediate Research
527870 Media and Communications in Health Promotion
527871 Health Promotion of Communities
527872 Māori Health Promotion
527873 Health Promotion Evaluation
546235 Research Methods and Statistics
555339 Māori Health and Development
566401 Psychopathologies
566425 Group Theory and Practice II
566503 Rehabilitation and Recovery in Mental Health
567100 Introduction to Applied Transactional Analysis
567403 Social and Cultural Analysis
567408 Counselling Skills for Professional Practice
567411 Recovery in Mental Health
567413 Child and Youth Mental Health
567417 Utilising Supervision in Practice
567424 Theory Intervention and Practice II
567431 Applied Primary Māori Mental Health
567523 Cognitive Behavioural Approaches
775617 Introduction to Epidemiology