What does an AOD worker do?

Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) work is one of Australia’s most needed care careers, but what does it actually involve day to day? This article walks through the real work of an AOD worker, the responsibilities involved, where they work, and what makes someone good at the role.

What does an AOD worker do? The short answer

An alcohol and other drugs (AOD) worker supports people experiencing substance dependence or harmful use. They carry out assessments, deliver brief interventions, build support and treatment plans, run group programs, and connect clients to health, housing, and legal services. The goal is practical, non-judgemental support that helps people reduce harm and work toward recovery.

A typical day in AOD work

AOD work doesn’t follow a fixed script. A day in a community health service might start with a team handover, then move into one-on-one sessions with clients to review their support plans and check on progress. An AOD worker might run a structured group session on relapse prevention in the morning, then spend the afternoon making referrals, writing case notes, and liaising with a client’s GP or housing provider.

In a residential rehabilitation or detox setting, the rhythm is different: supporting clients through withdrawal, monitoring wellbeing, and helping them build daily structure. Outreach and harm-reduction workers might run a needle and syringe program, or make contact with people who aren’t yet ready to engage with formal treatment, offering a safe, consistent point of connection. What holds it all together is relationship: respectful, reliable, and free of judgement.

A typical day can include:

• Conducting intake assessments and screening for co-existing needs
• Delivering brief interventions and motivational support
• Developing and reviewing support or treatment plans with clients
• Facilitating group programs (relapse prevention, harm reduction, life skills)
• Making referrals and coordinating care with health, housing, and legal services
• Writing case notes and completing administrative documentation
• Attending team meetings and case conferences

Key responsibilities of an AOD worker

AOD workers carry a broad set of responsibilities. Depending on the employer and setting, these include:

Assessment and screening: identifying a client’s needs, including co-existing mental health concerns, and matching them to the right level of support.

Brief interventions: delivering short, evidence-based conversations that help a person recognise and act on their substance use, often in moments when they’re ready to make a change.

Support and treatment planning: working collaboratively with clients to set goals and review progress over time. This is led by the client, not imposed on them.

Group facilitation: designing and running structured sessions on topics like relapse prevention, harm minimisation, and building healthy routines.

Harm reduction: providing practical, non-judgemental support — such as safer-use information or needle and syringe programs — to reduce the immediate risks of substance use.

Referral and coordination: connecting clients to GPs, mental health services, housing, legal aid, and family support, and coordinating care across those services.

Record keeping and compliance: maintaining accurate, confidential records and meeting the organisation’s reporting obligations.

Cultural safety: many AOD workers support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, so cultural competency is central to good practice.

Where do AOD workers work?

AOD workers are employed across a wide range of settings throughout Australia:

• Community health and AOD services: the most common employer type, delivering counselling-adjacent support, day programs, and outreach
• Residential rehabilitation and detox facilities: supporting clients through withdrawal and structured recovery programs
• Outreach and harm-reduction services: street-based or mobile teams, needle and syringe programs, and peer-led services
• Hospitals and mental health services: working with people who have co-occurring mental health and substance use needs
• Correctional and justice settings: supporting people in or leaving the justice system
• Non-government organisations (NGOs): the backbone of the sector, often delivering government-funded programs

Many roles sit at the overlap of mental health and AOD — co-occurring conditions are common, and workers with skills in both are in particularly high demand.

Skills and qualities of a great AOD worker

Technical knowledge matters, but it’s only part of the picture. Ask experienced AOD workers what separates good from great, and the answers cluster around a handful of qualities.

Empathy without judgement. People who use substances often carry shame and have been judged before. The ability to meet someone where they are, without condition, is the foundation of the work.

Patience. Recovery is rarely linear. A person might relapse or disengage before they take a step forward. Staying consistent through that is the job.

Strong boundaries. Maintaining professional boundaries while building warm, trusting relationships is a skill developed over time, with good supervision behind it.

Resilience. Working with people in crisis, often in underfunded systems, demands the ability to manage stress without it spilling into client interactions.

Communication. Adapting how you communicate to the person and the situation — and knowing when to listen without responding — is central to good practice.

Cultural competence. Understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds and identities of the people you support is non-negotiable.

Lived experience is also genuinely valued in this sector. Many AOD services actively welcome workers with a personal or family history of substance use, recognising the insight and credibility it can bring to the role.

What qualifications do you need to be an AOD worker?

The standard entry qualification in Australia is the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215), a nationally recognised qualification that covers AOD assessment, intervention, treatment planning, and working with people who have co-existing mental health needs.

Hader Institute offers the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs 100% online over 12 months, with practical skills assessed through simulated practicals rather than a mandatory work placement — so you can qualify without needing to source placement hours yourself. The course includes weekly Zoom sessions, self-paced learning, monthly one-on-one mentoring, and our Job-Ready Program to help you step into employment. Fees start from $48/week interest-free.

For those wanting to move into advanced, clinical, or coordination roles, the natural progression is the Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC53215) (from $77/week), which goes deeper into advanced interventions and co-occurring conditions.

It’s worth understanding the two main pathways in this field: an AOD worker or support worker (Cert IV level) provides frontline support, while a drug and alcohol counsellor (Diploma level) works in a more advanced, clinical capacity. Both are valued, and the Certificate IV is the common starting point for either path.

How much do AOD workers earn?

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, community workers (the broad category that includes AOD support roles) earn an average of about $87,800 per year ($1,688/week), while advertised AOD support roles commonly sit around $75,000–$80,000 (SEEK, community services). Demand is a standout: drug and alcohol counsellor roles are rated very strong for future growth by Jobs and Skills Australia.

For the full salary breakdown by role, qualification, and experience level, see our dedicated guide: Drug and alcohol worker salary in Australia 2026.

Individual salary outcomes vary based on experience, location, employer, and market conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What does an AOD worker do?

An alcohol and other drugs (AOD) worker supports people experiencing substance dependence through assessment, brief interventions, support and treatment planning, group programs, harm reduction, and referral to health, housing, and legal services. It’s a frontline community-services role focused on practical, non-judgemental support.

What’s the difference between an AOD worker and a drug and alcohol counsellor?

An AOD worker (usually Certificate IV qualified) provides frontline support, case work, and harm reduction. A drug and alcohol counsellor (usually Diploma qualified) works in a more advanced, clinical capacity, delivering structured counselling and advanced interventions. Both work in the same sector and often alongside each other.

Do you need a work placement to study AOD?

Not at Hader. The Certificate IV and Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs use simulated practicals to assess practical skills, so there’s no mandatory work placement to arrange. Career readiness is supported through Hader’s Job-Ready Program.

Can you work in AOD with lived experience?

Yes. Lived experience of substance use — your own or a family member’s — is genuinely valued across the AOD sector, and many services actively recruit for it. A nationally recognised qualification combines that insight with the formal skills employers look for.

Where do AOD workers work?

AOD workers are employed in community health and AOD services, residential rehabilitation and detox facilities, outreach and harm-reduction services, hospitals, mental health services, correctional settings, and non-government organisations across Australia.

What qualification do you need to be an AOD worker?

Most employers look for a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215) as a minimum, with a Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC53215) for advanced and coordination roles. Both are nationally recognised and can be studied online.

Start your AOD career with Hader Institute

If this sounds like the career you’ve been looking for, the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs is the nationally recognised qualification to get you there. Hader Institute of Education (RTO 45162) is rated 4.9 out of 5 across 750+ reviews.

• 100% online, study at your own pace
• Simulated practicals — no mandatory work placement to arrange
• Monthly one-on-one mentoring and the Job-Ready Program
• From $48/week interest-free

View the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs | Apply now

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