Text alternative - Pathways for a career in AOD for Aboriginal workers

​​​​​​​​Entry pathways

​Pathway 1: Entry through lived or living experience

  • If you have lived or living experience, you can enter the AOD sector as a Peer Worker (sometimes known as a consumer worker).
  • ​​To advance your career, you can undertake the Certificate III or IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs to become an AOD worker. 
  • With further study in a Certificate III or IV Aboriginal Primary Healthcare along with demonstrated senior experience and culture and community knowledge, you can progress to a senior Aboriginal health worker. 
  • Completing a relevant undergraduate degree opens opportunities to progress to a principal Aboriginal health worker or an AOD clinician in an identified, targeted or non-identified role .​

​Pathway 2: Entry via vocational training 

​​Pathway 2.A: AOD specific qualification first

  • ​If you have completed a Certificate III or IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, you can enter the sector as an AOD worker.​
  • By completing a Certificate III or IV in Aboriginal Primary Healthcare and demonstrating senior experience and culture and community knowledge, you can progress to a senior Aboriginal health worker.
  • With a relevant undergraduate degree, you can advance to a principal Aboriginal health worker or AOD clinician in an identified, targeted or non-identified role.

Pathway 2.B: Aboriginal health qualification first 

  • ​If you have completed a Certificate III in Aboriginal Primary Healthcare, you can become an Aboriginal Heath Worker.
  • With extra study in the Certificate III or IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, you can also become an AOD worker.
  • With demonstrated senior experience and culture and community knowledge along with completing ​a Certificate III or IV in Aboriginal Primary Healthcare, you can then progress to a senior Aboriginal health worker.
  • A relevant undergraduate degree can then progress you into a principal Aboriginal health worker or an AOD clinician in an identified, targeted or non-identified role.

​Pathway 2.C: Direct progression from Aboriginal primary healthcare studies 

  • Starting with a Certificate III in Aboriginal Primary Healthcare, you can enter into an Aboriginal health worker role.​
  • You can then progress to a senior Aboriginal health worker by completing a Certificate III or IV in Aboriginal Primary Healthcare as well as having demonstrated senior experience and culture and community knowledge.
  • A relevant undergraduate degree can then progress you into a principal Aboriginal health worker or an AOD clinician in an identified, targeted or non-identified role.

Pathway 3: Aboriginal Health Practitioner 

​If you have completed your Certificate IV in Aboriginal Primary Health Care Practice you can pursue an Aboriginal Health Practitioner role. To progress implementing the scope of these trained skills within NSW Health agencies, you must: 

  • ​Be registered as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner ​(also known as an Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner under the National Law (​https://www.atsihealthpracticeboard.gov.au/​)

  • Be employed in the role of an Aboriginal Health Practitioner;
  • Maintain your registration as ‘current’ per the requirements of the National Law;

If on completion of the course you choose not to register as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner or your registration lapses, per the National Law you: 

  • Are not eligible for employment as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner,
  • ​Are not able to implement the clinical scope of the role of an Aboriginal Health Practitioner,
  • ​Cannot make statements that you are an Aboriginal Health Practitioner.

Pathway 4: Principal Aboriginal Health Worker

You can enter the AOD sector as a Principal Aboriginal Health worker by completing an undergraduate degree relevant to the role.  

​If your qualification meets the parameters of another health professional role, eg Counsellor, Social Worker, then the Principal Aboriginal Health Worker role is not applicable as other Awards have been established to accurately reflect the remuneration, conditions and any relevant clinical scope of practice to deliver such a role – defer to Pathway 5.

​Pathway 5: Entry as an AOD clinician (identified or non-identified)

​You can enter the AOD sector as a AOD clinician in an identified, targeted or non- identified role by completing an undergraduate degree relevant to the role.​







Current as at: Friday 11 April 2025
Contact page owner: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs