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This information will help you decide what type of work you want to do, and what training or qualifications employers prefer. Addiction Services employ people in a range of roles. The three most common roles are listed below.
Training and qualifications aren’t always needed to start working as a Support Worker, but you will most likely need to gain this while working, with the support of your employer to ensure you gain the appropriate qualification for pay equity purposes. The NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services, NZQA Level 4) is the preferred qualification, particularly with the Mental Health and Addiction Support strand.
Addiction Support Workers may apply for endorsement from dapaanz (the professional association for people working in addiction treatment). To qualify you must be under the supervision of a dapaanz accredited supervisor.
The education providers listed below offer the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services, NZQA Level 4) with the Mental Health and Addiction Support strand For the most up to date list of education providers please visit the NZQA website.
Ara Institute of Canterbury Ltd
Christchurch
Eastern Institute of Technology Ltd
Hawke's Bay
Future Skills Academy Ltd
Manukau, Royal Oak
Kalandra Education Group Ltd
Online
Manukau Institute of Technology Ltd
Manukau
North Tec Te Taitokerau Wānanga
Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Whangarei
Otago Polytechnic Ltd
Dunedin or Rotorua
Southern Institute of Technology Ltd
Invercargill or Queenstown
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Ltd
Online
Unitec New Zealand Ltd
Auckland
Waikato Institute of Technology Ltd
Hamilton City Campus, Online delivery, Ōtorohanga or Thames
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki Ltd
New Plymouth
Whitireia Community Polytechnic Ltd
Porirua
Careerforce
Workplace based apprenticeship with online learning and support from advisors
Massey
Wellington
The scholarship and funding programmes listed below can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications:
Training and qualifications aren’t always needed to start working as a Peer Support Worker, but you may need to gain some while working, with the support of your employer. The NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services,NZQA Level 4)is the preferred qualification, particularly with the Peer Support strand. Other training available is listed below.
In preparation for peer training or being employed in a Peer Support role, it can be useful to have completed a workshop on wellness and recovery plans, such as WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan.
Addiction Peer Support Workers may apply for endorsement from dapaanz (the professional association for people working in addiction treatment). In order to qualify you must be under the supervision of a dapaanz accredited supervisor.
Most employers require Addiction Practitioners to have, or be working towards, a professional registration. Addiction Practitioners may apply for registration with dapaanz (the professional association for people working in addiction treatment).
People with other relevant registrations, such as Social Workers, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, and Counsellors are also sometimes employed into Addiction Practitioner roles.
The training and education providers listed below offer appropriate courses related to peer support.
Careerforce
NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (strand in Peer Support)
Workplace based apprenticeship with online learning and support from advisors
Intentional Peer Support Aotearoa NZ
Intentional Peer Support Core Training, Intentional Peer Support Advanced Training, Intentional Peer Support Train-the-Trainer
A network of trainers provide training wherever arranged
Whiteria/ Kites Trust
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support)
Online
Ember: Korowai Takitini
Peer Employment Training
Manukau
R.I. International
Peer Employment Training
Employees based in Counties Manukau
The scholarship and funding programmes listed below can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications:
If you don’t have a Bachelor qualification or your Bachelor is not related to addiction practice, you will need to complete one of the following types of qualifications if you want to become an Addiction Practitioner, registered with dapaanz:
1. An applied addiction qualification approved by dapaanz.
OR
2. A relevant, applied Bachelor qualification (e.g., in Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Counselling).
The qualifications approved by dapaanz can be found on their website, with any conditions that are required. The addiction qualification offered by the Education Providers listed below have been approved by dapaanz for full registration.
N.B. The qualifications which include optional problem gambling papers are marked with an asterisk *
WelTec
*Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction Practice
Porirua, Wellington
Moana House Training Institute
Te Taketake Diploma in Addiction Counselling (Level 7)
Dunedin and Rotorua
WinTec
Paetahi Tumu Korero Bachelor of Counselling (Level 7)
Hamilton (also in Nelson)
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling (Level 7)
Nelson
People can apply to be provisionally registered with dapaanz, on the basis of a relevant, applied Bachelor qualification. This usually includes Bachelor qualifications in Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Counselling. See the dapaanz website for more details about the definition of relevant, applied qualifications. To become fully registered with dapaanz, people with this kind of qualification will also need to complete one of the dapaanz approved addiction qualifications from section A (above) or B (below). https://www.dapaanz.org.nz/addiction-quals-for-full-registration.
If your bachelor is relevant and applied (e.g., Bachelor of Social Work, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, Nursing) then your Bachelor will allow you to become provisionally registered with dapaanz. To become fully registered you will need to complete one of the dapaanz approved addiction qualifications (either applied or non-applied) at one of the following education providers.
University of Auckland
*Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Alcohol and Drug Studies OR Master of Health Practice in Addiction Studies
Grafton, Auckland
Auckland University of Technology
*Graduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences
Northcote, Auckland
Auckland University of Technology
Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters in Health Sciences in Mental Health and Addictions
Northcote, Auckland
WinTec
Paetahi Tumu Korero Bachelor of Counselling (Level 7) or Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Social Practice (with endorsement in Mental Health and Addiction)
Hamilton, Nelson and Tauranga
Moana House Training Institute
Te Taketake Diploma in Addiction Counselling
Dunedin and Rotorua
National Addiction Centre – University of Otago, Christchurch
Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders
Distance Learning, based in Christchurch
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Couselling- level 7
Nelson
If you already have a Bachelor which is relevant, but not applied (e.g., Bachelor of Health Science, Psychology) you will need to complete one of the dapaanz approved applied addiction qualifications to become provisionally (and fully) registered.
N.B. The qualifications which include optional problem gambling papers are marked *
University of Auckland
*Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Alcohol and Drug Studies
Grafton, Auckland
WinTec
Paetahi Tumu Korero Bachelor of Counselling
Hamilton (also in Nelson)
WinTec
Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Social Practice (with endorsement in Mental Health and Addiction)
Hamilton, Nelson and Tauranga
Moana House Training Institute
Te Taketake Diploma in Addiction Counselling
Dunedin and Rotorua
WelTec
*Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction Practice
Porirua, Wellington
National Addiction Centre
Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders
Distance Learning, based in Christchurch
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling - Level 7
Nelson
The scholarship and funding programmes listed below can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications:
Te Pou has a wide range of evidence-based resources and tools to help the mental health, addiction and disability workforces.
Learn MoreTe Pou works alongside mental health and addiction services, and disability organisations to understand their priorities and workforce challenges.
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