University of Tasmania
Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies for Health Professionals
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 3 Years
Offers a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary journey into the science and psychology of addiction, equipping practitioners to lead compassionate, evidence-informed care in a rapidly evolving field.
Course overview
In this fully online course, you will work with both health and non-health professionals to improve your understanding of dependency and contribute to providing adequate care and guidance to help those experiencing it overcome their struggles. Your studies will cover the principles underlying substance use and withdrawal, identification of co-occurring conditions and the rationale for undertaking bio-psychosocial clinical assessments for clients. You will also learn about policies and strategies that direct appropriate client management processes and gain an understanding of current legislative requirements.
In a self-directed capstone unit, you will tailor your studies towards a dependency-related topic of your choice, gathering evidence and content to produce a professional portfolio that shows your demonstrated knowledge relevant to the region, area, occupation or sector where you’ll be utilising your skills.
The Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies has been designed to provide health professionals with the knowledge, awareness and skills to work sensitively with clients and families affected by addictive disorders and behaviours. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of dependency, maladaptive behaviours and epidemiological indicators on a theoretical level. You’ll also develop your communication skills to work sensitively with clients and families from various ages and cultures.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
From $578 (CSP)
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies for Health Professionals, students are required to fulfil 50 credit points or four units. Each unit is valued at 12.5 credit points.
Core units
- Contexts of Addiction
- Assessment and Management of Addictive Disorders
- Approaches to Intervention
- Psychological Therapies in Mental Health Care
Entry requirements
Students should be working in a health care setting (including, but not limited to, a hospital, health clinic, aged care setting or department of community services) to be in a strong position to succeed.
Applicants must have completed an AQF 7 (or equivalent) undergraduate degree qualification in a health-related discipline or social work, psychology, social sciences or police studies.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you’ve already completed some relevant studies, you may be eligible to apply for credit that may count towards the requirements for the degree you are applying for. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Synthesise advanced theoretical and technical knowledge to inform the provision of care in relation to addiction.
- Critically analyse social ecological factors determining experiences of addiction to help guide evidence-informed solutions.
- Evaluate strategies used to optimise health outcomes in addiction using evidence-informed independent judgement.
- Communicate specialist knowledge and information to a range of audiences.
Career outcomes
When you complete this course, you will be better equipped to provide effective and appropriate care for those experiencing dependencies, directly helping to reduce the costs of addiction for the person and society.
If you are a health professional and work with individuals experiencing dependency, the knowledge and skills you gain can help you upskill and specialise in your current role. It is also great for those looking to move into the addiction care field, particularly registered nurses and social workers.
For non-health professionals such as police officers, this course will help you improve your effectiveness in responding to situations that involve people experiencing addiction, as well as supporting those they interact with and the communities in which they live.
Fees and CSP
Estimated total fee in 2025: $2,312 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Estimated total fee in 2025: $12,108 (domestic full-fee paying place)
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- The number of units studied.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you only need to pay some of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
