Alcohol and Drug Worker
What is an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Worker and what do they do?
AOD workers help people who are having issues with drugs or alcohol. AOD workers can come from a variety of training and professional backgrounds including nursing, social work, youth work, cultural support work, as well as specific AOD training.
For more information on what an AOD worker does check out the following website links:
What do Child and Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drug Workers do?
- individual counselling
- work with family/whanau
- health promotion and education activities in schools and marae and at events such as Polyfest
- educate other health professionals about the effects of drugs and alcohol and the options that are available to support children and young people
- work with other services to ensure children and young people receive all the support they require
What's great about this job?
"What motivates me is the students that I'm going to see....they can be so inspiring, just with their stories, their strength and their determination, and (their ability) to make changes, sometimes against all odds." Rachel Shaw, Care NZ, Hamilton
"I work in a really positive environment with people who are really happy to be doing their work." Rebecca Williams, Altered High, CADS, Waitemata DHB, Auckland
What personal qualities do you need?
An AOD Worker needs to be:
- patient
- a good listener
- empathetic
- able to deal with conflict and remain calm in stressful situations
- open minded and non-judgemental
- passionate about helping and supporting those with AOD issues
Who could you work with?
Depending on where they work, child and adolescent AOD workers can work with all ages of children and youth. An important part of being an AOD worker is also working with families. AOD workers often work alongside other mental health workers as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
What kinds of places could you work in?
Child and Adolescent AOD workers can work in various settings. These can include AOD services for all ages, specialist child and adolescent AOD services, specialist mental health services and NGOs. 'Offsite' work in schools, marae and in the child or young person’s home is an important part of being an AOD worker.
How much could you expect to earn?
Salaries can vary depending on the training and experience you have and whether you belong to a clinical profession, e.g. a registered nurse but, on average, AOD workers can earn $30,000 - $80,000+ per year.
Are there any scholarships you can apply for to help with the cost of studying?
Yes! There are a number of scholarships that you may be able to apply for. Click here for more information.
For some information on where you can study to become an AOD worker, how long it takes and what you should study at school click here for the AOD page on the Career Services website.
