Cyrenian House Volunteer Drug and Alcohol Counsellors Training Program
The 2023 Volunteer Drug and Alcohol Counsellors Training Program is now open.
All applicants will be advised on the outcome of their application, however this may take up to one month following the application closing date. Unfortunately, due to the number of applications received, Cyrenian House is unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful written applications..
General Information About the program:
Cyrenian House runs an annual Volunteer Drug and Alcohol Counsellors’ Training Program across all of its metropolitan based services. This program was established in 2012 using the Helping Change: the Drug and Alcohol Counsellors’ Training Package developed by Drug and Alcohol Office and the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology.
There are two major components to the program:
- An intensive training program comprising 20 four-hour workshops in both general and addiction counselling skills. Training sessions take place on Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm. Sessions cover general counselling skills including active listening, empathy, reflection of feelings, use of questions, supervision and confidentiality. Alcohol and other drug counselling skills include raising the issue of alcohol and other drug use, assessment, motivational interviewing, problem solving and goal setting, relapse and giving up.
- A 12-month placement at one of Cyrenian’s treatment services (Perth, Warwick and Joondalup), in which volunteer counsellors provide a counselling service to agency clients. During this part of the program all counsellors are assigned to an experienced supervisor who is responsible for the management of their cases. Volunteers are required to complete a four-hour placement per week and will receive one hours’ supervision twice a month.
People interested in applying to be a volunteer counsellor should possess
- a non-judgemental and open minded attitude towards drug use problems
- a knowledge of, an interest, or background in the alcohol and drug field
- a commitment to working with people with alcohol and other drug-related problems
- excellent interpersonal skills
- an ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and different needs.
- An ability to complete all training and placement requirements
People who have experienced recent alcohol and other drug related problems (i.e. within the past two years) are not eligible to apply.
