Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Diploma in Addiction Studies (Applied) (Level 6)
Version
1
Qualification type
Diploma
Level
6
Credits
120
NZSCED
090599
Society and Culture > Human Welfare Studies and Services >
Human Welfare Studies and Services not elsewhere classified
DAS classification
2210
Community and Social Services > Health, Disability, and Aged
Support > Mental Health and Addiction Support
Qualification developer
Careerforce
Next review
December 2020
Approval date
April 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the addiction sector
with qualified workers who have specialist knowledge and skills
required to contribute to, and where appropriate carry out
assessment, planning and intervention for people with addictionrelated conditions.
The qualification is intended for learners who want to work in the
addiction sector and those who want to build on their own
relevant experience and gain, or be recognised for, the specialist
knowledge and skills.
The community will benefit through the provision of accessible
and quality services by skilled and qualified addiction intervention
workers who work with, complement and are supported by, a
range of registered professionals who make up the addiction
sector workforce.
Graduates will work within the continuum of care provided across
the addiction sector as qualified addiction workers, supported by
multi-disciplinary teams that include registered addiction, health
and social service professionals.
Outcome Statement
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 2733
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
-
Respond to ethno/cultural diversity in own practice, with
particular emphasis on Māori and Pasifika.
-
Assist in the assessment of support and intervention needs
of people with addiction-related conditions.
-
Know and offer a range of interventions and appropriate
community support options based on assessment.
-
Work with clients, their families and whānau in partnership
to negotiate the implementation of intervention.
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Education pathway
-
Work in partnership and collaboration with others in the
workplace.
-
Reflect on own practice to support own performance and
professional development in the addiction sector.
-
Use appropriate written and oral communication with clients
and key stakeholders in the addiction sector.
The qualification provides a pathway for people wanting to
progress from related level 4 and level 5 qualifications in the
health, disability and social service sector.
Graduates may progress into higher level qualifications within
addiction studies, or the health, disability and social service
sector.
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification will be able to work in a range of
settings such as non-governmental organisations,
justice/corrections, social services, residential and community.
Roles may include addiction support workers; caseworkers;
alcohol and other drug, or problem gambling counsellors; care
coordinators/navigators; programme facilitators; and night
supervisors.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification can be awarded by education
organisations that have an approved programme leading to
the qualification, Industry Training Organisations that
arrange training leading to the qualification or education
organisations accredited to provide a programme leading to
the qualification.
The certificate will display the title of the qualification and the
logos of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, and the
name and/or logo of the awarding education organisation.
Evidence requirements for assuring
consistency
All education organisations offering programmes leading to
the qualification must engage with the consistency reviews
scheduled by NZQA, including covering actual and
reasonable related costs.
Each education organisation is responsible for deciding what
evidence it will provide at consistency reviews to
demonstrate how well its graduates meet the graduate
profile outcomes.
Evidence is expected to be based on self-assessment
activities, for example:
-
Qualification Reference 2733
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
graduate destination data
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-
graduate surveys or evaluations of the programme
-
stakeholder or ‘next-user’ surveys and feedback
-
evidence of any bench-marking activities with other
education organisations (e.g. benchmarks relating to
graduate employment outcomes, assessment
practice, other benchmarks)
-
graduates’ assessment evidence (e.g. completed
assessment activities, naturally occurring evidence)
-
national external moderation results
-
capstone events.
Minimum standard of achievement
and standards for grade
endorsements
Achievement of all outcomes. There are no grade
endorsements for this qualification.
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet regulatory body
or legislative requirements)
At least one year’s practical work or voluntary experience in
addiction support or related fields, including but not limited
to, counselling, social work or nursing.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme
structure
Programmes must be structured in a way that ensures learners
complete a minimum of 200 hours of applied learning in a workplace
as part of their programme.
Other conditions
Programmes should accord with the principles of contemporary overarching Acts, codes and strategies, including the following (or updated
versions of these):
- Te Tiriti ō Waitangi
- Addiction Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa New Zealand
(DAPAANZ) Addiction Intervention Competency Framework (2011)
- Ministry of Health Real Skills for people working in mental health
and addiction (2008)
- DAPAANZ Code of Ethics (2005)
- The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights
(1996)
Programmes leading to this qualification may meet the requirements
for membership with the Addiction Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa
New Zealand. Education organisations who wish to include DAPAANZ
registration requirements as part of their programme must approach
the Addiction Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa-New Zealand to
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© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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confirm their programme meets the minimum requirements for
registration.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
1
Programmes must include:
Respond to ethno/cultural
diversity in own practice,
with particular emphasis on
Māori and Pasifika.
Credit 10
2
Assist in the assessment of
support and intervention
needs of people with
addiction-related conditions.
Credit 25
3
Know and offer a range of
interventions and
appropriate community
support options based on
assessment.
Credit 25

the implications of culture and ethnicity on vulnerabilities to, and
expressions of, various conditions including well-being, identity,
communication and health literacy.

knowledge of pōwhiri, karakia, whakawhanaunga

knowledge of Maori health frameworks and engagement

knowledge of Pacific health frameworks and engagement
Programmes must include relevant and appropriate tools/
theories/models. These may include, but are not limited to:

human development theory

brain development (including attachment theory)

addiction

models of recovery

counselling

social justice

Te Ariari o te Oranga (coexisting problems)

Addiction and mental health screening

principles of pharmacology that relate to the therapeutic use and
misuse of substances
Programmes must include addiction-related intervention models and
approaches. These may include but are not limited to:
 client-centred practice
 relapse prevention
 motivational approaches
 Meihana, Te Whare Tapa Whā
 cognitive behavioural approaches and other relevant talking
therapies
 group facilitation
 fono fale and/or other Pasifika models
 case management
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© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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 pink therapy
 family inclusive practice
4
Work with clients, their
families and whānau in
partnership to negotiate the
implementation of
intervention.
Credit 25
5
Work in partnership and
collaboration with others in
the workplace.
Credit 15
6
Reflect on own practice to
support own performance
and professional
development in the
addiction sector.
Credit 10
7
Programmes may include, but are not limited to:

whānau centric practice

managed withdrawal

residential including therapeutic community

peer support

day programmes

self-help

brief intervention

referral to other health and social services
Programmes may include, but are not limited to :

recovery-oriented systems of care

agencies and service delivery types

effective models of partnership and collaboration
Programmes may include, but are not limited to:

models of self-reflection

critical evaluation skills

role of professional supervision

personal development and self-care
Use appropriate written and
oral communication with
clients and key
stakeholders in the
addiction sector.
Programmes may include, but are not limited to:
Credit 10

non-stigmatising language

engaging with clients and family and whānau, and in therapeutic
conversations

supporting communities through education

report writing skills
Audiences may include but are not limited to:
Qualification Reference 2733
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015

clients and family/whanau (including Children of Parents with
Mental Illness/Addiction - COPMIA)

colleagues

courts/corrections

addiction, health and social service professionals
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Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaces the following qualifications:
- Te Taketake – Diploma in Applied Addiction Counselling (Level 6)
[Ref:111095]
-
WelTec Diploma in Alcohol and Drug Studies (Level 6) [Ref: HV4213]
Qualification Reference 2733
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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