New Alcohol and other Drug (AOD) Telephone Counselling Toolkit

May 2022

The National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs has published a new AOD Telephone Counselling toolkit containing eLearning modules, videos, tip sheets and other resources. The resource is free to access

The guide uses the expertise of telephone counsellors and was made in collaboration with Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support in Queensland and Insight: Centre for alcohol and other drug training and workforce development.

Some key learnings within the modules include:  

  • an overview of the evidence-based, benefits and challenges of providing AOD counselling and brief interventions over the telephone;
  • practical and technical considerations professionals and services should consider; and
  • responding to more complex presentations including callers who have suicidal ideation, are intoxicated, experiencing withdrawal or displaying aggression, as well as sexualised and hoax calls.

The toolkit also features videos of experienced telephone counsellors sharing their insights and experiences, as well as downloadable activity sheets you can use during a telephone counselling session with your clients.

Access the toolkit

The Toolkit is available to access free from NCCRED’s website