Training

Pill Testing Australia (PTA) offers specialized training services designed to equip health organisations, health workers, and peers with the knowledge and skills they need to implement effective harm reduction strategies, including drug checking services. Our training is tailored to meet the needs of a range of professionals working in health and harm reduction sectors and is backed by our extensive experience as a leader in the field of drug checking in Australia.

At PTA, we offer a suite of paid training programs that provide comprehensive education on the technical, clinical, and operational aspects of drug checking. Whether you’re looking to establish a new drug checking service or enhance an existing one, our training covers:

• Chemists can learn to operate state-of-the-art drug checking equipment such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array (UPLC-PDA) systems.
• Hands-on guidance in interpreting test results and understanding the limitations of different testing methods.
• Health and peer worker training on translating results and equipment limitations into effective brief interventions.

• Receive in-depth training on delivering harm reduction advice tailored to the results of drug checking.
• Understand the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with providing drug checking services, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

• Our training focuses on empowering peer workers with the skills they need to engage effectively with service users, providing non-judgmental support and harm reduction education.
• We emphasize the integration of peer workers into drug checking services, enhancing the overall client experience through lived experience perspectives​.

• Learn how to implement both fixed-site drug checking services and festival-based operations.
• Our training includes logistical planning, stakeholder management, and coordination with local health authorities and law enforcement.

To learn more about our paid training services or sign up for a course, contact us today. Let us help you build the skills and confidence to deliver effective harm reduction and drug checking services in your organisation or community.

In addition to our paid training, PTA encourages everyone to take advantage of Harm Reduction Australia’s free online course, “An Australian Perspective.” This course offers a solid foundation in harm reduction and is available to health workers, peer workers, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of this essential approach.

Module 1: Introduction to Harm Reduction

• Gain an understanding of what harm reduction is and why it’s a just and effective approach.
• Explore the history of harm reduction both in Australia and globally.
• Learn about Australian drug policy and how to apply harm reduction principles in your work or life.

Module 2: Harm Reduction in Practice

• Learn how various factors influence drug experiences and how harm reduction practices can be tailored to address those factors.
• Gain a critical understanding of drug categorisation, effects, and the risks and harms associated with different substances.
• Understand the social and political contexts that shape how we think about risk and harm in relation to drugs.

Module 3: Volunteer Training for PTA

• Specifically designed for volunteers engaged in PTA’s drug checking services.
• Covers your rights and responsibilities, an overview of PTA’s service delivery roles, the service journey, and best practices for working in festival settings.

Module 4: Harm Reduction Advocacy

• Learn the fundamentals of harm reduction advocacy, including different forms of advocacy and tools to implement them effectively.
• Gain the skills to develop your own advocacy plan to promote harm reduction initiatives in your community or organisation.

This free course is ideal for those looking to enter the harm reduction workforce or expand their knowledge, and it’s a great supplement to PTA’s more specialized paid training programs​.