Unit Outline

KHA601

Addictive Behaviours

Semester 2, 2025

Simon Azon-Jacometti

School of Psychological Sciences

College of Health and Medicine

CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

What is the Unit About?

Unit Description

This Unit provides you with an introduction to studies in addictive behaviours in preparation for employment in the areas of alcohol and other substance counselling, treatment and prevention. It provides an overview of models of treatment and prevention of addictive behaviours with an emphasis on substance use disorders and behavioural addictions, such as gambling. Policy options and approaches to drug education and harm reduction are also introduced.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Communicate theories and processes of the main models of addiction treatment in an accessible and culturally sensitive way.
2	Facilitate client engagement by synthesising relevant information, assessing psychosocial needs, aligning treatments and refining referral capabilities.
3	Use a variety of addiction counselling skills when working with clients.
4	Apply self-reflective processes to evaluate your own addiction counselling competence.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Concurrent Pre-requisite	KHA501

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to the feedback from previous student cohort, changes have been made which includes adjustments to assessments.
As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2025, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s Unit Survey following your completion of the unit.

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Workshop	3 x 3hr workshops	3	Study Period 3 times
	Independent Learning	Self-directed learning - asynchronous online self-paced weekly modules and readings - up to 10 hrs per week	10	Weekly
	Seminar	Synchronous live online discussions available throughout semester	1	Study Period 4 times
Online	Workshop (Online)	3 x 3hr workshops	3	Study Period 3 times
	Independent Learning	Self-directed learning - asynchronous online self-paced weekly modules and readings - up to 10 hrs per week	10	Weekly
	Seminar	Synchronous live online discussions available throughout semester	1	Study Period 4 times

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

In this unit your active engagement will be monitored in the following way:

Completion of all assessment tasks

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Role-play	Week 6	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Case Study	Week 10	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Self-reflection	Week 13	30 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Practice Skills Log Sheet	Week 14	0 %	LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Role-play

Task Description:

This task involves demonstrating skill acquisition in a video recorded role-play. You and your partner will engage in a role-play in which each of you will be a “client” for the other person while they demonstrate their addiction counselling skills.

Task Length:

Maximum 20 minute video-recorded role play

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provide addiction psychoeducation to clients	LO1, LO3
2	Engage rapport building skills, congruence in verbal and non-verbal behaviour and unconditional positive regard for the client.	LO2, LO3
3	Engage core motivational interviewing skills when interacting with the client.	LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Case Study

Task Description:

Choose from a set of provided case studies and complete a written case report and treatment plan. Reflect on personal factors which influence your therapeutic decisions and client outcomes in relation to the proposed treatment plan and identify strategies to address these and maximise client outcomes.

Task Length:

2000 words maximum

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Adopt evidence-based approaches to inform screening and assessment decisions.	LO2
2	Describe and justify treatment planning decisions.	LO2, LO3
3	Justify measures of client outcomes and referral pathways (where relevant).	LO2
4	Reflect on personal factors which influence therapeutic decisions and client outcomes and identify strategies to address these and maximise client outcomes	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Self-reflection

Task Description:

This task involves a written critical reflection related to key experiential learnings throughout the semester.

Task Length:

1600 words maximum

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify professional strengths and weaknesses as they relate to counselling in the context of addiction.	LO4
2	Describe forms of addiction counselling and how to integrate these into practice with clients experiencing addiction.	LO2, LO3
3	Reflect on strategies to facilitate strengths, address weaknesses and other personal factors relevant to addiction counselling to maximise client outcomes.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Practice Skills Log Sheet

Task Description:

During semester you are required to participate in practical skills workshops and other interactive tasks. You are required to keep a log sheet of your practice skills hours for each unit. Participation in practice skills hours is an important part of the requirements for an accredited counselling course.

You are required to undertake a minimum 10 hours of counselling practice skills aligned with accreditation standards and 2 x minimum 100 word reflections. One of these reflections must focus on your role play experiences. The other reflection must focus on your experiences of group interactions within the workshops or live online discussions.

Further information regarding how to log your practice skills hours and what tasks you may include in your log sheet will be provided via MyLO at the beginning of semester.

Completed log sheets will be submitted at the end of semester for each unit you complete.

This task is a HURDLE task which you must pass in order to pass the unit.

Task Length:

Minimum 10 hours of counselling skills practice aligned with accreditation standards and 2 x minimum 100-word reflections.

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply knowledge and counselling skills to address client needs.	LO3
2	Engage reflective skills to critically evaluate your own counselling knowledge and counselling skills.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Required Readings will be provided by your Unit Coordinator.