“Completing postgraduate study in Addictive Behaviours was life-changing,” says nurse practitioner candidate Timothy Cann, who completed the program in 2024.

His experiences of undertaking the course are a testament to the impact it can have on students, both professionally and in terms of personal growth.

“The course gave me insight into myself and my experiences, which provided me with comfort and closure, improving my personal and professional life,” Tim explains.

It was also the catalyst for rapid career advancement.

Rapid career impact

Already working in the alcohol and other drug sector, Tim decided to pursue a postgraduate course to advance his career by strengthening his clinical skills.

“I chose the Graduate Diploma in Addictive Behaviours due to Monash University’s partnership with Turning Point, Australia’s leading organisation in alcohol and drug treatment and research, because I felt this would offer me the best and most up-to-date and relevant content of the courses in addiction and alcohol and other drug issues available to me in Australia,” he says.

The impact was immediate. “Professionally, it gave me confidence in my abilities through consolidating previous knowledge while teaching me advanced practice skills in my area of employment, resulting in a sharp improvement in my overall performance in my role,” he says.

That confidence and increase in advanced practice skills led him to secure a managerial position before later successfully applying to undertake nurse practitioner training.

“Without a doubt, if I hadn’t completed the course, I would not have been afforded such opportunities,” Tim says.

Reflecting on beliefs and ideas

Beyond career progression, the program also encourages deep reflection. Students undertaking the course are supported to reflect on their beliefs and preconceived ideas about a wide range of topics and provide a critical analysis of them.

“Challenging one’s own ideas regarding our reality and where we exist within it caused a significant shift in my understanding of self, significantly changing how I perceived myself as well as those around me,” Tim says.

“This has had a lasting impact on professional and personal relationships, providing me with a language to understand my inner monologue, which resulted in a calmer and more confident persona to come forward,” he adds.

A rewarding experience

Another positive aspect of the course was the warm, kind and approachable nature of the teaching staff, which created a safe space for the students to explore potentially challenging topics.

“I want to call out both Kirsten and Anni for supporting and encouraging me when I doubted myself and my abilities. They made the course what it was. In particular, they made learning an enjoyable and satisfying experience. They were always quick to respond to questions and did so from a place of mutual respect, acknowledging our own lived experience and all that comes with it,” Tim says.

For anyone seeking to expand their understanding of addiction and its impacts, this program offers not just advanced clinical skills but also opportunities for crucial reflection and personal growth.

“The course was more than education for me,” Tim says. “It changed my life.”

Learn more about the Addictive Behaviours Graduate Program.

Watch a webinar to hear directly from course leaders and students about the program.

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