SMART Recovery Australia’s Facilitator Training is an industry endorsed course designed to teach AOD practitioners, mental health clinicians, peers, professionals and community volunteers everything required to start and run their very own SMART Recovery meeting. SMART meetings use evidence-based tools to empower people to take control of their addictive or problematic behaviours associated with alcohol and other drugs, gambling and others.
Vibrant new eLearning course allows you to become a certified SMART facilitator at your own pace and includes over 5hrs worth of video demonstrations and virtual role play scenarios
Our flagship two-day training courses provide hands-on learning for intimate 8-10 person classes. Trainees get to role play how SMART Tools are used in a range of real meeting scenarios
Learn all the latest researched-backed tools & techniques, the SMART 4-Point Program and how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing are best utilised in addiction and behaviour change
Access free and regularly updated video tutorials, webinars and refresher training courses. Receive lifetime support from your dedicated National Program Manager
Please note: While all training costs are one off, before an organisation can commence running the SMART Recovery program, including starting a SMART Recovery meeting, they must purchase a subscription. Subscription fees only apply to organisations and not individuals voluntarily running meetings in the community.
Facilitator Training is available in two formats: online or in-person. Which is best for you or your team can often depend on your budget, location and how quickly you need to access the training.
Are you a former SMART participant and want to start your own SMART meeting?
Ask about our Peer Discount here.
To ensure the quality of the program and the safety of participants, you must complete this training before running the program. Further, if you are from an organisation, you must purchase a Subscription before starting a meeting. Subscriptions do not apply to volunteers in the community.
Both trainings teach exactly the same program and largely the same content – it’s merely the format that differs. Which is best for you or your team can often depend on your budget, location and how quickly you need to access the training. You are a qualified SMART Recovery Australia Facilitator regardless of which format you complete. However, in regards to the online training, you must complete both Phase 1 and Phase 2, which is a video conference practice session, before you are a qualified SMART Recovery Facilitator and can start a SMART meeting.
Yes, we can provide private training for workplaces. We require a minimum of 8 attendees.
Yes, but we require a minimum of 8 attendees, and you must cover the travel expenses of the trainer (flights, accommodation, taxi, meals, etc).
Because the number of spots at any given training is limited to eight (8) (with a strict maximum of ten (10)) trainees, we need significant notice to find a replacement trainee in the event that you need to cancel your attendance. If your circumstances change and you no longer can attend this event after you have registered, please email [email protected] no later than two (2) weeks prior to the event to cancel and/or be issued with a full refund. A refund will not be issued if notification has not been received within this time frame and you will be required to pay for the event.
Josette Freeman has an extensive background in nursing and specialised in Paediatric Oncology. She continued her counselling studies and has worked across all sectors of the drug and alcohol field. For the past 11 years she has worked for SMART Recovery Australia in the capacity of the National Program and Training Coordinator, travelling across the country to teach organisations and individuals about the SMART Recovery program and provide training on how to facilitate SMART Recovery meetings. Josette worked in collaboration with aboriginal workers to develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander edition of the SMART Recovery manual. Josette still runs her own SMART Recovery group in the community on a weekly basis.
Angela Argent (PhD) has worked within the NGO and university sectors for twenty years. She was Project Coordinator for Community Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Research Network (CMHDARN), a partnership project between the Network of Alcohol and other Drugs (NADA), Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) and the Mental Health Commission of NSW. She was Executive Officer at Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service Network, Senior Policy Officer for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Student Equity Officer at UNSW and Senior Research/Policy Officer at Schizophrenia Fellowship, Mental Health Coordinating Council, NSW Council for Intellectual Disability and NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Angela studied psychology (B.A hons. Ist Class) at Sydney University and completed a doctorate in the School of Historical and Gender Studies at Monash University, Melbourne. She taught for ten years at Monash and Sydney and was Honorary Research Associate at Sydney University while living and working in the Czech Republic from 2006 – 2011. Social justice, social inclusion, as well as recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and evidence-led practice matter to her most. She wants to contribute to enabling people to experience and enjoy leading the most fulfilling lives possible. Three teenagers and two mad cats keep her grounded. She is currently completing a Master of Creative Arts and reads and writes fiction for fun.
Dan joined SMART Recovery Australia in October 2016. Originally from Scotland, Dan has many years experience working in addiction recovery, peer education and within the homeless sector in the United Kingdom. Over the last 4 years, since immigrating to Australia, Dan has worked with a number of leading non-government organisations within the mental health, addiction and youth sectors. Prior to joining SMART Recovery Australia he was responsible for managing a multi-site residential care service for youth. Dan’s qualifications include an Honours Degree in Addiction Studies, Diploma in Integrated Counselling and a Certificate in Community Mental Health. As of 2017, Dan is a member of the board of Silky Oaks. Dan has a real passion and interest to see people who are experiencing addiction gain more control over their behaviours. He strongly believes in peer support and that those seeking recovery are the experts in themselves. His desire is to see people equipped with the necessary tools and strategies and empowered to live more balanced and fulfilled lives. His interests include soccer, golf, playing the guitar and singing. He has enjoyed travelling and visiting many countries but most of all enjoys spending time with his family at home.
