HLTPAT010 - Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing

Learn the skills and knowledge to undertake the special procedures that apply for drugs of abuse testing.

Duration

1 Day

Cost

$600

Location

Delivery Mode

Face-to-Face

Accredited

HLTPAT010 - Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing overview

The HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing unit outlines the formal skills and knowledge required to safely perform workplace drug and alcohol screenings. It prepares individuals working in collection centres, hospitals, and other safety-critical environments to execute strict collection procedures in compliance with Australian legislation and standards.

What you will learn:

Confirm collection requirements: Greet individuals, verify their identities according to organisational procedures, and secure informed consent.
Prepare the collection environment: Set up testing spaces according to relevant standards and select the appropriate clinical request equipment.
Collect diverse biological specimens: Master the precise technical methods required to gather urine, oral fluid, and breath alcohol samples.
Maintain the chain of custody: Prevent sample tampering, handle non-compliant individuals, and implement strict integrity checks to protect the validity of results.
Apply legal and ethical standards: Adhere to national privacy, work health and safety (WHS), and duty of care requirements while managing clinical records.

By successfully completing this unit of competency, students gain the operational confidence needed to deliver professional, legally defensible drug and alcohol testing results.

Training and Assessment delivered under the auspices and in partnership arrangement on behalf of Health Security & Education Pty Ltd, RTO 40907

Entry Requirements

Age – Participants must be a minimum of 18 years old
Unique Student Identifier (USI) – All participants must provide a valid USI prior to course commencement, in accordance with national training requirements.
Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) – Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital needs (LLND) must be assessed before commencing the course you are enrolled for. You need to be confident to interpret safety instructions, complete documentation and communicate directly and using radios to complete the theory and practical components of the course
Identification – Official Photo Identification will need to be presented on the day of your course.

By enrolling, you acknowledge that being under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a breach of safety protocols. In these instances, no refund will be issued, and full course fees will apply for any future re-booking.

Is this course for me?

The HLTPAT010 Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing unit is designed for individuals seeking to enter or advance within the safety, compliance, and collection sectors.

Who should consider enrolling in this course?

Aspiring Drug and Alcohol Testers: Individuals looking to secure employment as dedicated collection officers or mobile testing technicians.
WHS and Safety Professionals: Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) managers, officers, and coordinators responsible for maintaining zero-harm environments.
Pathology and Healthcare Workers: Phlebotomists, clinic assistants, and nursing staff looking to expand their clinical skill set into occupational health screening.
Supervisors and Managers: Team leaders in high-risk sectors who are tasked with overseeing onsite safety policies and fit-for-work testing.
HR Personnel: Human resource team members managing internal company screening, pre-employment checks, and onboarding medicals.

Industry and Organisational Suitability

High-Risk Operations: Organisations in safety-critical environments—such as mining, construction, aviation, and transport—where drug and alcohol testing is legally mandated or required for risk mitigation.
Compliance-Driven Workplaces: Ideal for companies needing to align their internal testing frameworks with strict Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4308 and AS 4760) to ensure legal defensibility.
Onsite Testing Self-Sufficiency: Suited for businesses aiming to reduce reliance on third-party providers by upskilling internal staff to perform routine, random, or post-incident testing.
Private and Public Healthcare Services: Highly relevant for commercial pathology labs, medical clinics, and occupational health providers looking to offer compliant screening services to corporate clients.

Course Benefits

Completing the HLTPAT010 Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing unit provides participants with the formal qualifications, practical skills, and legal knowledge required to accurately perform workplace drug and alcohol screenings.

Key benefits include:

Industry Compliance: Master the strict collection and chain-of-custody procedures required to meet current Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4308 and AS 4760).
Enhanced Employability: Gain a highly sought-after, nationally recognised skill set that is a mandatory requirement for safety-critical roles across multiple industries.
Legal and Ethical Protection: Learn how to maintain confidentiality, obtain valid consent, and document processes correctly to ensure test results can withstand legal scrutiny.
Practical Competence: Develop hands-on confidence in preparing testing environments, collecting breath, urine, or oral fluid samples, and interpreting initial screening results.
Workplace Safety Leadership: Acquire the expertise needed to foster a safer, zero-harm work culture by effectively identifying and managing potential substance abuse risks.

Career Opportunities

Completing this unit, HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing, opens pathways for individuals to safely and legally conduct workplace drug and alcohol screenings across a variety of professional settings.

Roles where this unit may be relevant

Workplace Drug and Alcohol Collector / Tester: Conducting routine, random, and post-incident screening procedures.
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) / OHS Officer: Managing onsite safety compliance and screening programs.
Pathology Collector / Specimen Collection Officer: Gathering samples within dedicated collection facilities or laboratories.
Human Resources Specialist / Onboarding Coordinator: Overseeing pre-employment medical checks and internal company testing protocols.
Site Supervisor / Team Leader: Managing onsite testing operations in high-risk operational environments.
Medical / Clinic Receptionist: Assisting with patient preparation and documentation at occupational health clinics.

Industry Sectors where this unit may be relevant

Mining, Oil, and Gas: Onsite testing for safety-critical fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) operations.
Building and Construction: Maintaining site safety standards and zero-tolerance policies on large-scale commercial and civil build sites.
Transport, Logistics, and Aviation: Routine testing of commercial drivers, operators, and warehouse personnel to meet regulatory transport standards.
Healthcare and Pathology: Working within hospitals, dedicated medical clinics, and private pathology collection centres.
Manufacturing and Heavy Industry: Managing workplace safety in environments utilizing heavy machinery and plant equipment.
Corporate and Workplace Services: Providing external, contracted drug and alcohol testing services directly to businesses.

While this unit provides skills relevant to the roles listed above, completion does not guarantee employment or specific job placement.

What will I learn?

On completing HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing students will be able to:

Confirm collection requirements
Prepare for collection procedure
Collect specimen
Follow post collection procedures

Accredited Units

This course includes the following nationally recognised unit(s) of competency:

HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing – National Training Register – HLTPAT010 Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing

HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing is a standalone unit of competency, accredited under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

It may be delivered individually or as part of a qualification.

Qualifications that include this unit are:

HLT37525 Certificate III in Pathology – National Training Register – HLT37525 Certificate III in Pathology

Unit Code	Unit Name
HLTPAT010	Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing

Language, Literacy & Numeracy (LLN)

Participants will need sufficient English skills to interpret safety instructions, complete documentation and communicate during classroom and practical demonstrations and assessments.
A pre-course LLND assessment ensures you have the reading, writing, numeracy and communication skills needed to successfully complete the course.
Digital Literacy – you will require digital technology proficiency sufficient to use and navigate various forms of digital and electronic tools, platforms and technology to communicate and demonstrate understanding of course information and skills.

Pre-Requisites

There are no prerequisites for this unit.

Assessment

The following methods will be used to assess competency for HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing:

• Assessor Checklists
• Theoretical Assessments including short answer and multi-choice questions
• Individual and team based practical and scenario assessments

Certification

The HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing unit is a nationally recognised competency, accredited under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

Successful participants will receive a Statement of Attainment for National Training Register – HLTPAT010 Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing issued by an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO) upon demonstrating competency in all assessment requirements.

Training and Assessment delivered under the auspices and in partnership arrangement on behalf of Health Security & Education Pty Ltd, RTO 40907

What will be provided on the day

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and training materials will be provided on the day of your course.

Our Forrestdale Training Facility has a compact kitchen area with an automated tea/coffee machine.

A fridge and microwave are provided for participants to store and heat their own snacks/meals.
A vending machine is stocked with quick snacks, healthy options and bottle/canned drinks.
Alternatively, there are a variety of food outlets and cafes close by if you wish to purchase food/drinks. We recommend purchasing before the course starts as businesses may change advertised operating hours without notice.

Please bring your own water bottle – we have a cold-water unit for refills.

What to wear

Courses include practical demonstrations and assessments that all participants are required to be involved in.

All participants are required to wear:

Long pants
Long sleeved shirts
Steel cap safety boots
Prescription glasses if worn.

We also encourage you to dress accordingly for weather conditions and suggest the following items:

Hat
Sunglasses
Additional clothing to keep dry/warm if raining or windy

Identification

On the day of your course, you will be required to provide official photo identification on arrival at our Forrestdale Training Centre or other training locations.

Official photo identification includes Driver Licence, Passport or Australian State or Territory issued Photo Card.

Expired identification will not be accepted.

Physical Capacity and Fitness

Students must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be evidence that the student has:

Followed relevant standard and organisational procedures to collect the following 3 different types of specimens for drugs of abuse testing from at least 2 different individuals, including:
urine, oral fluid or breath.
Selected, prepared and used compliant equipment and collection kits.

Photography and Filming

We will capture training, demonstrations and assessment by taking photographs or video or sound recordings.
We will include in our enrolment package to you a photographic/media consent form which details the collection and use of your personal image in any way by Risk Management Training Solutions Pty Ltd (RMTS) for print and digital communications, publications, productions or presentations as well as for identification purposes and as evidence of participation and assessment activity.
Your completed consent form will be placed on file and retained by RMTS. We will also advise you in this form on how you can withdraw your consent.

Driving - Fitness to Undertake Training & Assessment

To ensure the safety of all participants and maintain the integrity of our assessment processes, all students must be fit to participate in practical training and assessment activities. These requirements reflect and mirror industry safety expectations, including those used in mining and other high‑risk environments.

Our fitness‑for‑assessment procedure includes:

Self‑Declaration: By enrolling and attending, you confirm you are not under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs.
Medication Disclosure: If you are taking medication that may cause drowsiness or impair your physical or cognitive abilities, you must advise your assessor. We will work with you to determine if reasonable adjustments or rescheduling can be considered.
Impairment Screening: To maintain a safe site, trainers may conduct impairment checks, including breathalyser (BAC) and drug screening, to ensure a safe training environment.
Removal for Safety: Any participant assessed as unfit to safely participate and operate machinery, will be removed from the session for the safety of themselves and others.
Refund Conditions: Attending training under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a breach of safety protocols. In these instances, no refund will be issued, and full course fees will apply for rebooking.

By enrolling, you acknowledge and agree to these safety protocols, ensuring you are prepared for the demands of operating in a high-risk work environment.

Duration

Delivered over 1 day.

Exact daily schedules—including start and finish times, break periods, and assessment windows—will be provided upon completion of enrolment, allowing us to tailor information to your specific training group and location.

RMTS trainers and assessors deliver a blend of supervised learning, theoretical assessment activities, and realistic scenario‑based training to ensure learners can confidently apply their skills in real‑world environments. Each training day is structured to balance knowledge development with hands‑on practice, including multiple opportunities to participate in realistic simulations and skill‑building exercises.

Delivery Locations

This course is delivered at a range of workplaces and training sites to provide realistic, industry-specific learning environments. See our locations below:

Forrestdale office
On site
In your workplace/office

ON-SITE with RMTS

RMTS can deliver many of our courses at your nominated site or in your workplace.

Why send staff off‑site when RMTS can deliver high‑impact training right at your location?

Forrestdale, Perth

Experience dynamic learning at Forrestdale, Perth with great facilities in a great location

Fees

The cost of the HLTPAT010 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing course reflects the high level of industry expertise, resources, and workplace-based training provided.

Title	Fee
Full Fee¹	$600
Location	Please request course fees for your workplace or onsite delivery

RMTS Fee Policy - Full fees are payable upfront to secure your enrolment
Corporate Bookings - We are able to provide an invoice upon receipt of your purchase order
Location - Fees displayed are applicable to training at our Forrestdale Training Facility (or our nominated alternative location) only

What's next?

Enrolling in our courses is now easier than ever, thanks to our online enrolment process. Simply click on the button below, and you’ll be taken to our online enrolment form, where you can provide all the necessary information and complete your enrolment in just a few easy steps. Our online enrolment process is convenient, secure, and available 24/7, ensuring that you can enrol at a time that suits you. Don’t let distance or time constraints hold you back from achieving your career goals. Enrol online today and take the next step in your professional journey.