As a result of a fatal aviation accident on Hamilton Island in 2004, the Australian Government directed CASA to develop a testing regime for Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) in the aviation sector for aviation safety sensitive personnel. Under regulation an aviation sector employee who returns a positive AOD test must undergo a comprehensive assessment with a suitably qualified health professional prior to returning to safety-sensitive activities.  To meet the standard of the regulation, the comprehensive assessment requires thorough examination of physiological and psycho-social indicators of problematic AOD use.

A comprehensive assessment may be conducted by:

1. A psychiatrist
2. A Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine (FAChAM)
3. Jointly by
   1. A person entitled to practice as a medical practitioner
   2. An appropriately qualified drug and alcohol professional who materially works as a provider of clinical drug and alcohol treatment services, and holds a bachelor degree or a postgraduate degree in at least one of the following fields:

1.  
   •  
     1.  
        • health sciences
        • medical science
        • social sciences
        • behavioural sciences