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The health and community service sector in Australia has experienced a shift of mental health and substance abuse treatment services from institutional to community-based service models in recent years. This situation has exacerbated the problems of people suffering from the dual disorders of substance abuse and mental illness. Substance abuse issues in education for mental health professionals have historically been underplayed and, currently, clinical staff in mental health and drug treatment services need ongoing training and support on dual diagnosis issues. In mid-1999, the Dual Diagnosis Resource Centre was established in the Dandenong area of Victoria. The Centre's main activities revolve around training and staff consultation about dual diagnosis issues. In this paper, the Centre Coordinator reports on a research project conducted at the Centre to develop a training curriculum in collaboration with the major service sectors involved in the treatment of people with dual disorders. Overcoming barriers to curriculum change and the promotion of a training culture in health care are key to achieving improved investment in training, particularly in relation to problematic areas such as dual diagnosis. The curriculum development process revealed a need for training curricula that challenge and encourage change to familiar work practices and confirmed the trend in the literature toward integration of services to more effectively cater for the complex needs of dual disordered clients.