Graduate Certificate of Professional Pastoral Supervision

The Graduate Certificate of Professional Pastoral Supervision provides professional development to equip Christian leaders to offer pastoral supervision of others in ministry. Graduates will be equipped with the advanced knowledge and understanding of, and the research underlying, professional supervision to the level required for recognition and accreditation as Associate Members of the Australasian Association of Supervision (AAOS).

The Graduate Certificate of Professional Pastoral Supervision combines theological reflection on the theory and practice of professional pastoral supervision with personal experience of giving and receiving pastoral supervision.

This course comprises 3 core units and one elective which must be chosen from an approved group of units for inclusion in this course. Students enrolled in other ACT post/graduate courses may be eligible to complete the 3 core professional pastoral supervision units as electives within their courses. These units are also available at level 9 for Doctor of Ministry candidates who wish to pursue a specialisation in this field within their degree.

Discipline Knowledge and Understanding

1. Demonstrate up-to-date advanced knowledge and understanding of the theories and methods of professional supervision, its biblical, theological and ministry foundations and relevant aspects of t he Australian legal, ethical and professional context.

Inquiry and Analysis

2. Collect, analyse, evaluate and synthesize advanced scholarship in inquiry-based learning of Professional Pastoral Supervision.

Problem Solving and Integration

3. Construct evidence-based perspectives on advanced issues in Professional Pastoral Supervision by using recognized source materials, scholarly literature, and reflection on practice

in order to evaluate alternative explanations and draw reasoned conclusions.

Communication

4. Present advanced ideas, knowledge and principles in Professional Pastoral Supervision and engage with specialist and non-specialist audiences using a variety of formats.

Teamwork and Professional Practice

5. As a professional practitioner, apply advanced knowledge of the supervisory alliance to develop professional pastoral relationships with supervisees and other church leaders using a

variety of formats.

Engagement With the World

6. Develop professional and vocational capacity to support Christian leaders to engage in an ethical manner with the challenges of contemporary Christian leadership in the church, society and the wider world.

Continuous Learning and Professional Development

7. Demonstrate advanced skills of reflective practice and self-awareness within supervision practice to sustain personal and professional development.

Academic Qualifications:

• a completed 3 year bachelor degree or equivalent
• minimum 2 years’ formal academic studies in Ministry/Theology/Divinity/Chaplaincy or a related discipline. (This study requirement may be within the 3-year bachelor degree but this is not required).

Additional Professional Experience and Personal Readiness Requirements:

• a minimum 5 years’ experience as a pastor, pastoral ministry worker or chaplain
  All applicants must submit a brief summary of their relevant experience with their application. This summary should contain details of the contexts and roles in which applicants have been involved in pastoral ministry and/or chaplaincy.
• letters of commendation from their current employing organisation and their professional supervisor
  The letters of commendation should comment on the character of the applicant and their suitability for training as a professional pastoral supervisor.

• faculty interview
  All applicants will participate in a faculty interview to assess their suitability for study in this course.

Language Qualifications for NESB:

• IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in reading and writing, and 6.5 in listening and speaking OR
• 10 years in Australia with English being the language primarily spoken both at home and work

2024 domestic tuition fees are $2,784 for undergraduate units and $2,976 for graduate units.
2025 domestic tuition fees are $2,853 for undergraduate units and $3,162 for graduate units.

Current postgraduate research course (HDR) fees can be viewed on our fees page.

For more information about tuition fees including overseas student tuition fees, FEE-HELP, and payment information, view tuition fees.

• Graduate Diploma of Divinity
• Master of Theological Studies
• Doctor of Ministry