The Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry offers integrated training combining formal study, connection with a community of children’s and youth ministry practitioners, and involvement in ministry with children and young people in a local church.
Study
Specialised subjects in children’s and youth ministry can contribute to any of the undergraduate or graduate courses offered at Ridley.
Recommended study pathways integrate specialised subjects with core subjects in biblical studies, theology, and church history.
Study one to four subjects per semester in a combination of intensive mode and weekly classes on campus and online. FEE-HELP loans available to eligible students.
Full-time students (enrolled in a minimum of three standard subjects per semester) may be eligible for Centrelink allowances such as AUSTUDY, ABSTUDY, New Start and Youth Allowance.
Community
Connect with fellow CYM students in the weekly Vocational Mentoring Group.
Trainees become part of the Co-oP, the Ridley Children’s and Youth Ministry Community of Practice, connecting with a professional learning community of children’s and youth ministry practitioners.
Church
All CYM students are encouraged to work in a children’s or youth ministry placement in a local church for one to four days per week.
Students studying Diploma or Degree courses can complete a CYM placement practicum by including a unit in Field Education in their course.
Scholarships are available to help establish new student placement positions in youth ministry for up to ten hours a week over a two-or three-year period.
Recommended Study Pathways
Certificate Courses
Undergraduate Certificate of Ministry, Graduate Certificate of Divinity The four-unit certificate courses can be completed in one semester full-time, or part-time over two years (one unit per semester). Completed part-time, a Certificate course enables CYM leaders or trainees to give approximately one day per week of study alongside ministry of up to five days per week.
Year A (2023, 2025)
Semester One
Semester Two
CYM Combined
DE037: Children’s and Youth Ministry (extensive)
PC076: Personal and Spiritual Formation for Christian Ministry (intensive)
Year B (2024, 2026)
Children’s Ministry
Elective unit in biblical studies*
DE031: Skills for Children’s and Family Ministry (online)
Youth Ministry
DE011: Youth in the Churches (extensive)
Elective unit in biblical studies*
*Recommended subjects in Biblical studies:
BB002: Introduction to Biblical Theology and Interpretation (on-campus)
OT001: Old Testament Foundations (online/on-campus)
OT002: Old Testament Prophets and Writings (online/on-campus)
NT001: Jesus and the Gospels (online)
NT002: Early New Testament Church (online)
NT003: New Testament Overview (on-campus)
TH005: Foundational Christian Beliefs
Diploma Courses
Diploma of Ministry, Graduate Diploma of Divinity The diploma courses comprising eight subjects can be completed in one year full-time, or part-time over four years (one subject per semester). The Diploma courses are the recommended foundational training for effective leadership in church-based children’s and youth ministry.
When completed part-time over two years the diploma courses enable trainees to structure a ministry placement combining full-time study (3 subjects; 3 days per week) and between one and three days per week of ministry in year 1; and part-time study (1 subject; 1 day per week) with up to five days per week ministry in year 2. Full-time study (a minimum of 3 standard subjects/36 credit points) in year one provides access to Centrelink benefits for eligible students.
Combined subjects in children’s and youth ministry
DE037: Children’s and Youth Ministry
DE032: Personal Formation for Children’s and Youth Ministry
Specialised subjects in either Children’s Ministry OR Youth Ministry
DE031: Skills for Children’s and Family Ministry or
DE011 Youth in the Churches
Children’s and Youth Ministry Field Education
DE016/DE017: Children’s or Youth Ministry Field Education
Theology
TH005: Foundational Christian Beliefs (online)
Biblical studies (any three of the following)
BB002: Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (on-campus only)
OT001, OT002: Old Testament Foundations, Old Testament Prophets and Writings
NT001, NT002, NT003: New Testament Overview (on-campus only), Jesus and the Gospels, Early New Testament Church
Degree Courses
Bachelor of Ministry, Bachelor of Theology, Master of Ministry, Master of Divinity The degree courses comprising twenty-four subjects can be completed in three years full-time, or part-time over nine years. These degrees are the recommended training for long-term leadership in church-based children’s and youth ministry.
In addition to the specialised subjects in children’s and youth ministry contained in the diploma courses, degree students can choose one or all of the following advanced (level 9) units in Children’s and Youth Ministry: • DE035: Practice Framework for Children’s and Youth Ministry • DE038: Strategic Approaches to Children’s and Youth Ministry • DE205: Children’s and Youth Ministry Capstone (Field Education – Ministry Placement)
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to help establish new student placement positions for up to ten hours per week over two or three year period. For more information, please contact Graham Stanton on g.stanton@ridley.edu.au
Complete the Ridley College online application process.
If you have a ministry placement in mind, please direct the church to complete the application process for Ministry Placements. Alternatively, we will work with you to find a suitable ministry placement once you are accepted into the program. Note that acceptance into the program does not guarantee placement in a paid position in an approved training centre.
Ministry placement providers
Contact Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry Director (g.stanton@ridley.edu.au) to apply to become an approved ministry training centre.
Provide a proposed role description (including details of supervision and remuneration arrangements), and Insurance Certificate of Currency.
If you have a prospective trainee in mind, please direct them to complete the Ridley College online application process. Alternatively, once you are approved as a ministry training centre we will work with you to find a suitable ministry trainee. Note that acceptance as an approved training centre does not guarantee finding a suitable ministry trainee.
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