Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health

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  • 0.5
    Years Full Time
  • 48
    Credit Points
  • Payments Centrelink Approved
    Course code: GCPCMH20
  • 2
    Max Years Part Time
  • Online Course
  • Overseas Students

Rationale

A coursework certificate at AQF level 8 which equips students with a non-theological background or theological undergraduate award with a current and advanced knowledge of pastoral care for mental health in the local church and other ministry contexts. The primary discipline units equip students with a rigorous theological framework for pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing, while the elective units integrate theological reflection with advanced skills in pastoral care. This is a specialist award that equips graduates with the specialist knowledge necessary for gospel ministry in today’s world, as well as to prepare graduates for further learning and research.

Course Structure

48 credit points over 0.5 years (F/T)

Primary Course Discipline

24 credit points in:

  • PC137-812: Theological Perspectives on Mental Health; and
  • PC136-812: Theological Approaches to Wellbeing

12 credit points in:

  • PC135-812: Pastoral Care for those with Mental Ill-Health; OR
  • IN004-812: Mental Health issues in Christian Counselling

12 credit points in specific electives, including:

  • DE003-812: Disability, Theology, and Religion
  • DE028-812: Disability and the People of God
  • PC002-812: Pastoral Care
  • PC003-812: Pastoral Skills and Methods
  • PC008-812: Spiritual Formation for Professional Ministries
  • PC050-812: Mentoring and Pastoral Care of Workers
  • PC067-812: Spirituality for Christian Ministry
  • PC073-812: Self-care and Resilience in Ministry
  • PC093-812: Pastoral Care Field Education
  • PC094-812: Practical Ministry Field Education
  • PC095-812: Lay Ministry Field Education
  • PC121-812: Theology for Everyday Life
  • PC134-812: Child Abuse in Christian Communities: Prevention and Response
  • PC200-812: Pastoral & Church-Focused Ministry Project – 7,000 words
  • PC204-812: Pastoral & Church-Focused Ministry Seminar

Units in this course are completed at Level 8 and above.

Admission Requirements

Academic Qualifications:

  • Completed 3 year bachelor degree or equivalent
  • Alternative admission to the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health on individual application to the ACT Registrar including 5 years’ ministry or relevant industry experience (paid or unpaid); and written support of a referee who holds a relevant Masters degree from the ACT or equivalent; and successful completion of a previous qualification at AQF Level 5 or above; and being at least 25 years of age. Requirements for demonstration of academic suitability is determined at the discretion of the ACT Registrar, who will only admit applicants on a case by case basis who in the ACT Registrar’s belief are likely to be successful in Level 8 units. The principles considered in assessing an application under this clause include:
    • accommodating student diversity by including the under-representation and/or disadvantage experienced by identified groups and creating equivalent opportunities for academic success regardless of students’ backgrounds; and
    • specific consideration for the recruitment, admission, participation and completion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and
    • ensuring that admitted students have the academic preparation needed to participate in their intended study, and no known limitations that would be expected to impede their progression and completion.

On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health under this admission pathway, students can articulate to other postgraduate courses which normally would have required the completion of a bachelor degree for admission.

Language requirements: 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. See English Language Proficiency Policy.

Language requirements (Chinese course): Qualification in Chinese in the last 10 years; or using Chinese as the language primarily spoken both at home and work for the last 10 years; or Chinese Language Proficiency test through a HSK Test or another test approved by ACT. See Languages Other Than English Policy.

Articulation Options

  • GDDIV20
  • MDIV20
  • MDIVGD20
  • MMIN20
  • MTS20

Exit Options

Learning Outcomes

Discipline Knowledge and Understanding

1. Demonstrate current and advanced knowledge and understanding of pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing in a local church and other ministry contexts

2. Examine biblical-theological frameworks for pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing that can be utilised for theological reflection in ministry practice.

Inquiry and Analysis

3. Collect, analyse, evaluate and synthesize advanced scholarship in inquiry-based learning within the specialisation of pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing within the local church and other ministry settings.

Problem Solving and Integration

4. Construct evidence-based perspectives on advanced issues in pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing by using recognized source materials and scholarly literature, evaluating alternative explanations and drawing reasoned conclusions.

Communication

5. Present advanced ideas, knowledge and principles in pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing in the local church and other ministry contexts, and engage with specialist and non-specialist audiences using a variety of formats.

Teamwork and Professional Practice

6. Apply advanced understanding of pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing in formal ministry contexts and in the wider community.

Engagement with the World

7. Bring developing professional and vocational capacity in issues concerning pastoral care for mental health and wellbeing to engage with the challenges of contemporary Christianity, society, and the wider world.

Fees

$11,904 per semester for full-time (48cp) domestic students (2024 course fees and credit points).

For more information about tuition fees, FEE-HELP, and student payments, view tuition fees.

Approved for delivery at

Approval to deliver a course does not guarantee that this course will be available in a given year – please contact a college about current availability.