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Chaplaincy & Community Services

Minister’s Chaplaincy Upgrade

Expand your ministry impact by integrating chaplaincy skills into your pastoral work. The Minister's Chaplaincy Upgrade at Alphacrucis University College is designed for experienced pastors and ministers who wish to upskill or transition into the chaplaincy field. This short program equips you with the competencies and understanding needed to provide effective chaplaincy and pastoral care.

Course Duration
1 Term
Study Modes
Online Live, Online Intensive, Live Intensive
Study Locations
Online, Sydney, Melbourne
Start Dates
Term 1 (Jan), Term 2 (Apr), Term 3 (July), Term 4 (Oct)
Fees
$390 per subject
Subjects/Units
2
Speak to enrolment advisorDownload Course Guide

What is the Minister’s Chaplaincy Upgrade?

The Minister's Chaplaincy Upgrade is a focused program specifically tailored for pastors and ministers with at least five years of experience. This program includes a 3-day intensive and online assessments, allowing you to complete two essential units of study. By integrating these chaplaincy skills into your pastoral work, you will be better equipped to respond to pastoral needs and work with individuals dealing with mental health issues. This upgrade provides a broader scope of competencies, enhancing your ability to serve your congregation and community with care and compassion.

Who is this for?

Experienced Pastors and Ministers: Do you have over five years’ experience in ministry? Are you looking to add chaplaincy to your skill set to care for your congregation and community?

Outcomes

Church Pastor with Chaplaincy Skills: Enhance your pastoral care capabilities to better support your congregation and community.

Chaplain in Various Contexts: Provide spiritual and emotional support in settings such as hospitals, aged care facilities, and community organisations.

Mental Health Support: Work with individuals dealing with mental health issues, providing informed and empathetic care.

Studying the Cert IV in Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care at AC was the first course I had ever done which truly felt like 'me'. The course sharpened my skills and taught me so much about professionalism, governance, crisis support, and boundaries around caring for people.

Nadia Lino, Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Graduate

Accreditation

All Alphacrucis Chaplaincy training is endorsed by Chaplaincy Australia.

Course Structure

Subjects & Units

Core
2 Units
To be awarded the Minister's Chaplaincy Upgrade, students must demonstrate competency in both of the following units.
Respond to client needs CHCCCS016

Gain a holistic understanding of client needs. In various cases, people you are supporting may have a range of issues outside and in addition to the area of immediate focus or expertise of the worker and their organisation.

Learn More
Work with people with mental health issues CHCMHS001

This unit enables students to support those who have mental health challenges and to ensure the client is empowered and supported and referred to other appropriate services to ensure wellbeing and safety for the client at all times.

Learn More

More Information

For more information and details of previous course structures see Student Handbook.
*You can also use the Subject & Unit Search to explore the subjects (including electives) available to enrol in for this course and can filter by subject area and level.
For a full list of course dates for new and continuing students, please see our Timetables.

What people say

  • Since studying a Diploma of Ministry (Chaplaincy) in 2016, Stephen is now working as a chaplain with ChaplainWatch, a charity based in Brisbane. Australia striving to continuously and intentionally achieve their mission, 'watching out for you when good times go bad'. Stephen primarily works on one of ChaplainWatch's main initiatives - StreetWatch providing care and support to those in need living on the streets of Brisbane, offering meals, shelter and more.

    Stephen Bell

    Diploma of Ministry (Chaplaincy)

  • Studying at Alphacrucis allows you to mine into the word of God, and something I would recommend to all pastors.

    Ben Naitako

    Senior Pastor, King’s Church, ACC QLD & NT State President, Alumni

  • AC really equipped me to start Chaplaincy Australia in its early years, and empowered me to develop things (key to its success) like its values and organisational structure.

    Anne Iuliano

    AC Graduate and Sessional Lecturer Founder, Chaplaincy Australia

    • Learning Outcomes

    Not applicable to VET courses.

    Admission Criteria

    Entry Requirements

    Unique Student Identifier

    A government issued Unique Student Identifier (USI) Number.

    Statement of Purpose

    A 200-word (maximum length) Statement of Purpose is a short summary of why you wish to study this program.

    Letter of Endorsement

    A formal letter written by a community leader endorsing your suitability for chaplaincy work.

    Working With Children Check (WWCC)

    All students are required to complete the new Working with Children Check (or state equivalent) online before they will be allowed to participate in professional practice subjects.

    Students will be classified as a ‘volunteer’ in Education.

    Pastoral Ministry Experience

    Demonstrate 5 years minimum experience in pastoral ministry or equivalent.

    Applicants must submit a copy of their CV with a cover letter outlining how they meet the above criteria, or equivalent.

    How to Apply

    • Get Started

      Read through the admissions criteria and ensure you meet the entry requirements.

    • Apply

      It’s easy! Apply online below or contact us and we can help on 1300 228 355.

    • Offer

      We’ll contact you shortly after to confirm your details and help you through the rest of the process.

    Key Dates
    Semester 1
    Term 1
    February / March
    Term 2
    April
    Semester 2
    Term 3
    July / August
    Term 4
    November