This course is intended to train people to work as:

• Clinical supervisors of counsellors, therapists, social workers, youth and community workers
• Pastoral supervisors of clergy, church workers and pastoral carers
• Supervisors of pastoral care workers in hospitals and aged care facilities
• Supervisors of students in training

This course will also allow for:

• Supervisors to upgrade their skills and knowledge
• Individuals to qualify for membership of professional supervision associations

For an introduction to the concept of professional supervision and if this course is right for you, see this explanation from our lead trainer, the Rev’d A/Prof. Geoff Broughton.

1 year part-time

• 4 two-day intensives
• Online-based
• Work-based

This course emphasises face-to-face practical sessions for role play and simulated supervision experiences, and group sharing and discussion as a form of assessment. Learners are also required to include 10 hours of practice as a supervisor and 8 hours as a supervisee. Additionally, 100 hours of work placement must be logged.

ADMISSION FOR CLINICAL STREAM

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR CLINICAL STREAM

To gain entry into the Clinical Stream of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision (Clinical) (Pastoral) a candidate must have an undergraduate degree or higher qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy, Psychology, Social Work, Social Science or equivalent.

All applicants must have a minimum of five years’ experience in their relevant field.

You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa.

DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT (CLINICAL STREAM)

• A copy of relevant previous awards gained, e.g. an undergraduate degree or higher qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy, Psychology, Social Work, Social Science
• Résumé
• One professional reference attesting to five years of clinical experience

ADMISSION FOR PASTORAL STREAM

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR PASTORAL STREAM

To gain entry into the Pastoral Stream of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision (Clinical) (Pastoral), a candidate must have

• an accredited diploma or higher level qualification in theology, ministry, chaplaincy, divinity, education or equivalent, and
• demonstrated experience in a pastoral environment involving self-directed application of relevant knowledge and a range of communication and counselling skills.
  • Such environments may include churches, counselling organisations, ministries, or community services.

All applicants must have a minimum five years of experience in their relevant field.

Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa.

DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT (PASTORAL STREAM)

• A copy of relevant previous awards gained, e.g. an accredited diploma or higher level qualification in theology, ministry, chaplaincy, divinity, education or equivalent.
• Résumé
• One professional reference attesting to five years’ experience in a relevant environment

ADMISSION TO BOTH PASTORAL AND CLINICAL STREAMS

Certain applicants with particular experience may wish to apply for both streams of the GCPS. This pathway involves some additional assessment, and an increased cost. Applicants wishing to apply for both streams need to demonstrate that they meet the admission criteria for both pastoral and clinical streams. For further information about this, please contact St Mark’s.

Competencies in this course are taught using a highly integrated approach. This course requires that you complete the following units of competency.

The course is comprised of two streams– clinical and pastoral. Each stream is made up of 4 core units plus 2 electives per stream. The stream completed is determined by the relevant background of the applicant. Suitably qualified applicants can opt to do both streams at an additional cost.

CORE (4)

• SUPEMS001 Establish and manage the supervision relationship
  This unit provides an approach to “contracting” with a supervisee, in order to find their needs and aspirations. It also develops preliminary competence in engaged active listening.
• SUPPPS002 Provide professional supervision
  You will learn how to conceptualise the supervisory task. Since supervision includes reflection on relationships with people who are not in the room, you will receive a “framework” by which to help your supervisee reflect upon these complex relationships, and their own reactions to them.
• CHCGRP004 Deliver structured programs
  In the context of the supervisory relationship, it is important for the supervisor to intentionally lead each session, and the overall supervisory experience. This unit develops such intentionality while also retaining emotional connection with the supervisee.
• PSPGEN035 Provide workplace mentoring
  Supervisors set the conditions under which a supervisee can grow in professional competence. Even without knowing technical aspects of the supervisee’s work, this unit trains supervisors to astutely discern with a supervisee how to develop as a professional.

ELECTIVES (CHOOSE 1 STREAM)

Pastoral Stream: 

• DEFCHP002 Provide ethical and pastoral advice
  Pastoral carers often work with those in ethically and morally difficult situations. This unit will assist a supervisor to analyse such situations with the supervisee, so that the supervisee will have more creative and helpful responses.
• CHCPRP006 Lead own professional development
  The supervisor is not a counsellor or a therapist for the supervisee. This unit shows supervisors how to enable pastoral supervisees to take responsibility for their own professional life and personal wellbeing.

Clinical Stream: 

• CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
  There are legal and moral minima to which all counselling supervisors and supervisees must comply in their professional practice. This unit overviews these requirements, and shows how to meet them in an orderly and integrated way.
• CHCPRP007 Work within a clinical supervision framework
  Clinical counsellors are required to undergo supervision for their case load. This unit outlines how to conduct and participate in such supervision.

Our course fees are outlined on our Fees and Payment Options page. The cost for the GCPS in 2022 was $5400.

DUAL-STREAM STUDENTS

By completing both Pastoral and Clinical streams, this works out to completing two additional units of competency. As such, students will be charged an additional $1,500 for taking on both streams. 

PAYMENT PLANS

St Mark’s offers payment plans for our VET courses. Payment plans help spread the load of course fees over a period of time, making it easier for your budget.

You can set up regular payments either by credit card or direct debit on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis at a rate which will complete your course fee payment by the end of each session of study. Payment plans are subject to a $500 deposit.

To find out more about setting up a payment plan, you can contact our Student Registrar.

Course progression and graduation are conditional upon timely payment of fees. St Mark’s reserves the right to withdraw students who are in arrears.

APPLICATION CLOSING DATES

Applications Close two weeks prior to the beginning of the course. 

For applicants seeking Recognition of Prior Learning for the next year’s intake, closing date for applications is 1 November.

CENSUS DATES

Session 1: 1 April
Session 2: 1 September

INTENSIVES NOV 2022 & FEB 2023 INTAKE

BRISBANE

CENTRAL COAST

BROADWAY, NSW

Stanmore House, Sydney

Adelaide

Perth

This Graduate Certificate emphasises face-to-face practical sessions for role play and simulated supervision experiences. This course includes emphasis on group sharing and discussion as a form of assessment. It also requires learners to contract with a supervisee for ten sessions of supervision.

Completion of this award in the clinical stream will enable counselling professionals to offer formal supervision to counsellors and other helpers.
Completion of this award in the pastoral stream will position clergy to offer professional supervision to clergy and other helpers. (National standards around clergy supervision are likely to emerge after the recent Royal Commission into churches and other institutions.)

Australasian Association of Supervisors (AAoS) and Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) (clinical entrants only).

The 10760NAT Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision (Clinical) (Pastoral) is eligible for credit (two subjects) towards a Graduate Certificate in Ministry and Master of Ministry with Charles Sturt University. Speak to our course advisor for more information.