This course develops the knowledge and skills to minister in areas of specific relevance, including pastoral counselling in crisis situations or in circumstances involving relationship difficulties. Our training covers a wide range of counselling theories and models, integrated into a Christian framework. Those working in chaplaincy settings or other work areas where embedded counselling is an integral part of the job role will benefit from the detailed skills and knowledge about counselling they will acquire in this program.

Charles Sturt University’s Graduate Diploma of Pastoral Counselling will equip you for – or enhance your performance in – a wide range of people-centred professions, faith-based or otherwise. These include counselling, pastoral care, aged care, school welfare, grief counselling, care coordination and institutional or congregational chaplaincy. The course also provides a solid foundation for further study in the discipline, or you could use your pastoral counselling studies to articulate into further study for ministry.

This award has professional accreditation by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) as an approved post-graduate counselling training program.

Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Counselling (Exit point only)

The Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Counselling will equip you to offer pastoral care and counselling as a part of your ministry or job role in a skilled and disciplined way, whether you are caring for others in your ministry or at your workplace. This foundational course teaches pastoral counselling skills and theory with opportunities for self-reflection, all integrated in a Christian theological context.

It covers the core subjects for the Graduate Diploma, which are:

• Pastoral Counselling Skills
• Pastoral Counselling: Theory and Professional Issues
• Pastoral Counselling: Grief and Loss
• Applied Pastoral Theology