The Certificate of Chaplaincy, Pastoral and Spiritual Care is an online professional development program that will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to provide effective chaplaincy and pastoral care services.
In this online chaplaincy and pastoral care course you will learn how to build rapport and provide counselling to clients using a range of counselling techniques, including psychoanalysis and cognitive behavioural therapies. This professional development program will also help you develop the self-awareness and theory required work successfully as part of a pastoral care team – which may include chaplains, volunteers and faith group representatives – to evaluate and implement a pastoral care program.
At the end of this course you will acquire the knowledge and skills required to provide effective pastoral and spiritual care; and work within a structured counselling framework. You may seek voluntary or paid work as part of a pastoral care team in a variety of settings, including: hospitals; residential and aged-care facilities; community outreach centres; and churches.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Planning for pastoral and spiritual care
- Pastoral and spiritual care work
- Legislatory requirements
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Health and safety
- Equal opportunities
- Anti-discrimination legislation
- Child protection legislation
- Organisation policies and procedures
- Privacy
- Digital media and social media
- Records management
- Code of practice
- Professional and ethical standards
- Rights and responsibilities
- Breaches of client rights
- Advocacy groups
- Informed consent
- Communication techniques
- Pastoral networks and resources
- Pastoral care full range of services
- World religions
- Limitation and parameters
- Escalation and crisis procedures
- Collaborative processes
- Conflicting interests
- Reporting potential crisis situations
- Threatening behaviours
- Opportunities for referral
- Eligibility criteria
- Referral processes
- Internal and external contacts
- Networks benefit organisations
- Spiritual care support
- Establish professional supervision
- Mentoring requirements
- Definition of supervision
- Frequency of supervision
- Establishing rapport
- Active listening
- Feedback to improve pastoral care
- Receiving feedback
- Review own communication
- Professional development
Unit 2 - Use communication to build relationships
- Communicating effectively with clients
- Building rapport
- Compromising behaviours
- Active listening
- Effective questioning
- Data security
- Professional boundaries
- Formal presentations
- Media resources
- Communication protocols
- Exchanging information
- Tips for providing information to clients
- Policies and procedures
- Law and ethics
- Specific customer needs
- Seeking help from others
- Referral processes
- Communication barriers
- Conflict resolution
- Threatening behaviours
- Meetings and agendas
- Facilitating meetings
- Discussing relevant issues
- Effective group discussions
- Meeting participation
- Conflict between participants
- Recording/minute taking
- Distribution of minutes / reports
- Evaluation processes
- Continuous improvement
Unit 3 - Specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
- Communicate effectively
- Communication barriers
- Communication models
- Environmental and individual factors
- Cultural issues
- Use of language
- Disabilities
- Signage and symbols
- Client-counsellor relationship
- Communication checklist
- Questioning skills
- Client-centred interactions
- Establishing rapport
- Empathy and sympathy
- Honesty and openness
- Body language
- Conflict resolution
- Learning styles
- Non-verbal communication cues
- Communication techniques
- The rules of communication
- Feedback
- Case note taking
- Security of records
- Legal and ethical requirements
- Privacy
- Duty of care
- Counselling interviewing skills
- Sequence of an interview
- Counselling skills
- Key objectives
- The initial session
- Assessment interviews
- Standardised assessments
- Engaging with client
- Structured approach
- Specialised counselling techniques
- Process of negotiation
- Reframing and focusing
- Solution-focused questions
- Changing client behaviour
- Goal setting
- Self-advocacy
- Cognitive behaviour therapy
- Self-care
- Shifting client’s feelings
- Coping strategies
- Strong client emotional reactions
- Distress or crisis
- Self-evaluation
- Self-awareness
- Effect of own values and with client
- Managing own values and attitudes
- Mutual respect
- Training and development
- Action learning sets
- Self-development plans
- Implement goals
- Conferences and networking
- Professional memberships
Unit 4 - Provide pastoral and spiritual care
- Spiritual and pastoral issues
- Monitoring mental wellbeing
- Spiritual wellbeing
- Determine specific issues
- Client or community’s needs
- Identify pastoral and spiritual care
- Develop a support plan
- Individual or community support
- Significant life events and attitudes
- Providing ritual symbol
- Providing support to family
- Support networks for ongoing support
- Assisting carers
- Role of pastoral care workers
- Engaging in discussion groups
- Ethical and moral guidelines
- Organisation procedures
- Organisation protocols
- Pastoral care in schools
- Review and reflect on pastoral care
- Provision and support
- Evaluate needs with supervisor
- Performance reflection
- Identify ways to improve practices
- Professional supervision
- Give and receive feedback
- Acting on feedback
- Training
- Professional development
- Maintaining records
- Documenting care
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Disclosure and requirements
Assessment
Assessment Information
When you study with Australian Online Courses, you will be assessed using a competency-based training method.
Competency-based training focuses on the achievement of skills and knowledge against set criteria to meet industry-standard and is not benchmarked against other students’ work.
In this course, the assessment will be comprised of written assignments and exercises, which may include short answer questions, reports, essays, research projects and reflective tasks.
If you do not achieve a competency result on your first attempt, you have two more attempts to pass your assessment. So, you have three attempts in total to obtain a competency result.
In this way, you can complete your course in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Informative, easy, straightforward. Really liked the online learning platform – others I’ve used have been far less easy to navigate. Thanks!
A. Cole, South Melbourne, VIC | Certificate of Chaplaincy, Pastoral and Spiritual Care
A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Study resources provided contained all relevant information. Modules were assessed in a timely manner and comments from assessors were encouraging. Knowledge gained was relevant and I would have no hesitation in recommending Australian Online Courses
D. Shaw, Leanyer, NT | Certificate of Chaplaincy, Pastoral and Spiritual Care
I enjoyed working at my own pace and the course was easy to follow and understand. I would definitely recommend Australian Online courses to anyone who wants to study at home.
D. Cameron, VIC | Certificate of Chaplaincy, Pastoral and Spiritual Care
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- No entry requirements;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support;
- Easy to understand course content;
- Twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Certificate of Attainment/Completion issued for your CV (hard copy provided); and
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
How long will it take to complete this course?
The approximate study hours for this course is 60 hours. Twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply).
Can I purchase optional printed materials?
Yes! The cost for printed materials for this course is $50 per unit. Total cost for optional printed materials is: $200.00. Printed materials are available for purchase at any time and not require to complete this course. Everything you need to complete the course is provided online via our e-learning system.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion of this course?
Yes! You will receive a Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion of your assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our e-learning system and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
- Chaplain – Community Services/Hospital/Aged Care
- Pastoral Care Worker
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