Chaplaincy & Community Services

Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care

Can you see yourself being a support to people in need, the person people look to when they are looking for hope? The Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care at Alphacrucis University College empowers you with the practical skills and knowledge to support individuals and communities as a chaplain. As you journey through this transformative program, you'll gain the expertise to offer high-quality chaplaincy support across to a broad range of people and diverse community settings, bringing comfort and care to those who need it most.

Course Duration
1 year full time, up to 4 years part time
Study Modes
Online Intensive, Live Intensive
Study Locations
Online, Perth
Start Dates
Term 1 (Jan), Term 2 (Apr), Term 3 (July), Term 4 (Oct)
Fees
$390 per subject
Subjects/Units
13

What is the Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care?

The Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care is a dynamic, practical course designed to equip you with the skills needed to provide exceptional chaplaincy support where it is needed. This course combines interactive group learning through a series of intensives with hands-on experience gained through a 100-hour chaplaincy placement in areas such as schools, hospitals, and aged care. Taught by experienced and passionate chaplains, this course ensures you gain real-world skills and insights to effectively assist individuals during times of crisis and life challenges.

Who is this for?

Aspiring Chaplains: Are you called to provide spiritual and emotional support to people in various contexts?

Current Ministry Leaders: Do you want to deepen your knowledge and enhance your practical skills to better serve those in need?

Faith-Driven Individuals: Are you passionate about integrating your Christian faith with your vocational pursuits in pastoral care?

Community and Service-Oriented Individuals: Do you aim to impact sectors such as healthcare, education, emergency services, sports and entertainment and more with your chaplaincy skills?

Outcomes

Graduates of the Certificate IV in Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care will be well-prepared to apply their skills in various professional and community settings. Career chaplaincy roles can be found in:

  • Schools
  • Workplaces
  • Aged Care settings
  • Hospitals and Health Care settings
  • Sports Clubs and Teams
  • Community Centres

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
11 Units
Intensive 1 - Chaplaincy Foundations
Plan for the provision of pastoral and spiritual care CHCPAS001

This unit equips students to understand how to provide appropriate pastoral and spiritual care within the role of a chaplain whilst considering legal, ethical and boundaries and how to refer to other support agencies as needed.

Use communication to build relationships CHCCOM002

This unit provides the skills and knowledge to apply specific communication tools to establish.... based on respect, trust and empowerment.

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.

Work legally and ethically CHCLEG001
This unit explores the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and work within the legal and ethical frameworks that apply within chaplaincy when supporting people in need.
Intensive 2 - Chaplaincy Responses
Provide loss and grief support CHCCCS017
Responding to grief and loss is apart of life, therefore, this unit equips students with the skills to support others and provide appropriate resources for those experience grief and loss.
Assess co-existing needs CHCCCS004
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess the diverse and multi-faceted needs of people and determine both internal and external services required to meet those needs.
Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide CHCCCS003
Support people who are at imminent risk, this subject equips students with the skills and knowledge to identify and manage imminent suicide risk while working with the individual to achieve safe outcomes. It includes the requirements for developing a clear safety plan for addressing any imminent danger to the person at risk or others, mobilising access to emergency medical help when needed and facilitating links with further support.
Work with diverse people CHCDIV001

This unit equips students to engage respectfully with individuals to ensure cultural competency, by demonstrating respect, inclusion and diversity of all people.

Intensive 3 - Professional Chaplaincy Practice (placement)
Provide pastoral and spiritual care CHCPAS002
This unit enables students to identify appropriate pastoral and spiritual care needs of a client and to ensure current and future supports are effective and available to clients.
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.

Reflect on and improve own professional practice CHCPRP003
Students explore the critical skills and knowledge requried to assess and elevate one's own practice by actively reflecting on experiences, engage in professional supervision, ongoing professional development to ensure relevance and effectiveness when working as a chaplain or pastoral care provider.
Electives
2 Units
Intensive 4 - Chaplaincy Specialisation (choose 2 of the following subjects)
Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence CHCDFV001
This unit helps you understand the complexity of domestic and family violence including its scope and impact. You will be equipped to recognise, respond and refer someone subjected to Domestic and Family Violence whilst ensuring safety as paramount
Work in an alcohol and other drugs context CHCAOD001
Have the knowledge and skills to support clients who are affected by alcohol and other drugs. This course will equip you to have an understanding of the historical and social constructs of alcohol and other drugs, to ensure interventions are person-centred and to support the client’s rights and safety.
Work effectively with young people in the youth work context CHCYTH014

Gain the expertise to support young people by understanding how their experience and environment affect them. Cultivate a holistic approach that recognises that events, families and peers impact on the development of a young person, and that the way these systems interact will impact on the growth of the individual.

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

  • Learning Outcomes

    Not applicable to VET courses.

    Admission Criteria

    Entry Requirements

    How to Apply

    • Get Started

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

    • Apply

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    • 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