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Counselling & Social Science

Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision

CRICOS: 108383E

Who is supporting people who are supporting others? Professional Supervision is a required and ethical component of practice for all ‘helping’ professions, whether they be in a ministry, healthcare or government context. Enhance your ability to provide reflective practice for people in ministry and caring professions. The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision at Alphacrucis University College equips you with advanced skills and knowledge for professional supervision, accredited by the Australasian Association of Supervision (AAOS) and Psychotherapy & Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Course Duration
1.5 years full time, up to 2 years part time
Study Modes
Online Recorded, Online Live, Placements
Study Locations
Online
Start Dates
March (S1), Aug (S2)
Fees
$3,000 per subject
FEE-HELP
Subjects/Units
4
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What is the Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision?

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision provides comprehensive training in pastoral and clinical supervision for professionals in the ministry and helping professions. This course facilitates an ongoing conversation between a person’s motivation, role responsibilities, and contextual factors affecting practice. It focuses on the systemic wellbeing of practitioners, supervisees, and organisations. Through a blend of theory and practical application, delivered via intensive group learning days, follow-up video lectures, and small group workshops, you will explore different models of professional supervision applicable in clinical, community, and pastoral contexts. This course is designed for experienced practitioners in counselling, ministry, chaplaincy, pastoral settings, and other people-helping professions.

Who is this for?

  • Ministers and Pastors: Are you looking to provide reflective practice support to people in ministry or pastoral roles, to enhance their practice?
  • Senior practitioners in chaplaincy, counselling and community work: Do you want to develop and enhance your supervisory skills to better support people in helping professions?
  • Coaches: Are you a professional coach seeking a new way to support professionals?
  • Are you looking to ‘give back’: Are you seeking ways to support the next generation of leaders and carers?

Outcomes

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision will be equipped to provide professional supervision in alignment with industry accreditation and a Christian worldview. Many organisations are now required to provide professional supervision for their staff, making career opportunities abundant wherever professional caring roles are found. Your qualifications will open doors to roles such as:

• Clinical Supervisor: Guide and support healthcare professionals in clinical settings.

• Pastoral Supervisor: Offer brave spaces to benefit the wellbeing of pastoral staff and volunteers.

• Counselling Supervisor: Provide supervision and support to counsellors in various contexts.

• Community Service Supervisor: Provide opportunities for reflective practice to individuals and teams within the community.

• Educational Supervisor: Support and develop teaching staff and educational leaders.

I have been pastoring for over 20 years and am passionate about the deliberate care for pastors and leaders. I love that this formal learning will better equip me to pastorally care for church leaders and pastors in the future.

Michelle Fredericks, Scripture Union

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Australasian Association of Supervision (AAOS) and Psychotherapy & Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Course Structure

Subjects & Units

Core
4 Subjects
40 Credit Points
Introduction to Professional Supervision SSC461

Enhancing supervision skills across diverse professional contexts is helpful for supervising people-helpers effectively. This unit delves into the theories and models of professional supervision, emphasising the development of supervisory relationships and the integration of sociocultural and ethical considerations. Students will engage in reflexive practice as supervisors, gaining insights that foster their capabilities in clinical, community, pastoral, and various industry settings.

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Professional Supervision in Practice SSC562
This subject focuses on the development of skills and practice for the provision of professional supervision. You will learn to apply your developing knowledge of theories and Professional Supervision for both individual and group supervision relevant to a range of contexts including clinical and pastoral settings. Additionally, this subject fosters a commitment to ongoing professional development and self-care, essential for maintaining high standards in supervisory roles.
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Supervision of People Helpers SSC560
Gaining practical experience in a professional setting is essential for bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. This unit consists of a 40-hour professional supervision placement that provides opportunity to develop the practitioner to work within the learned supervisory models. This subject provides an opportunity to enhance practice skills and examine professional and ethical issues under the guidance of a professional supervisor.
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Professional Accountability for Supervisors SSC561
Maintaining professional accountability is essential for professional supervisors within professional supervision. This subject is a co-requisite subject with the professional supervision placement unit (SSC560), offering fortnightly group supervision classes to support your placement. This unit develops integration of theoretical learning with real-life practice experiences. It oversees the alignment of practice with industry practice standards through reflexive practice development and ethical considerations.
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Work-Integrated Learning

Work-Integrated Learning may be undertaken through various Professional Practice and Professional Experience subjects at AC. These subjects seek to create a direct linkage between the learning, skills and values engaged in lectures, and the reflection which occurs when these are applied in real-life settings. These work-based training subjects comprise of instruction, academic assessment and a placement in a workplace for each subject.

Students are usually required to find their own workplace/ employer/ mentor to be approved by AC. In some cases, a new aspect within a student’s current paid employment may be suitable as a work placement.

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.

Download Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision Handbook

What people say

  • I’ve watched people around me grow in confidence, but it’s a confidence mixed with humility, and that’s been a direct result of studying in the environment at Alphacrucis.

    Darlene Zchech

    HopeUC, Senior Pastor and Worship Leader

  • 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

  • The evidence-based teaching at AC has helped me develop a more intelligent approach when counselling people in sensitive areas such relationship breakdown and addictions. It has really transformed the impact of my ministry.

    Brad Middleton

    Master of Arts (Counselling)

    • Learning Outcomes

    Knowledge

    • Integrated understanding of key issues, theoretical concepts and practices within professional supervision context.
    • Knowledge of various approaches used in professional supervision within the Christian worldview framework.

    Skills

    • Critically apply knowledge developed for use in professional supervision.
    • Use critical, evidence-based and innovative thinking skills to analyse and synthesise ideas and theories from other disciplines related to professional supervision.
    • Effectively communicate ideas and proposed solutions to peers and general audiences.
    • Identify and critically evaluate new developments and scholarship in professional supervision.

    Ability

    • Articulate appropriate solutions to emerging professional supervision challenges.
    • Evaluate broad conceptual frameworks in professional supervision.
    • Critically and independently apply the knowledge and skills required as an informed professional supervisor.

    Admission Criteria

    Entry Requirements

    International Students – Language Requirements

    IELTS (or equivalent) Score of 6.5 (with no score below 6.0 in any of the four skills areas).

    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.

    Statement of Purpose

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

    Professional Entry – Applicants who do not meet academic requirements

    Demonstrate a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in a managerial or professional leadership role.

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

    


    This is an alternate pathway for applicants who do not meet other academic requirements.

    Higher Education Study

    Completion of an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree (or higher) in any discipline by an authorised institution.

    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