Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision

About this course

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision (GradCertProfSupervision) is an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate. It is designed for those possessing a three-year undergraduate degree in ministry/theology or an allied helping profession who wish to pursue a further qualification in the area of supervisory practice as part of their continuing education.

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision focuses on building supervisory leadership capacity for people involved in a wide scope of religious and/or non-profit and/or community-focused enterprises. Students may be working for denominationally based organisations in education, welfare, aged care, local church, or other ministries requiring specific leadership training for ministry or mission.

Prior to May 2020 this award was known as the Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Supervision.

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision is not available to international students.

Delivered at

If you are interested in this award please contact the SCD Registrar at [email protected]

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Part Time




Research Period




An applicant for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision shall

  • hold a three-year AQF 7 award in the field of philosophy and religious studies (Australian Standard Classification of Education field 0917 – Philosophy and Religious Studies); or in the field of social work, social science, counselling, or psychology; and
  • have at least 5 years professional experience within a helping profession and a recommendation from their employer, professional association, or ordaining body.

 

English Proficiency

Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally require a minimum IELTS (or equivalent) score of 7.0 in all bands of the test.

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision requires the completion of the following four *compulsory units

  • C8166 Well-being and Resilience for People Helpers
  • C8170 Fundamental Principles of Pastoral Supervision
  • P8105 Foundations of Ethical Professional Practice
  • P8172 Practice of Pastoral Supervision

 

* If compulsory units have been completed in the award used for admission into the Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision, they are to be replaced with one or two appropriate elective units.

Graduates will have added advanced knowledge and skills in supervisory leadership to their theological education to enhance their work in the religious sector.

 

Knowledge

Graduates will have:

  • specialised theoretical and technical knowledge related to the practice of professional supervision to aid in the development of high quality, ethical and safe practitioners in ministry, community work and allied people helping professions,
  • an advanced understanding of the principles of inquiry and methods applicable to supervision theory and their application to real-world professional practice.

 

Skills

Graduates will demonstrate advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills in leadership within a ministry-related body of knowledge, so that they are able independently to:

  • analyse critically, evaluate, and apply information to complete a range of activities associated with supervision in a ministry-related context;
  • analyse, generate and provide solutions to complex problems to guide the effective supervision of employees or volunteers in a religious, non-profit, community organisation;
  • transmit knowledge, skills and ideas through coherent and sustained leadership to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

 

Applications of Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will have the ability to:

  • apply knowledge and skills in a way that demonstrates autonomy, well-developed judgment, adaptability and responsibility for effective supervision in religious, non-profit, and/or community-focused enterprises.
Credit and Recognised Prior Learning (RPL)

A candidate may seek credit for previous accredited study and/or Recognised Prior Learning up to a maximum of 9 cps in the Graduate Certificate of Professional Supervision.

Special consideration for credit (up to 18 cps) may be given to Clinical Pastoral Education students if the Student Support and Administration Committee deems any CPE units on the SCD Register of Units as equivalent to the units required for this Course.

Credit can only be granted for units that are from an equivalent award or institution and have outcomes, content, demand hours, and assessment equivalent to that of units in the SCD award.

 

Articulation to Other Awards

Students are eligible to articulate to the Graduate Diploma in Professional Supervision or the Master of Professional Supervision.

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision is not offered to international students on an Australian student visa.

 

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision is offered through the individual colleges and an application for enrolment must be made to the Registrar of the teaching institution. The registrar will be able to help you with any information regarding your study, including fees, units, mode of delivery and timetable.

 

A domestic Sydney College of Divinity student is designated as full-time if enrolled in three units (27 credit points) or more in a semester or part-time if enrolled in less than three units (27 credit points) per semester. SCD offers a wide range of units and students have the option to study one or more units across the colleges delivering SCD awards, whilst enrolled with one college.

 

For more information contact us at [email protected]

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