Clinical Pastoral Education

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a program of education and formation for the professional work of pastoral and spiritual care practitioners in Australia.

The CPE program is required by some churches for formal ministry accreditation or ordination, and is also available to pastoral and spiritual carers who may wish to include it in their formation, professional development or formal studies. 

Most healthcare providers will require Spiritual Care Practitioners to undertake some CPE study.

Most units are offered in hospital or clinical contexts, with placements available in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory. Some parts of the program may be available online, but an in-person placement is required to complete the CPE program. CPE units are only open to Australian-based students.

Graduates of the program go on to be Spiritual Care Practitioners in hospitals, aged-care agencies, Schools, the justice system, prisons, and more. Students who have completed at least two units of CPE may apply to Spiritual Care Australia for professional membership.

Accreditation

CPE is offered through the University of Divinity in partnership with ASACPEV Inc. (the Association for Supervised Clinical Pastoral Education in Victoria Incorporated) and ANZACPE (Australia and New Zealand Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Ltd).

The CPE program is led by ASACPEV’s accredited supervisors. The interstate supervisors are accredited by the local CPE association according to ANZACPE Standards, and conduct CPE units consistent with the ASACPEV Standards.

Victorian and interstate supervisors working with the University of Divinity CPE program are Adjunct Lecturers of the University.

Placements

Placements offer students the opportunity to develop skills in pastoral and spiritual care with people across a broad spectrum of society and to gain practical experience offering theologically and spiritually-informed care in situations of major and minor life transitions (such as birth and birthing, ageing, trauma, rehabilitation, mental health issues, dying and death). The clinical setting encourages students to engage with profound questions of meaning and purpose, and to explore the possibilities for offering effective pastoral and spiritual care in this context.

CPE Centres have placements available in a variety of settings including hospitals, aged care, mental health, community and schools. In some circumstances, it may be possible for a student to undertake a CPE placement in their place of current employment.

Student stories

CPE Units

Three CPE units, each worth 48 points, are available at the University of Divinity. CPE units may be studied concurrently with other units at the University.

• CP9100Z

  Clinical Pastoral Education Level 1
  Level

  Postgraduate Elective

  Discipline

  —

  Points

  48.0
  Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a program of education and formation for the work of pastoral care. The program’s methodology utilises the action/reflection model of learning. The action component entails the actual provision of pastoral care within a pastoral setting. This care acknowledges and attends to the human condition, particularly life’s religious and spiritual dimensions. The reflection component entails the exploration of the ministry experience, the dynamics present, and the theological and spiritual dimensions. This action/reflection process is integral to the participants’ understanding and the formation of their pastoral identity and competence. CPE is “learning theology from the living human document” (Anton Boisen). The goal of the program is that the participant will be acknowledged first hand as the bearer of the sacred and the distinctive provider of spiritual and pastoral care.

• Enrolment in CP9100Z requires a letter of offer from the CPE Centre Director or delegate.

• CP9170Z

  Clinical Pastoral Education (Special Focus)
  Level

  Postgraduate Elective

  Discipline

  —

  Points

  48.0
  Building on previous CPE studies, this unit allows the student to extend their skills into specialised contexts, such as aged care, mental health, palliative care and rehabilitation, community-based care, criminal justice, schools or the military. This specialised context will create a platform for further pastoral and theological development.

• Pre-requisite: CP9100Z (CPE Level 1)
• Enrolment in CP9170Z requires a letter of offer from the CPE Centre Director or delegate.
• Note: This unit can be taken following either CP9100Z (CPE Level 1) or CP9273Z (CPE Level 2).

• CP9273Z

  Clinical Pastoral Education Level 2
  Level

  Postgraduate Elective

  Discipline

  —

  Points

  48.0
  This unit builds on the foundational CPE unit, CP9100Z, Clinical Pastoral Education Level 1. Advanced level CPE builds upon the skills and competencies in CPE level 1, educating and forming people for the work of pastoral and spiritual care through an action- reflection model. This experiential cycle of learning will develop their capacity for reflection upon concrete experience, reflective observation, pastoral and theological conceptualization and active experimentation. Students are given freedom to depart responsibly from a Level 1 format and therefore will consider their own personal security in the absence of well-defined roles and boundaries. The Candidate will be required, through prepared documents and personal interview, to demonstrate competency at an advanced CPE standard to a panel of professional people representing pastoral, supervisory and theological traditions.

• Pre-requisite: CP9100Z (CPE Level 1)
• Enrolment in CP9170Z requires a letter of offer from the CPE Centre Director or delegate, based on applicants readiness to function at an advanced level of pastoral / spiritual care.

These are postgraduate units which may be taken in undergraduate courses, such as the Bachelor of Ministry, Bachelor of Theology or the Advanced Diploma in Theology and Ministry, as well as in postgraduate courses. The units are taught at a postgraduate level so the postgraduate unit fee applies. A full time unit is based on a 38-hour week.

CPE units may not be taken as audit units.

Demands of the CPE Program

The CPE program demands a great deal from students, in both time and emotional investment. The encounters with others can be challenging and confronting, especially for those new to health-care, multi-faith and multi-cultural settings. The discipline of writing up journals, case studies and verbatims enhances personal integration of theology with practice, which makes the CPE program a demanding but enriching process. CPE is also often reported as one of the most rewarding units taken by students in the University. A full-time unit is based on a 38 hour week. Students enrolling to study a CPE unit part-time should expect to commit at least 19 hours a week to CPE.

How to enrol in CPE

CPE units can be undertaken as part of many of the University of Divinity courses.

Step one
Speak with a Course Advisor or Registrar at any of the University’s Colleges to ensure your chosen course of study is compatible with CPE units.

Step two
Contact the University’s CPE Program Director, Allison Whitby who will offer advice on suitable CPE Centres and placement opportunities. The ASACPEV website can also provide this information.

Step three
Complete an application to a CPE Centre. This will include an interview with a CPE Centre Director. If successful, you will be offered a place in the program (if one is available). 

Step four
With the letter of offer for a placement, you can complete your enrolment in the CPE unit at the University of Divinity. Please contact the Registrar at your Home College for assistance.

Contact the CPE Director

Allison Whitby
Email: awhitby@divinity.edu.au
Phone: (03) 9340 8100
Note: students must be residing within Australia due to in-person placement requirements.