School of Professional Practice

Study options

Featured Links

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  Counselling

  Develop your counselling skills as a professional counsellor, while pursuing your own personal formation.

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  Professional Supervision

  Gain the qualifications, knowledge and practical skills to become a Professional Supervisor.

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  Clinical Pastoral Education

  Integrate your operational theology with the actual offering of care in situations of major and minor life transitions in a clinical or ministry placement.

Purpose

The School of Professional Practice exists to meet current and future needs in faith-based agencies, churches, and other organisations for mature practitioners in a range of professional disciplines.

There is an urgent need for programs that equip students to pursue their vocation and passion and that create graduates with the professional training and recognition to meet the needs of the industries, employers and communities they serve.

To meet this need, the School equips graduates to engage authentically and to flourish in their role in the service of others in areas such as aged care, counselling, health, leadership, professional supervision and spiritual care.

Meet the School Leadership

Prof Albert Haddad

Dean of Academic Programs,
University of Divinity

Professor Albert Haddad is the Dean of Academic Programs and Head of the School of Professional Practice at the University. He has over 20 years experience in leadership roles in higher education, theology, and ministry and holds the degree of Doctor of Education from the University of Melbourne. Prior to joining the University, Albert most […]

Dr Cath McKinney

Professional Supervision Program Director and Lecturer in Practical Theology,
School of Professional Practice

HDR Supervisor Course Advisor

Cath is the Professional Supervision Program Director at the University of Divinity. She has extensive experience as a group relations consultant where she specialises in helping people to flourish as they take up their roles. Cath graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Divinity (through Pilgrim Theological College) in 2020. Her thesis, […]

Dr Tom Edwards

Counselling Program Director,
School of Professional Practice

HDR Supervisor Course Advisor

Beginning his career in behavioural neuroscience Tom has since shifted his academic interests from the brain to the mind. He is particularly interested in a cluster of virtues which contribute to a cognitive architecture that is evolutionarily consistent and socially relevant. Tom has published in high impact factor journals and spoken at a number of […]

Allison Whitby

Clinical Pastoral Education Program Director,
School of Professional Practice

Allison is Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program Director at the University’s School of Professional Practice. As the University’s CPE Liaison Officer since 2015, Allison has been responsible for the enrolment of students in CPE units, arrangement of placements, and accreditation of CPE instructors and supervisors across all of the University’s Colleges. This newly augmented role […]

The St Paschal Campus

The offices of the School of Professional Practice are situated at the University’s St Paschal Campus, in Box Hill, Victoria.

The campus is situated on quiet residential streets, the central buildings of the estate are surrounded by lush gardens and lawns. The site has been a place of religious significance and a hub for educational excellence throughout its history.

Students and staff of the School can enjoy the use of facilities during regular working hours.

Going National in 2023 and 2024!

Programs taught by the School of Professional Practice feature intensives which are held in a range of interstate locations across Australia. See each program offering for location details.

Libraries

Members of the School of Professional Practice are able to access all Libraries that are part of the University of Divinity as well as a dedicated online Library Hub.