As an Affiliated College of the Australian College of Theology, PTC is approved to deliver its courses (CRICOS 02650E).
PTC has graduates who have served in all kinds of chaplaincy: hospital, police, defence force, sports, school, community. Please consult relevant bodies to determine their requirements for chaplaincy training. Depending upon your chosen field, they may ask for one or two specialised units to be undertaken with a provider external to PTC and credited into your ACT course (e.g. Clinical Pastoral Education, Chaplaincy in Educational Settings).
The following units are often suitable and can be taken within existing degrees such as the 1 year Diploma of Theology or Graduate Diploma of Divinity):
2 Biblical units
2 Theology units
1 Evangelism unit (EM024)
1 Pastoral Care unit (preferably two: PC002 PC003)
Some chaplaincy areas have more extensive requirements. Defence Force and Police chaplaincy require ordination and pastoral experience. See further below.
PTC consults with the Defence Force Chaplaincy Committee and the Health and Community Chaplaincy Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria to ensure that its training meets expectations. The Academic Dean will be pleased to refer you to the conveners of these committees or to serving chaplains if you wish to discuss your situation with them.
Healthcare chaplains work in hospital and hospice environments, providing spiritual support to those facing illness or bereavement.
Within PTC’s existing degree structures, two units of Clinical Pastoral Education are usually taken through an external provider, the Association for Supervised and Clinical Pastoral Education in Victoria (ASACPEV).
Spiritual Health Victoria is the primary association working with the Victorian Government to regulate healthcare chaplaincy.
Chaplains in educational settings provide support and counselling to students at the primary, secondary, and tertiary level. Undertaking two pastoral care units at PTC within an Diploma or Graduate Diploma meets the usual requirements for an education chaplaincy position, though Korus Connect may have further training requirements.
Disaster relief chaplains have the opportunity to comfort and counsel those suffering in emergency situations. The search for meaning in times of crisis is often more acute, and chaplains provide answers and support.
Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministry
Sports chaplains work with clubs to provide pastoral care and spiritual guidance to both athletes, coaches and other staff.
Those wishing become police chaplains should contact the Academic Dean to discuss, and be put in contact with Presbyterian Ministers who currently work in the field.
Considerable parish experience (at least three years) is usually required.
Those wishing to become chaplains with the Defence Force should seek the advice of the Defence Force Chaplaincy Committee. Please speak to the PTC office for contact details. Considerable parish experience (at least three years) is usually required.
Training for the Kingdom of Heaven
