NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education
NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education
Pastoral and spiritual care training in Canberra, region and online.
Susanne Schmidt is a Clinical Pastoral Educator with the NSW College of CPE. She has been working in Pastoral Care for over 15 years and in Clinical Pastoral Education for most of that time.Susanne is currently employed as the National Pastoral Educator for Calvary Healthcare and was previously the Pastoral Care Manager at Calvary John James in Canberra. She also has a special interest in research, having published several papers. Her pastoral and spiritual care interests include patient documentation, new models of spirituality, and reflection in spiritual care (theological reflection) in the post-modern spiritual era.
(40 hours)
This is the minimum requirement to join a hospital chaplaincy team: The introductory CPE course is suitable for lay people, theological students and clergy wanting an orientation into pastoral care in the hospital environment and also insight into the needs and vulnerability of hospital patients and their families. The principles of this course can be translated across into other Pastoral Care settings. This course may be available over one intensive 40 hour week or one day a week over 5 weeks. Students will also be introduced to theological reflection, spiritual assessment and pastoral care models during this course.
(400 hours)
The course will help participants become more aware of their listening and responding skills, understand the power of empathy, have a better understanding of the needs of hospital patients and provide students with an opportunity to explore and examine a case study (verbatim) of a visit to a patient by a chaplain or a CPE trainee. The 40hr INTRODUCTORY course acts as a pre-requisite for the BASIC 400hr course and is the minimal hospital requirement for any volunteer pastoral carers to visit in NSW Hospitals.
Commencing July 2025: Meeting twice a month, potentially Tuesdays 1-5pm for 11 months (until May 2026) with individual supervision for an hour once a month. First, last and middle days of the 20 sessions will be full 9-5 days.
2026 Course Dates
Introductory
Online 1: 6 Sessions – 9am-3.30pm - Tue/ Wed: Jan 27/ 28, Tue/ Wed: Feb 10/11, Tue/ Wed: Feb 24/ 25
Online 2: 6 Sessions – 9am—3.30pm – Wednesdays - Apr 22, May 6, May 20, Jun 3, Jun 17 and July 1
Online 3: 6 Sessions – 9am—3.30pm – Tuesdays - Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 3, Nov 17, Dec 1 and Dec 16
Note that I run in person courses in our Canberra training rooms when I have enough interest. If you would prefer an in person course, contact me to register your interest and I will let you know when I have enough enrolments to run a course.
Foundational CPE 400 hours Extended:
Every Wednesday fortnight for 20 sessions from March 4, 2026 to Dec 9, 2026 with some scheduled breaks. Weeks 1, 10 and 20 are full days, all other days are 1-5pm.
Foundational CPE 400 hours Extended
Every Wednesday fortnight for 20 sessions from Aug 12, 2026 to Jun 16, 2027 with some scheduled breaks. Weeks 1, 10 and 20 are full days, all other days are 1-5pm.
Introductory CPE Courses
$500.00
Includes the cost of the CPE certificate
Foundational CPE Unit (400 hr)
$2500.00
CPE Unit
For students enrolled in the MA (Chaplaincy) degree program
$4100.00
Advanced CPE Unit
2026 fee to be advised
Susanne Schmidt
Susanne Schmidt
Ph: 0472 822 792
As a Member Institute of the Sydney College of Divinity, the NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education provides Master of Arts degrees specialising in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Supervision, and gives credit for Basic and Advanced Units of CPE.
Students with a Bachelor degree or other relevant qualification may enrol in a Master of Arts (leading to a Specialisation in Chaplaincy) which is offered by the NSW College of CPE through the Sydney College of Divinity. Students undertake three core units of CPE (CPE 1, 2, 3) and receive 54 credit points, half the course work.
The remaining 54 credit points may be gained by enrolment in related courses (such as theology, Biblical studies, pastoral counselling) offered through the other member institutes of the Sydney College of Divinity.
Find out more about student life at NSWCCPE
Call our Registrar on 0420 359 097 or send an email message
