Calvary CPE Centre

Pastoral and spiritual care training in Canberra, region and online.

Susanne Schmidt

Centre Director

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.

What courses are offered?

CPE Introductory Level Courses

(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.

Foundational  CPE Program

(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.

 

Who can apply?

  • Parish workers and volunteers
  • Those wishing to work in pastoral and spiritual care and chaplaincy
  • Nurses/teachers interested in holistic care
  • Those seeking more effective ways to care for people's spiritual needs
  • Those wishing to discern their suitability to be a pastoral or spiritual carer
  • Kind hearted people with a genuine care for others
  • Those interested in spiritual care in Aged Care Facilities

2025 Course Dates

  • Introductory – online

Wednesdays  9-5pm Feb 5, Feb 19, Mar 5, Mar 19, April 2

Other online Introductory course conducted at regular intervals throughout the year, contact to be informed of when the next one is running

An in –person Introductory can be conducted with a minimum of 6 participants, contact to be placed on a wait list.

  •  

Foundational CPE 400 hours Course 1 2025

Online

Wednesdays: 1-5pm, plus 3 whole days as timetabled and 10 sessions individual supervision at a mutually agreed time, Wednesday mornings preferred

Apr 23 – October 1 -  (Apr 23, June 25, Sept 24, 9-5pm)  + approx. 3 sessions break in this time

 

Foundational CPE 400 hours Course 2 -extended

Commencing July 2025: Meeting once a month, potentially Tuesdays 1-5pm for 11 months (until Jun 2026) with individual supervision for an hour once a month.

This may be in online or in-person mode depending on the group cohort. First, last and middle days will be full 9-5 days.

Contact supervisor for more information or to indicate an interest

What is the cost?

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

$4005.00

Advanced CPE Unit

2024 fee to be advised

For Further Information Contact

 

Susanne Schmidt

Ph: 0472 822 792

 

Academic Recognition

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

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