NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education
NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education
Moving from our previous base at Rozelle Hospital in 2006, we have relocated our Centre to Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, continuing to offer Introductory and Basic (Foundational) CPE and supervised pastoral education for pastoral practitioners from all Faiths, as well as all Christian denominations. We have run CPE 1, CPE 2 and CPE 3 Units in Mental Health Ministry at Macquarie, Hornsby and Cumberland Hospitals, and Aged Care CPE at the St Basil’s Aged Care Facilities, Lakemba and Kogarah.
Over the 40 years of our Centre’s functioning, we have provided Introductory CPE for Chaplaincy and pastoral care teams throughout the State including at St Leonards for the Buddhist Council of NSW, at Waverley for the Jewish Council, and at Auburn for the Islamic Scientific and Research Academy. The Introductory programs have led to many pastors from those areas proceeding to Basic (Foundational) CPE Units at Rozelle, Macquarie, Hornsby, Lakemba, Cumberland and Auburn, as well as on Zoom specifically to accommodate remote and interstate students.
Mental Health Chaplain since 1971; CPE Supervisor, now Consultant, for 42 years; Grandfather; Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Theology; member of the NSW CPE College, previously Council) since 1972. Academic Dean 2008-2017; Consultant for the College’s Buddhist, Islamic, and Korean CPE Units. Teaching the 2022 on-line CPE 1, CPE 2 and CPE3 Units and the SCD Advanced Supervisory Practice Unit for CPE Supervisors.
Began CPE Supervisory training at Rozelle Hospital (2002) Now Supervising Mental Health CPE Units at Macquarie Hospital. MA (Pastoral Supervision); Trained Psychiatric and General Nurse. Child Abuse Prevention Counsellor (7 years) Grief Support Worker (21 years) Aged Care Chaplain (5 years) Mental Health Chaplain (22 years) Co-ordinator of the Macquarie Hospital Chaplaincy Department and Pastoral Volunteers.
Previously Supervisor of the Korean language CPE program at at Rhodes. Supervisor of the Mental Health Ministry CPE at Cumberland Hospital in 2022 Volunteer with the Macquarie Hospital Pastoral Care Team for ten years, and with over twenty years experience in pastoral care, including in aged care and mental health ministry. Passionate about the benefits of CPE and began training as a Supervisor in 2014. Four grandchildren keep me busy and young at heart. My interests include music, poetry and gardening.
Trained as a Primary School Teacher 1973 - 1975
Ordained as Uniting Church Minister 1982. Father, Grandfather. Chaplain to Kinross Wolaroi UCA School 1990 - 2007
Minister Wesley Mission 2008 – 2014; Lakemba 2015 - CPE Training 2013 - 2016; MA (Chaplaincy) 2017
Provisional CPE Supervisor 2017 - Member of ARPS Committee 2020. Chair of the Mental Health CPE Centre Advisory Committee. Co-supervising the Mental Health Ministry CPE at Macquarie in 2022
Hari Krishna Chaplain at St George Hospital and the Mental Health CPE Team; Co-supervising the Aged Care Ministry CPE Unit, based at St Basil’s Aged Care Facility, Lakemba and on Zoom; Currently caring for 2 aged parents who are reluctantly facing placement. Enjoying an on line pastoral education program from the USA. Secretary of the Mental Health CPE Centre Advisory Committee.
Uniting Church Mental Health Chaplain in the Western Sydney Health Area after 30 years working with disadvantaged and marginalised people.
Husband, father and grandfather, and co-supervisor of the New Mental Health CPE Unit at Cumberland Hospital and on Zoom.
Registrar of the Mental Health CPE Centre’s CPE programs.
Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Charles Sturt University/Australian Catholic University. Degrees: Bachelor of Islamic Studies, Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry.
Provisional CPE Supervisor; pioneering CPE for Islamic students in Australia, in Sydney and Melbourne and by Zoom. Grandfather, author of four books and number of articles. Lives in Melbourne.
Lecturer at the Iona Columba Korean College.
Co-supervisor and Translator for the Bi-lingual Korean
Basic CPE Unit at Rhodes and by Zoom. Mentors students in their mental health placements at Concord Hospital Mental Health Centre.
Debra completed her supervisory training at St Vincent’s CPE Centre and works in the Pastoral Care Team at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
She taught religion and personal development in high school before discovering the world of chaplaincy and was Buddhist Chaplain at the University of Technology, Sydney. A student of Zen (Ordinary Mind lineage), Debra has a particular interest in the integration of Buddhist teachings with pastoral presence. Her hobbies include swimming and running.
1. Introductory CPE (40 hours)
We offer the standard Introductory Clinical Pastoral Education program (40 hours) This is the minimum requirement to join any hospital chaplaincy team, and we welcome people of all Faiths.
It is an introduction to the theory and practice of pastoral/spiritual care and has long been the minimum qualification required by NSW Health for those wishing to become hospital visitors. It covers such topics as listening skills, empathy, grief and loss, self-awareness and hospital procedures. A certificate is awarded on completion.
2. Foundational (Basic 400 hour) Clinical Pastoral Education in Mental Health Ministry, CPE 1, CPE 2 and CPE 3;
Learning to respond to the pastoral needs of distressed and disturbed people struggling on a journey of recovery from mental illness; and in Aged Care Ministry, an opportunity to understand and minister to people in their final, often confusing, stages of life.
CPE 1, CPE 2 and CPE 3 will be offered face to face in 2022 in Mental Health Ministry at Macquarie Hospital; and Cumberland Hospital; and by Zoom only for remote and interstate students; and face to face at Lakemba in Aged Care Ministry. If further lockdowns are necessary, the Cumberland and Lakemba Units will switch to Zoom.
The Macquarie Basic (Foundational) CPE is a unique training opportunity with a limit on numbers. Rosemarie has been involved with mental health since the 1960s. Mental Health is a demanding and sensitive, but fascinating, area to work in, and course participants will be selected carefully. We welcome all Faiths and are looking for people with a heart for mental health ministry to enhance the provision of compassionate effective pastoral care in this vital area. To start training, previous experience in mental health ministry is not necessary, but participants are introduced to the wards under close supervision. Our aim is to achieve a bonded group that will provide a safe, supportive environment resulting in optimal personal growth, learning and enjoyment for its members.
Virtual Hospital Wards
During the Covid Lockdowns when it was not possible to visit residents in the wards or aged care facilities, we experimented in our Zoom CPE Units with creating a library of videos of simulated interviews, in which experienced chaplains, and guests, portrayed people for the students to interview in virtual psych units and dementia wards. The recorded videos are replayed in an almost live interaction which prepares students for the challenges of the actual visiting when in can occur.
2024 Courses
Introductory CPE by Zoom 9am - 3 pm, 5 Thursdays, March 7 to April 4
Introductory CPE at St Andrews Theological College Redfern 10am - 3 pm, 5 Tuesdays, March 5 to April 2 which can also be undertaken as the 5 day Intensive component of the “Basic” CPE Units.
Basic CPE in Aged Care Ministry at St Basil’s Aged Care Facility, Lakemba, 8.45-2.30, 25 Tuesdays May 7 to November 19, missing School holidays, following the March Intensive
Basic CPE in Mental Health Ministry at Macquarie Hospital, North Ryde, 8.00 am - 3 pm, 25 Wednesdays March 6 to September 25, missing school holidays,
Basic CPE in Mental Health Ministry, meeting by Zoom 8.30am to 12.30 pm, 25 Thursdays, May 2 to November 21, missing school holidays
The Mental Health CPE Centre supports other CPE Programs endorsed by the NSW CPE College that equip people for pastoral ministry with specific Faith and Cultural groups: the NSW Buddhist Council; the Iona/Columba Korean College; and the Islamic Scientific and Research Association.
Information about these CPE courses is available from those organisations.
Our Multi-Faith CPE programs encourage participants, while firmly based in their own spiritual tradition, to acknowledge and learn from the rich heritage of people from Other Faiths and Other Cultures. The Mental Health CPE Centre also Introductory CPE courses for local hospitals and specific Faith Traditions by request. Our supervisors are available for individual supervision and group pastoral consultation.
What is the cost?
Foundational (Basic) CPE 1,2,3
$2,250.00
per student which included the Course Certificate Fee of $175
Introductory CPE
$200.00
$200 per student, which also includes the certificate fee of $75
For further information about the Macquarie program please contact Mrs Rosemarie Say OAM Macquarie Hospital Chaplaincy Coordinator
Mrs Rosemarie Say OAM
For further information about the Cumberland, Zoom Mental Health, and Lakemba Aged Care programs please contact the Director of the Mental Health CPE Centre
Rev. Alan Galt OAM
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, and Units of Supervisory Training, towards those degree.
Students with a Bachelor degree or other relevant qualification may enrol in:
The Sydney College of Divinity Master of Arts (leading to a specialisation in Chaplaincy) which consists of three core units of CPE (CPE 1, CPE 2, CPE 3) for 54 credit points. The remaining 54 credit points may be gained by enrolment in related courses (such as Theology, Biblical studies, Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counselling) offered through the other member institutes of the Sydney College of Divinity.
The Sydney College of Divinity Master of Arts (leading to a specialisation in Supervision) includes the three 18 point units of Education in Supervision, plus 6 more 9 point units in related pastoral, biblical and theological studies.
Ready to enrol with NSWCCPE?
Call our Registrar on 0420 359 097
or send us an email message
