Westmead | CPE Centre | NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education

The Westmead Centre for Clinical Pastoral Education offers introductory courses and foundational units with the Pacific School for CPE (Tonga) and Lismore Aboriginal CPE.

Rev Dr Peter Powell

Centre Director

Dr Powell is an ordained Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia, a Registered Psychologist, a Clinical Member of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, a Clinical Member of the NSW Child Sex Offender Counsellors Accreditation Scheme and a Provisional Educational Consultant with the NSW College of CPE. Currently semi-retired, Dr Powell is a past NSWCCPE President and Convenor of the Committee for the Asia-Pacific Conference of the International Council for Pastoral Care & Counselling 2021. Dr Powell is the trainer for Aboriginal CPE in Lismore and the Pacific School of CPE, Tonga.

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 Unit

(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

There are currently no courses planned in 2025 for the Westmead Centre.

To view all upcoming Introductory courses offered online and face to face across all of our NSW and ACT Centres click here.

What is the cost?

Introductory CPE Courses

$400.00

Includes the cost of the CPE certificate

400 Hour Foundational CPE Unit

$2200.00

Includes the cost of the CPE certificate

CPE Unit

For students enrolled in the MA (Chaplaincy) degree program

$4005.00

Advanced CPE Unit

2025 fee to be advised

For Further Information Contact

Peter Powell

peterpowell1944@gmail.com

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.