| 2.1 Outcome(s) of the course |
This course is intended to equip individuals to serve in a range of roles in church, parachurch and community organisations, Christian education, health, social services or aged care services and not-for-profits. Work in these roles may also require commissioning from a recognised religious institution. The course is also designed to train workers from other industries in Christian ministry and theology as it applies to their industry, for example businesses, hospitals and charities.
Occupational titles may include:
- Pastor
- Religious Education teacher
- Youth ministry worker
- Evangelist
- Catechist
- Lay worker
- Lay preacher
- Deacon
- Ministry leader
- Manager
|
| 2.2 Course description |
This course is designed to prepare individuals for a range of Christian ministry roles such as pastor, deacon, lay preacher, catechist, religious education teacher, lay worker, youth ministry worker and evangelist. Work in these roles may also require commissioning from a recognised religious institution.
It is also designed to equip employees in parachurch, community and Christian organisations with an understanding of the beliefs and values that guide Christian education, health, social services, childcare or aged care in order to work effectively in these sectors. Such workers are required to align their work with the vision, values and expected practices of the organisation and to operate within an ethical and moral framework.
The course will provide participants with:
- advanced knowledge of core Christian beliefs and practices;
- skills to interpret, apply and teach Christian beliefs and practices;
- practical ministry, leadership or teaching skills;
- opportunities for personal ethical formation; and
- skills for work or further vocational training.
|
| 3.1 Qualification level |
Graduates of this course will apply integrated knowledge of Christian beliefs and practices in a Christian ministry, parachurch, education or service environment. They will use factual, technical, procedural and theoretical knowledge of Christian Ministry and Theology when delivering ministry programmes or other services, completing work tasks or teaching others ministry or theology topics.
Graduates will demonstrate autonomy, initiative and judgement to organise their own work and to plan, coordinate and evaluate the work of others when developing or delivering Christian ministry services in broad but generally well-defined parameters. They will demonstrate technical and communication skills to analyse biblical texts and technical and creative skills to communicate theology to others or to lead Christian ministry and to transmit Christian ministry knowledge and skills to others.
The course outcomes of this Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology are consistent with the qualification type descriptor for a Diploma found in the Australian Qualification Framework Second Edition, January 2013. The volume of learning for this qualification is consistent with the Volume of Learning identified in the AQF Qualification Type Descriptor for this AQF qualification level. |
|
4.1 Course structure
To achieve the qualification Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology the candidate must complete compete ten units, including two core competencies and eight electives.
Elective units must consist of:
- at least six units selected from the listed electives below, including:
- at least three units selected from group A: Scripture and Theology
- at least three units selected from group B: Ministry and Formation or C: Catholic Education
- up to two units selected from any endorsed Training Package or accredited course – these units must be relevant to the work outcome.
Any combination of electives that meets the rules above can be selected for the award of the Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology. Where appropriate, electives may be packaged to provide the qualification with a specialisation in Catholic education.
Packaging for Catholic education specialisation
All group C electives must be selected for the award of the Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology (Catholic Education)
Rules for completion
| Unit code |
Unit title |
Competency field |
Pre-requisite |
Nominal hours |
| Core units |
| NAT11238001 |
Apply advanced knowledge of the Bible |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11238002 |
Compare and explain Christian beliefs and practices |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| Total nominal hours (core units) |
150 |
| Elective units group A: Scripture and Theology |
| NAT11238003 |
Research and present a biblical theme |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11237002 |
Interpret biblical texts |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11238004 |
Develop and apply knowledge of church history |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11238005 |
Develop and apply knowledge of church, liturgy and sacraments |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11237005 |
Apply Christian ethics to contemporary issues |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11238006 |
Compare worldviews and world religions |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11238007 |
Explain and discuss the person and work of the Holy Spirit |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| Elective units group B: Ministry and Formation |
| NAT11238008 |
Develop self-awareness |
091703 |
Nil |
50 |
| NAT11238009 |
Provide leadership in a Christian organisation |
091703 |
Nil |
70 |
| NAT11238010 |
Develop and implement ministry programs |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| NAT11238011 |
Prepare and lead worship |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| NAT11238012 |
Manage resources and risk in a ministry context |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| NAT11238013 |
Plan to initiate a new church |
091703 |
Nil |
75 |
| NAT11238014 |
Lead a process of Christian discipleship |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| NAT11237011 |
Prepare and preach a sermon |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| NAT11237012 |
Develop own leadership skills |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| BSBTWK502 |
Manage team effectiveness |
080303 |
Nil |
60 |
| PSPGEN098 |
Deal with conflict |
120301 |
Nil |
35 |
| PSPGEN115 |
Uphold and support inclusive workplace practices |
080305 |
Nil |
35 |
| CHCGRP002 |
Plan and conduct group activities |
120505 |
Nil |
70 |
| CHCCCS017 |
Provide loss and grief support |
120513 |
Nil |
55 |
| CHCPAS003 |
Plan for the provision of pastoral and spiritual care |
091703 |
Nil |
45 |
| CHCPAS004 |
Provide pastoral and spiritual care |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| CHCCCS007 |
Develop and implement service programs |
090501 |
Nil |
100 |
| CHCVOL003 |
Recruit, induct and support volunteers |
080303 |
Nil |
70 |
| SIRXOSM007 |
Manage risk to organisational reputation in an online setting |
080301 |
Nil |
60 |
| Elective units group C: Catholic Education |
| NAT11238015 |
Implement the mission and values of a Catholic organisation in own professional practice |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| NAT11238016 |
Interpret and apply a religious education framework to guide practice |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| NAT11238017 |
Develop the religious understanding of students |
091703 |
Nil |
60 |
| Minimum and maximum nominal hours (elective units) |
445 – 620 |
| Total nominal hours (Core + Elective units) |
595 – 770 |
Volume of Learning
- Nominal (supervised) hours: 595 – 770 hours
- Unsupervised hours: 500 hours
- Volume of learning: 1095 – 1270 hours
Unsupervised activities
Successful completion of this course will require learners to engage in unsupervised experience including:
- undertaking work experience in a Christian ministry
- completing self-paced study to complete research and assessment tasks and revise and reinforce areas of knowledge
- conducting research on Christian Ministry and Theology to gain additional industry information
- participating in a religious community, its practices and activities, such as worship, small groups, pastoral care, outreach and community service
- undertaking personal formation activities including periods of devotion, prayer, personal retreat and reflection
The time required to undertake these activities will vary between learners based on their experience. On average, the unsupervised activities listed above will equate to 500 hours.
A Statement of Attainment will be issued for any unit of competency successfully completed if the full qualification is not completed.
| 4.2 Entry requirements |
Essential entry requirements
There are no essential entry requirements.Recommended entry requirements
It is recommended entrants have LLN skills at ACSF level 3 or higher in the domains of learning, reading, writing and oral communication. Other levels and recommended entry requirements may apply depending on the local context in which the course is applied. Where the course is delivered in an oral culture, e.g., Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander context, the application of these core skills may differ in the practice of Christian ministry and in the delivery of training and assessment in Christian ministry and theology. |
| 5. Assessment |
| 5.1 Assessment strategy |
All assessment must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the current Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 or its successor.Assessment must be conducted using a variety of methods over time to ensure a sufficient range of valid evidence is gathered to form a judgment of competence. Assessment methods may include:
- direct observation
- case studies
- scenarios
- simulations and/or role plays
- written and/or oral questions
- assignments
- projects
- portfolios of evidence
- third party evidence and supervisor reports
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be offered to applicants.
Mandated assessment resources apply to the unit/s. Refer to the Assessment Requirements of the individual unit/s.
Assessment of the training package units imported into the course must be consistent with the assessment guidelines in the parent training package. |
| 5.2 Assessor competencies |
All assessment must be undertaken by assessors who meet the requirements stated to apply under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 or its successor.The assessment of units of competency imported from training packages and other VET accredited courses must reflect the requirements for assessors specified in the relevant training packages and accredited course. |
| 6. Pathways and articulation |
| 6.1 Pathways and articulation |
Potential pathways into the course
The 11237NAT Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology includes units of competency that can be included in the 11238NAT Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology. Completion of these units provides a pathway into the Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology where these units have been included in the course structure.
Potential pathways out of the course
The 11238NAT Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology includes units of competency that can be included in the 11239NAT Advanced Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology. Completion of these units provides a pathway to the 11239NAT Advanced Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology.
11238NAT includes the units of competency from the BSB, CHC, PSP and SIR training packages. Completion of these units provides pathways into qualifications that include these units of competency in their course structure.
Graduates of this qualification may be eligible to enter a range of other higher qualifications offered by RTOs and higher education providers. |
Section C—Units of competency
Units of competency developed for the course
| Code |
Title |
| NAT11238001 |
Apply advanced knowledge of the Bible |
| NAT11238002 |
Compare and explain Christian beliefs and practices |
| NAT11238003 |
Research and present a biblical theme |
| NAT11238004 |
Develop and apply knowledge of church history |
| NAT11238005 |
Develop and apply knowledge of church, liturgy and sacraments |
| NAT11238006 |
Analyse and compare worldviews and world religions |
| NAT11238007 |
Explain and discuss the person and work of the Holy Spirit |
| NAT11238008 |
Develop self-awareness |
| NAT11238009 |
Provide leadership in a Christian organisation |
| NAT11238010 |
Develop and implement ministry programs |
| NAT11238011 |
Prepare and lead worship |
| NAT11238012 |
Manage resources and risk in a ministry context |
| NAT11238013 |
Plan to initiate a new church |
| NAT11238014 |
Lead a process of Christian Discipleship |
| NAT11238015 |
Implement the mission and values of a Catholic organisation in own professional practice |
| NAT11238016 |
Interpret and apply a religious education framework to guide practice |
| NAT11238017 |
Develop the religious understanding of students |
Units of competency imported from other accredited course/s
| Code |
Title |
| NAT11237002 |
Interpret biblical texts |
| NAT11237005 |
Apply Christian ethics to contemporary issues |
| NAT11237011 |
Prepare and preach a sermon |
| NAT11237012 |
Develop own leadership skills |
Units of competency imported from training package/s
| Code |
Title |
| BSBTWK502 |
Manage team effectiveness |
| PSPGEN098 |
Deal with conflict |
| PSPGEN115 |
Uphold and support inclusive workplace practices |
| CHCGRP002 |
Plan and conduct group activities |
| CHCCCS017 |
Provide loss and grief support |
| CHCPAS003 |
Plan for the provision of pastoral and spiritual care |
| CHCPAS004 |
Provide pastoral and spiritual care |
| CHCCCS007 |
Develop and implement service programs |
| CHCVOL003 |
Recruit, induct and support volunteers |
| SIRXOSM007 |
Manage risk to organisational reputation in an online setting |
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