
3rd and 4th November - NSW - Byron Bay
Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th November 2023
9.00am – 4.30pm
East Gate Church – 20 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Cost: $150 for credentialed pastors and accredited chaplains, $250 for non-accredited participants
16th and 17th November - SA - Adelaide
Thursday 16th & Friday 17th November 2023
9.00am – 4.30pm
Venue – ONE LIFE Church,
13 – 15 Ormsby Ave, Parafield Gardens SA 5107
Cost: $150 CA Members and ACC Pastors, $250 for non-members
27th and 28th November - VIC - Geelong
Monday 27th & Tuesday28th November 2023
9.00am – 4.30pm
Venue – OneHope Centre
4-32 Province Boulevard
Highton VIC 3216
Cost: $150 CA Members $250 for non-members
Professional Development Workshop
For anyone who is involved in ministry seeking to improve their skills in navigating the complexities of ministry. Chaplains, Pastors and Leader
Revival City Church, 231 Milne Rd, Modbury North SA 5092
Saturday 18th November 2023, 9.30am – 1pm
Navigating Difficult Conversations in a Complex World
This Professional Development opportunity will equip you with practical responses and tips to assist you to navigate the increasingly complex world in which we seek to minister the love and power of Christ.
Providing a framework for response to conversations about Gender, Sexuality, Domestic and Family Violence and Addictive Behaviours. Supporting you as you continue to support others.

Hosted by: Pastor Ralph Estherby and the Chaplaincy Australia South Australia Team
CA Members or ACC Pastors – $49
Non-Members – $60
Minister’s Chaplaincy Upgrade
Course details
This three-day online Minister’s Chaplaincy Upgrade (MCU) is designed for Pastors and Ministers with at least five years of ministry experience who would like to
- gain a chaplaincy qualification that could lead to accreditation, and/or
- upskill in the chaplaincy space.
This intensive is provided by Alphacrucis University College (AC) in conjunction with Chaplaincy Australia (CA), and covers two Units of study:
- Work with people with mental health issues (i.e., establishing respectful relationships with people with mental health issues, determining the needs of people with mental health issues, and working with people with mental health issues to meet aspirations and needs), and
- Respond to client needs (i.e., establishing an interpersonal relationship with a client, identifying the range of issues impacting a client, analysing information to determine a course of action, and referring clients to other supports).
These two Units form part of a longer course, the Cert IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. Ministers who complete the MCU can then, if they wish, go on and complete other Units of the Cert IV to gain a broader understanding of chaplaincy and pastoral care, and a wider scope of competencies.
Testimonial
“I recently completed the Ministers Chaplaincy Upgrade. The balance of a 3-day intensive and then assignments in an online setting made the course very manageable. The intensive equipped me to better understand some of the challenges and principles around issues like mental health and responding to client needs. The assignments resourced me to know what is available in my local area to support people, which I have found invaluable. It has also opened a door for me to volunteer as a Chaplain in my local community. Highly Recommended.”
Ps Paul McCullock – Hope Unlimited Church, NSW
The specifics
Dates – Tue 24 to Thu 26 October 2023
Times – 8.30 am to 5 pm each day
Location – @ Alphacrucis University College – Melbourne Campus
Cost – $670 (paid on enrolment)
Assessments – there will be a few hours of assessments to complete in the evenings or post-intensive
Trainer – Ps Ralph Estherby, National Director of Chaplaincy Australia
Accreditation – An MCU provides pastors with a pathway to apply for accreditation with Chaplaincy Australia. Chaplaincy opens doors to serve the community and accreditation will give organisations confidence in your qualifications and credibility.
Applying and more information
The official AC page with all the details and links is here: https://www.ac.edu.au/awards/ministers-chaplaincy-upgrade/
Please note that this is an accredited Vocational and Education Training (VET) course, so you will need to apply as an AC Student; i.e., it is more involved than registering for a seminar or workshop.
Talking it through with an AC Future Students team member is recommended. You can complete the form here https://www.ac.edu.au/future-students/enquire/ to arrange for someone to call you to discuss.
