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ACPEWA Standards August 2024

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an experiential training program in pastoral/spiritual care using an action/reflection model of learning, supplemented with teaching sessions and reading. Participants explore how to be present to others who are experiencing distress and how to offer grounded spiritual interventions informed by self-awareness and best practice.

 Many participants in WA complete just one CPE program before engaging in a pastoral/spiritual care role. CPE is also required by some churches for formal ministry accreditation or ordination.  Some people return for a second or third CPE program to deepen their self-awareness and further enhance their pastoral skills. There is after all only so much one can learn in a single 400 hour CPE program. As CPE uses an individual, experiential learning model, each participant is able to work to enhance their competency and meet their individual learning goals. In other places eg Victoria and the USA, employers usually require multiple units of CPE for paid roles.

Some ACPEWA Educators are accredited as Adjunct Lecturers for CPE with the University of Divinity ((Melbourne). Participants can enrol in CPE with University of Divinity to gain credit 48 points, the equivalent of two subjects. University of Divinity offers the possibility of three units of CPE (Level 1 (Foundational), Specialist and Level 2(Advanced)) It is up to applicants studying with other academic institutions to enquire about what academic credit may be granted for CPE.

While the courses offered vary between our centres and our educators, there are basic elements which are present in all of our programs.

During Orientation, participants are presented a Handbook which contains relevant information about the clinical context, course requirements, administrative structures, assignment guidelines, policies and procedures, learning outcomes and much more.  Group norms are set, relationships begin to form, individual learning goals are set, and the learning process begins.

Pastoral Encounter Reviews are at the heart of the CPE learning model.  These are analytical and reflective documents which participants present to their peers and supervisor.  Paticipants reflect on the impact of their attitudes, values and assumptions on the care they provide, while learning theoretical principles related to the practice of pastoral and spiritual care.

Case Studies are a more in depth analysis of the care provided by the participant over the course of multiple visits and interventions.

Reflection Papers are individualised assignments geared towards encouraging participants to practise further reflection and analysis related to some particular learning issue, theoretical principle, or the impact of some personal attribute or behaviour on their professional practice.

Pastoral Labs offer participants the opportunity to see their practice through the eyes of their peers and supervisors and to see themselves on video.

Open Agenda Group, is an unstructured time for group supervision with peers and the educator.  The group time is an opportunity to reflect on success and struggles encountered within CPE and the placement, to engage in collegial relationships, to work on individual learning goals or the ACPEWA learning outcomes and to experience and learn about group processes and dynamics.

Individual Supervision is a time for one-on-one reflection with the educator.  Often this includes reviewing a specific example of professional practice, but may also include exploration of any issue related to the integration of personal and professional identity, reflection on the learning process, or addressing struggles encountered in the course of providing care.

Teaching seminars, or didactics, are the most academic part of the program and include the presentation of theoretical models and concepts related to the practice of pastoral and spiritual care. Sometimes these seminars are led by others with specific knowledge or experience of a topic.

Reading Reviews require participants to conduct research on a topic through engagement in a journal or website article on a topic related to the practice of pastoral or spiritual care.

Because our supervisors continually seek to refine their practice and to meet particular needs of their students, a variety of other components may be offered during certain CPE units.  Please contact a CPE Centre for more information about what will be included in upcoming units.

Each CPE program is facilitated by a Clinical Pastoral Educator. Becoming a Clinical Pastoral Educator takes several years of formation, including formal study, CPE supervision specific professional development, experiential training within a CPE group and intensive individual supervision. If you may be interested to follow this path, please contact the Chair, Registration and Certification Committee (R&C). Our standards detail the formal requirements, however here is a general overview.

1. Complete 3-4 units of CPE, with at least 1 at Advanced level.
2. Obtain certification of completion of Advanced CPE through presenting to a Committee for review.
3. After a process of starting to learn about CPE supervision, apply to ACPEWA to be granted Provisional Clinical Pastoral Supervisor status and begin supervising CPE participants. To be granted Provisional Clinical Pastoral Supervisor status, you will need to write about your learning and present to a Committee  for review. At this point, you may optionally choose to enrol in a MA(Specialisation in supervision) with Sydney College of Divinity. This Masters degree offers the education in supervision mentioned below.
4. As a Provisional Clinical Pastoral Supervisor you will co-facilitate CPE groups and provide individual supervision to some participants. You will receive individual supervision (10 sessions/CPE program) and engage in ongoing education. The focus at this stage will be on individual supervision.
5. After co-supervising 3-4 CPE programs, completing a program of supervisory education and writing about your experience, apply to ACPEWA for a Review Committee (5 people) to consider accrediting you as a Clinical Pastoral Supervisor.
6. Clinical Pastoral Supervisors may co-supervise CPE programs and provide individual supervision to some participants.
7. If desired and possibly with some additional experience as a Clinical Pastoral Supervisor, apply to ACPEWA to be granted the status as Provisional Clinical Pastoral Educator. (No Committee required, however your CPE Centre Director and Supervisor will need to agree that you are ready for this next step). At this level you will learn about group supervision and other aspects of running a CPE program.
8. After facilitating 3-4 CPE programs as a Provisional Clinical Pastoral Educator, completing a further program of supervisory education, gaining theological or equivalent qualifications and writing up your experience and theories, apply to ACPEWA for a Review Committee (5 people from across Australia and New Zealand) to consider accrediting you as a Clinical Pastoral Educator.
9. Clinical Pastoral Educators can work independently and can become a CPE Centre Director.
10. A few people progress past this level towards Clinical Pastoral Education-Consultant. Clinical Pastoral Education-Consultants hold the additional responsibility of educating Provisional Clinical Pastoral Supervisors and Provisional Clinical Pastoral Educators.

ACPEWA Inc, a professional body for CPE in Western Australia, is committed to the promotion and philosophy of experiential education for pastoral and spiritual care. It promotes the education of CPE participants to become competent, professional pastoral/spiritual carers and for those who choose to study further a path to become an accredited Clinical Pastoral Supervisor, Educator or Education-Consultant.

ACPEWA maintains standards for CPE programs and accredits CPE Centres, Clinical Pastoral Supervisors, Educators and Education Consultants. ACPEWA also provides professional development events for members and others.

As a not-for-profit association, ACPEWA relies on membership fees and the the generously donated time of committee members and others to further its activities. Each year, a proportion of ACPEWA funds are made available to support educational activities for those wishing to progress towards becoming a Clinical Pastoral Supervisor, Educator or Educational Consultant.

ACPEWA is a member of ANZACPE Ltd (Australia and New Zealand Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). ANZACPE is an umbrella body that seeks to facilitate cooperation between its member associations and works towards creating common standards and agreements for the way we interact with each other. You can read more on the ANZACPE website.

ACPEWA is proud that some of its Clinical Pastoral Educators are accredited with the University of Divinity to offer CPE that can be credited as 48 points (equivalent to two subjects) towards a University of Divinity qualification. These students can also access FEE Help.

Below is an excerpt from the ACPEWA Constitution detailing the ‘Objects and Purposes of the Association’.

Here are some important upcoming dates. If what you are looking for isn’t here, please contact the Secretary  secretary@acpewa.org.

CPE Programs Starting

Perth Community CPE Centre has a part-time CPE program beginning in October 2024 to April 2025 now fully subscribed.

The second semester CPE program is now July to November 2025 with a few places available. Please email piccpe7@gmail.com for more information and an application pack.

The ANZACPE Conference 2025 for CPE Educators and Supervisors is to be held in Perth W.A. August 31 to September 4. 

APCEWA Professional Development

 

APCEWA Professional Development

APCEWA Membership Renewal

ACPEWA membership is for a calendar year (1 January – 31 December). Membership renewal notices will be emailed in January each year. Please support your professional association. We hope you will benefit from the professional development and networking opportunities we offer.

APCEWA AGM

5pm Monday 13 March 2023
Discover what ACPEWA has been doing over the past year and plans for 2023.
Are you interested to take a more active part in our association?

APCEWA Scholarship for Advanced CPE

ACPEWA offers a scholarship for people doing an Advanced unit of CPE, who intend to train in CPE Supervision with ACPEWA. The closing date is 30 March each year. Please contact the Secretary secretary@acpewa.org for more information.

Centre Director: Michelle Benjamin

CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION

The Perth Community CPE Centre welcomes applications for CPE from all those interested in developing their pastoral/spiritual care skills. In  2024 and 2025 we will be offering part-time CPE, in person in Perth.
Expressions of interest and applications are now being accepted. Please read below for CPE information and upcoming courses. Email piccpe7@gmail.com with any questions and for an application pack.

If you wish to enrol in CPE for credit with the University of Divinity, please read here.
CPE could count as 1/3 of a Graduate Diploma of Pastoral Care at University of Divinity.

Note:  Credit towards a qualification at another academic institution to be negotiated by the applicant.

“Being a CPE Educator is such a privilege. Accompanying  CPE participants as they engage in their development as  professional pastoral persons can be a life giving experience for all.  The phrase “The Living Human Document” for those who are participants and those they offer care to can become more real and appreciated.”

Clinical Pastoral Educator: Michelle Benjamin
This CPE program is now fully subscribed.

There will be a CPE program offered in a part time, face to face mode July to December 2025. Please enquire piccpe7@gmail.com

2026 CPE programs - dates not yet available

Take a step back in history and read about Anton Boisen who is credited as the founder of CPE.

The Biography of Anton Theophilus Boisen [Want to download it? Right Click > Save as ]

Q: What qualifications do I have to have to be considered for a unit of CPE?

A: Students need to have a minimum education level equivalent to high school graduation as the course does require a significant amount of reflection. A demonstrated ability to reflect on one’s own story and the impact of significant life events is essential.

Q: Do I have to be ordained or work in pastoral/spiritual care to apply for CPE?

A: No, however an educator will want to know how you plan to use this training.

Q: How do I find out what CPE units are on offer in WA?

A: Please see Perth Community CPE Centre tab on this website, or contact piccpe7@gmail.com.

Q: How do I apply to do a unit of CPE?

A: Please contact the Centre for an application pack.

Q: Why do I have to write so much in my application for a unit of CPE?

A: The application process is intensive. The CPE educator needs to assess your ability to reflect on your experiences before deciding if an interview would be appropriate. A CPE unit also requires a significant amount of written reflection.

Q: Is CPE offered in regional areas of WA or online?

A: From time to time CPE may be offered in regional areas or online, please contact a CPE Centre for details of what they are currently offering. CPE is offered in different formats eg full time or one day each week. 

Q: How much does it cost to do a unit of CPE?

A: In 2022 the Perth Community CPE Centre is charging $2,100.

Q: Do I have to find my own CPE placement?

A: Perth Community CPE Centre applicants can complete their placement in their current place of work if suitable, or a placement will be negotiated by Perth Community CPE Centre with one of a number of pastoral service providers, including aged care and hospital settings in Perth.

Q: I’ve completed my CPE application, where do I send it?

A: CPE applications are submitted electronically. Please email to the Centre Director.