Graduate Diploma of Ministry

The Graduate Diploma of Ministry at Perth Bible College, delivered through the Asia-Pacific School of Pastoral Care and Counselling, is a one-year qualification for people who want to work in pastoral ministry, chaplaincy or faith-based counselling. It sits at graduate diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it assumes you already hold a bachelor degree or equivalent. You are not starting from scratch. You are taking what you know and adding a professional layer on top of it.

What you actually study

The coursework draws on two areas: ministry practice and pastoral care. Expect units in biblical interpretation, pastoral counselling, leadership in a congregational setting, and the practical side of running a ministry. The Asia-Pacific School of Pastoral Care and Counselling part of the college name signals that counselling is taken seriously here, not tacked on. If you want to sit with people in grief, crisis or transition, this is the kind of training that prepares you for it.

How the year is structured

Australian graduate diplomas are usually made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, spread across two semesters or trimesters. You complete the required credit points to graduate. Some institutions build in a capstone unit or a supervised ministry placement, and given the practical nature of pastoral work, placement or supervised practice is common in this field. Check the official page for the exact unit list and whether a placement is included.

Who it suits

This qualification suits three groups: people already in ministry who want formal training, people coming from another profession who feel called to pastoral work, and graduates in theology or counselling who want to specialise. It also works as a stepping stone if you are considering a master's later. The college is in Perth, so you are training in a Western Australian context, with the Asia-Pacific focus reflected in the name.

Practical details

International students should check the English requirement. IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, though some fields ask for higher. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the college's own English programmes may be accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so you need to meet both. On a student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 061405G. Confirm all details on the official page before you apply.

• Pastor or associate pastor in a local church
• Chaplain in hospitals, aged care, schools or the defence force
• Pastoral carer or counsellor in faith-based organisations
• Ministry team leader or coordinator
• Community services worker in religious or non-profit organisations
• Mission or outreach worker
• Youth or family ministry leader

Employers include churches and denominational bodies, hospital and aged care providers, school chaplaincy programs, defence and emergency services chaplaincy, and faith-based community organisations across Australia.