What is Introductory Pastoral Care Course (IPCC)?

Who is this course for?

The Introductory Pastoral Care Course is designed for people who are interested in developing their pastoral skills. Pastoral Care is an integral part of a healthy community or ministry, and this course seeks to give people skills to care and build community. It is an ideal course if people are wanting to volunteer at a hospital, aged care facility, or within a church community.

Many people who volunteer in hospitals, aged care facilities, or who are involved in pastoral ministry in churches, have found this course invaluable.

What does the course entail?

This introductory level training involves attending a short course of five days (9 am- 2pm) of practical learning to assist you in caring for others. Some additional reading and reflection time is also required.

The course has been developed with clear Biblical foundations. It seeks to develop participants’ capabilities in pastorally caring for others, while providing helpful resources to assist in their understanding and knowledge of pastoral care.

The course introduces the relational ministry of pastoral care, the aims and resources for pastoral care in both institutional and church contexts, listening skills, personal reflection. You will be challenged to consider how faith and practice intersect and how to care for yourself while you care for others.

By using group interactions, seminars and guided multimedia material, participants will begin to discover and to explore new resources for their pastoral ministry.

Course Outline

1. Pastoral Reflection tools

2. A Biblical foundation for Pastoral Care

3. An understanding of Pastoral and Spiritual Care

4. Dealing with individuals

5. The art of conversation

6. Understanding the art of questions

7. Directional Ministry

8. Functions of Pastoral Care

9. Building Rapport

10. Vulnerability

11. Listening Skills

12. Conversations in the hard times:

a. Relationship troubles

b. Depression and Anxiety

c. Grief and Loss

13. Self Care

14. An artistic journey through being a patient

15. Understanding yourself in Pastoral Conversations

16. Prayer

17. Boundaries

Cost: $300 ($150 concession-pensioners/unemployed)

Venue: The venues are dependent upon numbers. If a particular Chaplain has 10 participants at a site then we will travel to that site/hospital/church. Otherwise, the courses run out of Summer Hill – although we can move to another Anglicare site dependent upon the participant’s location.

Minimum group size: 8