Special Religious Education - Professional Development Training
Morling College is a provider of professional development training for all High School Special Religious Education (SRE) teachers across NSW. Whether paid or in a volunteer capacity, professional development is strongly encouraged to help you become the best possible SRE teacher.
Important note: this training is in addition to the core module training all SRE teachers must complete through their approved provider (i.e. their authorising body).
What subjects can SRE teachers do?
You can choose any subject that Morling offers; here, we’ve compiled some of the most relevant for SRE teachers:
Old & New Testament Overviews - SRE teachers have always needed to know their Bibles well. This is even more important in a world that challenges us to defend the way we read and apply Biblical teaching today. At Morling, you can gain an overview of the Old or New Testament in a compact, one-semester unit, or across a full year of study. (Unit codes: OT001,002,003; NT001,002,003; also OT/NT at certificate level).
Foundational Christian Beliefs - Be equipped to articulate the basic doctrines of our faith, as well as appreciate the perspectives of different traditions within Christian orthodoxy. (Unit code: TH005; also CB at certificate level)
Christian Apologetics - Know how to explain and defend our faith in the context of our pluralistic and often sceptical society (Unit code: PE007).
Pastoral/Chaplaincy Skills - These two units are practical and skills-based, equipping SRE teachers to pastorally care for students, or to serve in a chaplaincy role within a school. (Unit codes: PC003; PC049. Also IPC at certificate level.) You might also be interested in Morling’s Graduate Certificate in Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care. (Contact us too, if you wish to supplement your SRE training with VET-level training in chaplaincy and we can advise on possible pathways).
Youth: Context, Development, Learning - Understand how adolescents grow and learn in order to be better equipped to teach and support them (Unit code: DE012).
The full list of Bible & Theology units offered through Morling is available here (click on “units scheduled” for the current year).
Before applying for any of the above subjects, please contact your provider to discuss your circumstances. RPL may be granted during initial authorisation if you have recognised theological training. If you are an SRE teacher authorised through the Baptist Association please contact Lysander Lawrence (llawrence@nswactbaptists.org.au).
What modes of study are available?
Most of Morling’s subjects are offered in on campus mode with scheduled weekly classes, which are also livestreamed and recorded. They are also available in online mode, with readings, videos, activities, and discussion forums that can be completed at any time during the week.
What are the assessments like and how much does it cost?
These questions are related, and there’s a wide variety of choice here, depending on the level of study you choose and whether you’re completing it as part of a university-level course.
Casual enrolment (also called “audit mode”) is where you attend or livestream lectures without completing any assignments. Fees are $360 for 13-week semester and are payable up front.
Certificate level (ThC - Certificate in Theology) is a non-tertiary course which involves around 1500 words of assessment each semester. Formal essay skills are not expected. Fees are $900 for a 13-week semester and are payable up front. The ThC is awarded after the completion of 6 units.
Undergraduate level involves a variety of courses at tertiary level. We suggest you start off with an Undergraduate Certificate of Ministry or Theology, which requires 4 units of study. You can build on that as you go, with various diploma (8 units), advanced diploma (12 units), and degree (24 units) options. Assessment starts at about 4000 words per semester. Fees are $2,264 for a 13-week semester; the FEE-HELP student loan scheme is available for units taken within one of these courses. If taken as single units, payment is upfront.
Postgraduate level involves a variety of courses open to those who have already completed a tertiary degree in another discipline. We suggest you start off with a Graduate Certificate of Divinity, which requires 4 units of study. You can build on that as you go, with the Graduate Diploma of Divinity (8 units), Master of Theological Studies (16 units), or Master of Divinity/Ministry (24 units). Assessment starts at about 6000 words per semester. Fees are $2,316 for a 13-week semester; the FEE-HELP student loan scheme is available for units taken within one of these courses. If taken as single units, payment is upfront.
Apart from casual enrolment, all students have access to a range of support services and resources, including a subscription to online textbooks via the Perlego platform.
Units and courses on this page are units and courses of the Australian College of Theology (CRICOS Provider 02650E), except the Grad. Cert. in Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care, which is a course of Morling College Counselling Faculty (CRICOS Provider 03265F).