Gain a detailed understanding of the major mental health conditions and the appropriate pastoral response to them

Discern your role in pastoral relationships: when to refer on to a mental health professional and the vital part you continue to play

Learn how to let the consolations of the gospel powerfully comfort those struggling to hope

Grow in wisdom to use the power of the Bible and prayer in a sensitive and helpful way

We're the only theological college in Australia focussing on equipping women

We specialise in pastoral care and mental health

Our units are geared to practical theology and ministry that is just as useful for volunteers as those in vocational ministry

Our students consistently tell us we're a really lovely community to be part of!

And, you can be confident that everything we offer is firmly grounded in God's word

Various models for understanding and responding to mental ill-health

How to acknowledge and respond to stigma.

How the Bible talks about stress and anxiety

The difference between anxiety disorders, legitimate concern and a lack of trust in God

The structure of the Australian mental health system

An overview of different types of depression and other types of mood disorders

Treatment options for depression and appropriate pastoral care response

Suicide risk factors for specific sub-populations

The theology around suicide, including key messages for the Christian community and workers post-suicide.

Self-harm, and how to talk to a person in crisis

The nature, terminology and neurobiology of trauma

Acute stress disorder and PTSD

Treatment and care

Principles of trauma-safe churches and pastoral care

Definitions, prevalence and risk factors for psychotic illness

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Diagnosis, treatment and management

Supporting those with these disorders

Mental health amongst children/youth: the data, difficulties in diagnosis, when parents should be concerned and how to support young people

Data, resources and approaches for women's, perinatal, men's and elderly mental health

Lived experiences of mental ill-health with a guest speaker

Personal stories and everyday challenges

Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Binge eating disorder and other eating disorders

Personality disorders: paranoid, antisocial and avoidant; how to provide appropriate care in the church

The cycle of addiction and who is affected

Tolerating distress and overcoming addiction

How biblically functioning churches can bring inherent benefits to those experiencing mental ill-health

The significance of relationships and the attachment behaviour system

Attachment styles, and mental health

The nature of a healthy caring relationship

How to avoid burnout

Speaking the truth in love

Praying in line with Scripture

“Unanswered” prayers

We're a friendly bunch: students have mixed ministry and life experiences

There are 12 weekly classes, each 3 hours long with a couple of breaks

You can attend in person at ADM offices at Town Hall, Sydney or on Zoom

Classes are a mixture of upfront teaching, Q & A and small group work

Assessments vary, but there's often an essay and 2 more practical assignments

*FEE-HELP available for eligible students enrolled in a whole Diploma or Graduate course

36 class hours - 12 weekly classes - 12 credit points

Currently this unit is not offered at the MAC Certificate level

March - June 2025

36 class hours - 12 weekly classes

No assignments

March - June 2025

This course can be studied at 2 levels:

Diploma and Advanced Diploma level For those without an undergraduate degree wanting a course with a large breadth of units. These are courses of the Australia College of Theology: 0.5-1 yr full time, max 8 yrs part-time, 36 class hours per unit, 11-16 units per course.

Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma level Higher level assignments than diploma level. Requires a previous bachelors degree. These are courses of the Australian College of Theology: 0.5-1 yr full time, max 2-4 yrs part-time, 36 class hours per unit, 4-8 unit per course.