Register here (opens 8:30pm Sun 13th August)
We are gathering expression of interest to gauge interest and determine the locations of the groups. This is not an enrolment form. Please complete this form by the 11th of August. Filling this form out does not secure a place in the course. Enrolments will open on the 13th of August at 8:30pm on this page. If you attend St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College please do not fill out the expression of interest or enrolment form. Please speak to Mrs Germaine Saad to secure your spot as the school will be deciding on which students are eligible to enrol.
The Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology is a Christian leadership program for Senior School Students that places Christian discipleship at the heart of their education. On successful completion of this course, students receive a nationally accredited qualification, the Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology (10741NAT). This subject can be used towards a student’s ATAR as a increment based upon 10% of the primary four study scores. (please see below for details on ATAR contribution)
This program offers Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to invest in their spiritual development whilst working toward their academic. The program is based on an action/reflection model of learning, giving students the opportunity to not just learn about theology but the chance to put it into practice in their day to day lives.
St Athanasius College will run the program through Veta Youth, who provide the framework that allow you to complete the Certificate III IN Christian Ministry and Theology.
How can the Certificate III in Christian Ministry & Theology Contribute to my ATAR?
The Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology (10741NAT) is provided by Veta Morphus and run at St Athanasius College by clergy and servants from the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne. The course may contribute to a student’s ATAR score under the following conditions:
Credit towards the VCE
Under block credit recognition, a Units 3 and 4 sequence will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology (10741NAT). This subject can be used towards a student’s ATAR as a increment based upon 10% of the fourth study score in the primary four. Please refer to the ‘Block Credit Section’ at this link: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vet/publications/overviewbrochure.pdf
Also see the section ‘ATAR contribution’ at the bottom of this link which states: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/results/credit-recognition/Pages/BlockCreditRecognition.aspx
“The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) may award VCE students, who receive a units 3 and 4 sequence through block credit recognition, a fifth or sixth study increment (10 per cent of the lowest study in the primary four-scaled studies) towards their ATAR. The increment is awarded by VTAC.”
Example of how the Certicate III in Christian Ministry and Theology may contribute to the ATAR
Suppose a student successfully completes the Certificate III in Christian Theology and Ministry and scores the following on their remaining 5 VCE subjects. The Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology will be scored as 10% of the lowest student in the primary four-scaled studies.
The units would then be ranked as follows:
|
|
|
Subject |
Score |
|
Primary 4 Subjects |
1 |
Further Mathematics |
43 |
|
2 |
Psychology |
40 |
|
|
3 |
Studio Arts |
38 |
|
|
4 |
English |
35 |
|
|
10% Study Increment |
5 |
Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology |
3.5 |
|
6 |
Chemistry |
3.0 |
As can be seen in the table , since the 4th ranked subject (English) was scored as 35, 10% of this score was given as the score for the Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology.
Can year 10 students do this course?
No, as this course is equivalent to unit 3 & 4 study. It can only be completed in Year 11 or Year 12. The course takes one academic year to complete.
What is involved in the program?
For successful completion of the Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology, students are required to engage in six key areas of Learning.
Each students will be part of a peer group who meet together weekly 30 times throughout the year. Meeting times will be Friday evening from 5:00-6:30pm at the City Campus of St Athanasius College (Eporo Tower, 279 La Trobe St, Melbourne). The Peer Group is guided by a Peer Group Supervisor (PGS). Successful completion of the course requires students to meet with a Peer Group and their PHS to engage in discussion around ministry, faith and biblical reflection. Students will also be required to complete prior reading and research of the Learning Exercises before attending Peer Group. These are designed to assist you in understanding the Christian life and often include additional reading material. These are found in your online workbooks and monitored by your PGS. Peer Group is the lynch-pin that holds the whole experience together. These meetings are your primary time for discussion, reflection and integration of the material you are learning.
Accountability
Your PGS is required to maintain records of attendance, check satisfactory completion of reading material and online activity exercises, participation in Christian community, mentoring sessions and ministry placement.
Successful completion of the course requires students to participate in three weekend Retreats, and competently complete any associated work. These are community experiences where students gather together for worship, input, group activities, discussion and workshops. Your local church camp and the diocese conventions can be counted as one of the retreats.
Successful completion of the course requires students to participate in the life of a Christian Community. This involves participating weekly in your local parish by attending the Divine Liturgy and the high school ministry provided at your parish. You will need to complete the Christian Community Hour’s Tracker and Christian Community Reflections for the equivalent of 30 hours of Christian Community Participation which you can easily meet by attending weekly at your parish.
Successful completion of the course requires students to read the allotted Bible readings throughout the program and journal on their experience. There are Old Testament readings, New Testament readings and Psalms included in your Bible engagement plan in order to give you a good overview of the Bible during the course of the year.
You will be required to read the Bible daily as per the Bible Reading plan and enter a minimum of three journal entries online. You will have five chapters or more of reading per week over the year. You may choose to read one chapter a day, or complete all five in one sitting. However, you must complete three separate journal entries over the course of the week on those readings. Your PGS is required to check you are completing your journaling.
Students will need to complete three seminar presentation in their Peer Groups. The aim of these seminars is to integrate research with biblical personal reflection. Presentations may be in the form of a written piece, a formal discussion, a group activity, a video, a PowerPoint presentation, a song or piece of music, an art work etc.
Successful completion of the course requires students to meet monthly with a Mentor. The student needs to find someone to be their Mentor. There will be a criteria provided outlining who is eligible to be your Mentor. It is recommended that you choose your Father of Confession. Students will be required to submit reflections that discuss the non-confidential elements of the mentor discussions.
Successful completion of the course requires students to undertake practical application of ministry skills and work in an environment that serves for reflection. Students will complete a Major Ministry Placement (minimum 40 hours of active service) and a Short Term Ministry Placement (Minimum 16 hours).
Your Major Ministry Placement may include the following:
These are examples. Major Ministry placements are not limited to the above choices.
Your Short Term Ministry Placement may include the following:
These are examples. Major Ministry placements are not limited to the above choices.
What is the assessment for the course?
Assessment work will cone in the form of Online Workbooks. Students will have access to their four Student Assessment Workbooks online during the year. Workbooks 1 and A will be available in Term 1 once the student’s enrolment process is complete. It is the student’s responsibility to keep these up to date and bring the electronic device on which they are completing their Workbooks to all Peer Group meetings. Each Activity in the Workbook must be submitted for assessment after completion.
This course is competency based training. That is, it is designed to give you appropriate knowledge and skills. Assessment has been developed to measure if you have reached the stated objectives of the course.
It may take the form of:
What cost is involved?
The price is to be confirmed. Expected fees for 2023 are approximately $1700-1800.
Some schools may cover the fees for their students. Please contact your school directly to see if this is an option.
Where can I find more detailed information on the course requirements?
Please see the handbook available at this link: https://veta.org.au/veta-morphus/
I have more questions, who can I ask?
If your school has questions, please direct them to Peter Eckermann via email at peter@veta.org.au and mention that your peer group is St Athanasius College.
If you have questions regarding the details of the course such as retreat dates, meeting times, ministry placement questions, please email Fr Michael Salib at: frmichael@sac.edu.au
How can I enrol?
Enrolments open Sunday 13th August 8:30pm
ADMISSION CRITERIA: Open to Year 10 graduates.
FOLLOW ON STUDY: Graduates may proceed to a Diploma in Theology, or an Advanced Diploma in Theology, or to the Bachelor of Theology.