Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at St Vincent’s Community CPE Centre is a nationally recognised model of experiential learning for people seeking formation and professional development in pastoral and spiritual care.

Grounded in reflective practice, supervision and direct clinical engagement, CPE supports participants to grow in self‑awareness, pastoral competence and professional identity. At St Vincent’s, CPE is shaped by our commitment to compassionate, person‑centred care and respect for the spiritual and cultural diversity of all who come through our doors.

What is Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)?

CPE integrates supervised clinical practice with structured reflection and peer learning. It invites participants to attend closely to their pastoral encounters while exploring how personal history, values, beliefs and worldview shape their responses to others.

CPE helps develop the capacity to offer attentive presence, and a variety of Pastoral and Spiritual interventions with ethical sensitivity in situations of illness, suffering, uncertainty and grief.

St Vincent's Community CPE Centre

CPE is offered through Pastoral and Spiritual Care Services and is conducted across multiple facilities within St Vincent’s Health Australia in Victoria. Placements occur in a busy, tertiary healthcare environment that serves a highly diverse community, including the public hospital, private hospital, and aged care services, providing students with a broad range of pastoral contexts and interdisciplinary experiences.

Participants are supported to:

  • Engage in spiritual and pastoral care with patients, families and staff
  • Work respectfully across faith, spiritual, cultural and philosophical differences
  • Reflect critically on practice within complex clinical and organisational contexts

The program values curiosity, thoughtful engagement and the capacity to hold both vulnerability and hope.

About CPE

Who is CPE for?

CPE is suitable for people at different stages of personal, vocational or professional formation, including those who are:

  • Exploring a call or vocation in pastoral or spiritual care
  • Health professionals who desire to expand their understanding of the spiritual aspect of their work
  • Preparing for or currently working in chaplaincy or spiritual care roles
  • Ministers or faith leaders seeking clinical formation
  • Practitioners from diverse spiritual, religious or philosophical traditions

Participants are expected to be willing to engage in reflective learning, supervision and personal development.

What does participation involve?

Participation in CPE includes:

  • Pastoral and spiritual care practice within the hospital
  • Regular individual and group supervision
  • Reflective learning based on real clinical encounters
  • Participation in a learning community grounded in respect and confidentiality

The program encourages thoughtful engagement with pastoral identity, professional boundaries and ethical practice.

Formation and supervision

Formation is central to CPE at St Vincent’s. Supervision is provided by accredited CPE supervisors and is informed by adult learning principles, trauma‑aware practice and reflective dialogue.

The learning culture seeks to balance:

  • Support and appropriate challenge
  • Accountability and care
  • Honest self‑reflection and professional growth

Participants are encouraged to integrate learning into both their pastoral practice and broader sense of vocation.

Professional pathways and recognition

CPE at St Vincent’s Community CPE Centre aligns with nationally recognised standards for CPE in Australia. Participation may contribute towards professional development, accreditation or ongoing formation, depending on an individual’s pathway and context.

Prospective participants are encouraged to consider how CPE fits within their vocational, professional or community setting.

Enquiries and next steps

If you are considering CPE at St Vincent’s Community CPE Centre, we welcome your enquiry.

For further information or to discuss whether CPE may be suitable for you, please contact Heather Somerville, CPE Centre Director, at heather.somerville@svha.org.au.