Christian Schools Australia (CSA) is offering postgraduate study options to staff in Christian schools after the successful trial of the Graduate Certificate course in 2021.
A number of SCEA staff took the brave step last year and enrolled in the ‘Graduate Certificate’ course being offered by Christian Heritage College (CHC) as part of a Christian Schools Australia (CSA) initiative to provide a low-cost program of study specifically for Christian teachers and administrators.
The certificate course (four units) can lead to a Master of Education (Leadership) (M. Ed) – once an additional four units are completed, or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) once an additional eight units are completed.
2021 participants from SCEA have found the course content and the online lectures to be greatly beneficial in their SCEA classroom and offices:
“Taking part in the Graduate Certificate of Education Leadership and Management through CHC has been incredibly beneficial. Not only has it increased my knowledge and understanding of leadership and management issues, it has also given me such a depth of appreciation for a biblically-based, Christian approach in these areas. The lecturers, the content, the interaction between students, even as an online course, are second to none. I feel I am really gaining a solid grounding in leadership and management principles, knowledge, and practice, all springing from the solid foundation of God’s word.”
– Susannah Morcombe (Swan Junior School)
“ The CSA Graduate Certificate of Education Leadership and Management has been an enlightening course. I have found it to be professionally presented with engaging interactive content. The broad stokes of the Christian faith have been woven throughout the content providing in-depth thought and discussion.”
– Kylie Smith (Business Manager, Ellenbrook Christian College)
The course fees are significantly discounted, and SCEA staff may be eligible for a rebate upon positive completion of each unit of work. The cost of these units would typically be over $2,500 per unit.
For CSA member schools enrolling in this new course, the cost will be only $1,350 per unit (subject to the maintenance of a CSA cohort quota size).
While there is no restriction from a CSA perspective regarding the number of SCEA staff members who can participate, the number of ‘SCEA partially sponsored places’ is limited.
In the current SCEA Enterprise Agreement for teachers, there is a provision where SCEA (subject to budget and pre-approval) is able to pay 50% of the costs incurred (per successful unit completed) when undertaking a study of this kind through a Christian tertiary provider.
Once the level of interest is determined, SCEA will be in a position to consider how many places can be partially funded by our schools.
If this is of interest to you, you can find out more through this link on the CSA website.