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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about QSA Buddhist Chaplaincy.

1 

Who is a Buddhist Chaplain?

A Buddhist Chaplain is someone who aspires to the path of service - helping and supporting others - as a central part of their life and Buddhist practice. 

 

The work that Buddhist Chaplains do is wide ranging and may include:

- supporting people who are facing life difficulties (relationship and family problems, unemployment, bereavement,  etc.);

- providing pastoral care in hospitals, hospices, aged care facilities, prisons and universities;

- teaching Buddhism, meditation and mindfulness;

- running Buddhist centres and groups;

- caring for children, the sick, the elderly and dying;

- supporting community members in times of conflict or natural disaster.  

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In Australia most Buddhist Chaplains are volunteers; they work in unpaid helping roles inside Buddhist communities as well as in the general community. They can be ordained or lay people and may or may not be publicly acknowledged as ‘chaplains’.

2

How do I train to be a registered QSA Buddhist Chaplain?

The QSA offers training for Buddhist Chaplains via its long-running Introduction to Buddhist Chaplaincy Course*. This basic course is a 20-hours program conducted over 5 weeks, with practical exercises and a final exam. Workload including assignments and readings may total approximately 100 hours. QSA Certificate of Completion will be awarded. Graduates can then apply for QSA registration, if desired.

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Topics include: 

  • Buddhist approaches to helping and serving others

  • basic counselling skills (listening & communication)

  • suicide prevention, common mental health conditions

  • assessing needs and how to refer clients to health professionals

  • common harms seen in the community, including child abuse, domestic violence, harassment, etc and how to address these

  • diversity of Buddhist communities

  • self-care for chaplains.

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Please note this course is aimed at volunteers and is not a professional training in pastoral care or school chaplaincy. For information about professional training in pastoral care please consult the Queensland Institute of Pastoral Education Inc, Qld Institute of Clinical Pastoral Education | (qicpe.com).  Courses at the Nan Tien Institute of Higher Education are also recommended - Nan Tien Institute | Study Buddhism, Health, Wellbeing and Mental Health

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To be employed as a School Chaplain in Australia a Certificate IV in Pastoral Care, Youth Work or Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care (or a higher qualification) is required. See further information about School Chaplaincy requirements at Requirements for the role | Applying to be a School Chaplain (chappy.org.au).

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COURSE APPLICATION details & contact info.

Person-in-charge: Dr Barbara Sullivan, Course Convenor and Lecturer

3

How do I register to be listed as QSA Buddhist Chaplain?

QSA course graduates must apply officially to be registered. QSA Certificate of Registration is issued to successful applicants who meet the 5 requirements/criteria summarised as follows:

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(1) Qualification: Completion of QSA’s introductory course is a pre-requisite to be a registered QSA Buddhist Chaplain. Applicants who have professional qualifications (eg in counselling or psychology), training or experience relevant to chaplaincy may be waived. 

(2) Referee: provide one referee.

(3) Volunteering work: logged 50 hours, waived for relevant professionals; include a  Testimonial.

(4) Agreement: signed Code of Conduct and Risk Management agreements.

(5) Valid Blue Card: current & linked to QSA. For Queensland Government's Working with Children safety check.

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Online REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM

Person-in-charge: Ms Tamara Tiffin, Registrar

4

What if I do not have a valid Blue Card?

As a broad rule, Blue Card registration is mandatory if your in-person or online usual functions of Buddhist Chaplaincy services include, or are likely to include, serving Queensland children under 18 years of age. 

 

It is the de facto police check if volunteering in Queensland, Australia and many organisations do ask for Blue Card when volunteering. Currently, QSA register is open only to those with valid Blue Card, for service in Queensland. Registered chaplains listed in our Directory are ready for service in all areas.

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In Queensland, the role of CHAPLAIN falls under regulated employment as "religious representative." If your Blue Card becomes invalid for any reason, the legal obligation is to refrain from conducting activities directly involving children online or onsite (eg, sunday school, attending children's hospital or hospital's children ward, places where adults and children are kept in separate areas, or seeing a child 1-1 at their home), for not more than 7 days in a calendar year (if you do not run a business or are already restricted). Consult Blue Card Services if in doubt.

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Online interstate or overseas Intro course graduates should practise Buddhist chaplaincy according to their local laws and regulations. 

5

What are QSA's ethical policies and observances?

Please read by clicking on links here:

6

What if I need to contact or talk to someone?

To find a Buddhist Chaplain or any other queries, please use Contact Form on mainpage of this website, or email/phone:

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