Start building today!
Experience the Find the courses and unlock the true potential
1 year full-time, up to 4 years part-time
Classroom, Mixed, and Online modes (domestic); Classroom, Limited mixed, and Online (off-shore students only)
Full time / Part time
February | July
Course Overview
Where You Can Study
Eligibility
Career & Study Pathways
Quality & Recognition
Academic Regulator
TEQSA
Accreditation Status
AccreditedCourse Content
Art of Contemplative Practice 1
Core unit in Program 1: WellSpring (through Whitley College)
Art of Spiritual Companioning 1
Core unit in Program 1: WellSpring (through Whitley College)
Art of Spiritual Companioning 2
Core unit in Program 1: WellSpring (through Whitley College)
Religious Experience and the Christian Spiritual Tradition
Core unit in Program 2: Siloam (through Yarra Theological Union)
Personal Awareness and Human Development
Core unit in Program 2: Siloam (through Yarra Theological Union)
Spiritual Direction Practicum I
Core unit in Program 2: Siloam (through Yarra Theological Union)
Discernment and the Christian Spiritual Tradition
Core unit in Program 2: Siloam (through Yarra Theological Union)
Personal Experience of God and Personal Ethics in Spiritual Direction
Core unit in Program 2: Siloam (through Yarra Theological Union)
Spiritual Direction Practicum II
Core unit in Program 2: Siloam (through Yarra Theological Union)
Contemplative Stance and Soul Care
Core unit in Program 3: Dayspring (through Uniting College for Leadership and Theology)
History of Contemplative and Apophatic Spirituality
Core unit in Program 3: Dayspring (through Uniting College for Leadership and Theology)
Spiritual Direction Praxis 1
Core unit in Program 3: Dayspring (through Uniting College for Leadership and Theology)
Beyond Beginnings of Spiritual Direction 1
Core unit in Program 3: Dayspring (through Uniting College for Leadership and Theology)
Beyond Beginnings of Spiritual Direction 2
Core unit in Program 3: Dayspring (through Uniting College for Leadership and Theology)
Spiritual Direction Praxis 2
Core unit in Program 3: Dayspring (through Uniting College for Leadership and Theology)
Contemplative Presence
Core unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Spiritual Direction Foundations
Core unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Transformation of Heart and Mind
Core unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Attending to Emotions
Core unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Embodiment and Ethics in Spiritual Direction
Core unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Discernment in Spiritual Direction
Core unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Working with Dreams in Spiritual Direction
Elective unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Christian Mysticism in Spiritual Direction
Elective unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Integration in Spiritual Direction Formation
Core unit in Program 4: St Francis College
Common Questions
To be eligible for the Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction, you must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, or an approved equivalent. Credit of up to 72 points may also be granted towards this award in accordance with the Credit Policy.
Fees for 2026 are $3,384 per standard unit, or $20,304 for a full-time year (6 units). The course requires completion of 144 points (6 standard postgraduate units). Fees are subject to change from year to year.
The course is available at four colleges: Whitley College (Baptist, Box Hill VIC) offering the WellSpring program; Yarra Theological Union (Roman Catholic, Box Hill VIC) offering the Siloam program; Uniting College for Leadership and Theology (Uniting Church in Australia, Brooklyn Park SA) offering the Dayspring program; and St Francis College (Anglican, Milton QLD) offering its own program.
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction will have knowledge of the history, theory, content and dynamics of Christian spirituality; have knowledge of the art of spiritual direction, including the necessary dispositions of the spiritual director and key skills required; apply skills of spiritual direction under supervision; and apply skills of spiritual direction within a range of contexts including retreats.
Yes, overseas students can enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction. The course is registered with CRICOS (CRICOS code 080411G). Overseas students at Whitley College and Yarra Theological Union are offered Classroom, Limited mixed, and Online (off-shore students only) modes. Students holding or applying for a Student Visa Subclass 500 are required to enrol full-time in a CRICOS-registered course in Australia.
Application
Three simple steps to get enrolled
Step 01
Enquire
Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.
Step 02
Submit Documents
Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.
Step 03
Get Enrolled
Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!
Honestly I was lost when I first started looking at Australian colleges. There are just too many options and every agent gives you different info. A friend told me about FindTheCourses and within a week I had shortlisted 3 programs that actually matched my budget and visa situation. My advisor Sanjay was super helpful — never felt like I was being pushed into anything.
Priya Sharma
India
Master of Nursing · Griffith University
