Theologically Informed Pastoral Care for Young People in the Contemporary World
Three Day Intensive: Mon-Wed 12-14 October, 9:00am-5:00pm
PC173-612, PC173-812
Welcome to Theologically Informed Pastoral Care for Young People in the Contemporary World
Young people are growing up in a world shaped by digital culture, AI, changing conversations about identity and sexuality, and increasing concern around mental health and wellbeing.
For parents, ministry leaders, teachers, chaplains, counsellors and others who care for young people, the questions can feel complex.
How do we respond with theological depth, pastoral sensitivity and practical wisdom?
Theologically Informed Pastoral Care for Young People in the Contemporary World is a three-day intensive from Mary Andrews College and the Mental Health Institute. It is designed to help Christians better understand the world young people are growing up in and care for them with informed, compassionate and theologically grounded support.
You can attend one, two or all three days as Professional Development through the Mental Health Institute, or audit/complete the full unit through Mary Andrews College.
How this unit can help your ministry
Caring for young people today often means sitting with questions that are personal, complex and changing quickly.
This unit will help you bring theological reflection and pastoral care together, so you can respond with greater confidence, wisdom and compassion.
Rather than offering simple answers to complex issues, the unit will give you space to think carefully about the young people in your care: what is shaping them, what they may be carrying, and how Christian hope, community and discipleship speak into the realities they are facing.
Through the unit, you will be equipped to:
listen well to the experiences and questions of young people;
think theologically about personhood, formation, relationships and care;
respond pastorally to sensitive issues with conviction and compassion;
support young people in ways that are informed, practical and grounded in Christian faith;
reflect on how families, churches, schools and ministry communities can become places where young people are known, supported and formed.
This unit is for those who want to care for young people with both truth and tenderness — taking seriously the world they are growing up in, and the God who made and loves them.
What makes Mary Andrews College different?
We're the only theological college in Australia focused on equipping women.
We specialise in pastoral care and mental health.
Our units are geared to practical theology and ministry that is just as useful for volunteers as those in vocational ministry.
Our students consistently tell us we're a lovely community to be part of.
Our lecturers are world-class, with a wealth of pastoral and teaching experience.
And, you can be confident that everything we offer is firmly grounded in God's word.
In this unit we'll be learning about...
Pre-Intensive Modules
15 hours of self-directed work to be completed before the intensives
Day 1
We’ll consider some of the key questions shaping young lives today, including digital culture, relationships, personhood, independence, AI and spiritual formation.
Topics include:
how relationships shape personhood;
supporting growth into independent adulthood;
what AI chatbots reveal about connection;
spiritual formation in relational ecosystems.
Spotlight Session
Monday evening Spotlight Session: Neurodiversity, Children & Church.
Attend live on the Monday evening, or watch the recording on Wednesday morning.
Day 2
We’ll think carefully and pastorally about created humanity, sexuality, consent, relationships and online content.
Topics include:
theological anthropology and our created humanity;
consent and respectful relationships;
gender dysphoria;
sexualised online content.
Day 3
We’ll explore neurodivergence, wellbeing, mental health and the digital native experience.
Topics include:
neurodivergence;
the digital native experience and its consequences;
supporting wellbeing in children and young people;
mental health and mental illness in young lives.
The above is indicative: lecture content may vary year to year
What to expect in class
The unit is a 12 credit point unit being delivered as an intensive.
As such, it is composed of 15 hours of online learning to be completed before the three days of 7-hours of lectures.
You will find the details for the online learning on Arca. The lectures will take place 9am – 5pm Monday, October 12 – Tuesday October 14. Wednesday will begin at 10:30am, giving students time to watch the Spotlight Session recording, if they weren’t able to attend on the Monday evening.
Each day is divided into 50-minute sessions with a 10-minute break between each session.
Meet your lecturers
Amy Yeung
Amy teaches in the areas of mental health and wellbeing. For over 15 years she has been studying these two fields and integrating them through her work with young people in Australia and Canada. Prior to joining the Mental Health and Pastoral Care Institute, she developed The Sanctuary Youth Series, a free youth mental health and faith resource.
Rev. Dr Keith Condie
Keith teaches some units in the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health at Mary Andrews College. Keith and his wife Sarah are Co-Directors of the Mental Health Institute at ADM. Keith was previously a lecturer and Dean of Students at Moore Theological College.
Fees
As part of our wider AUT courses
With FEE-HELP* $0
Diploma Level $2940
Graduate Level $3288
*FEE-HELP available for eligible students enrolled in a whole Diploma or Graduate course
36 teacher-directed learning hours - 15 hours of pre-work and 3x 7 hour intensive days - 12 credit points - in person and online
Currently this unit is not offered at the MAC Certificate level
The intensive dates are Mon 12 - Wed 14 October, but the course work required spans from July-November 2026
Audited
$750
36 teacher-directed learning hours - 15 hours of pre-work and 3x 7 hour intensive days - 12 credit points - in person and online
No assignments
The intensive dates are Mon 12 - Wed 14 October, but the course work required spans from July-November 2026
How does this unit fit with our course offerings?
This course can be studied at 2 levels:
Diploma and Advanced Diploma level. For those without an undergraduate degree wanting a course with a large breadth of units. These are courses of the Australian University of Theology: 0.5-1 yr full time, max 8 yrs part-time, 36 class hours per unit, 11-16 units per course.
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma level. Higher level assignments than diploma level. Requires a previous bachelors degree. These are courses of the Australian University of Theology: 0.5-1 yr full time, max 2-4 yrs part-time, 36 class hours per unit, 4-8 unit per course.
