The University of South Australia accredits a Graduate Certificate in Catholic Education in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of South Australia. The Certificate contains four courses: 1. Scripture 2. Theology 3. Curriculum and 4. Methodology. Each Course has 26 contact hours and assessment tasks totalling 4,500 words or the equivalent. It is accredited by the University at Australian Qualifications Standard Level 4.
In 2014 Sacred Heart College, Adelaide began sponsoring a Methodology Course in which participants focused on Marist Studies. The handbook for the 2018 course can be accessed here. A similar program is being organised for 2020. Further information can be obtained from the National Director of Marist Tertiary Programs, John McMahon at john.mcmahon@marists.org.au
On 18th March 2016, Liz Dickinson, from Catholic Education South Australia, explained the course arrangements as follows:
‘The course is owned by Marist Schools Australia and not UniSA, and Marist Schools Australia have sought accreditation at level 8 for the course. Being granted this accreditation means that educators who have successfully completed the Marist Methodology for Catholic Education course, as adjudged by Marist Schools Australia, can apply and will be granted credit (or advanced standing) toward the UniSAGraduate Certificate in Catholic Studies for this completion, in place of its equivalent, the Teaching Methodologies in Catholic Education unit, that is a part of the UniSA Graduate Certificate in Education (Catholic Education).
Prior to submitting their assignments for assessment, Marist students are required to upload their assignments to the 'standard academic integrity program Turnitin' as stipulated by Greg Bowyer from the University of South Australia's School of Education’.
Another Option: Footsteps 1 Program taught in Sydney
Those completing Footsteps 1 are also eligible for this Graduate Certificate in Education Unit if they complete the assessment tasks required by the Marist Methodology Unit and have them satisfactorily assessed by Marist Schools Australia.
Accreditation with Catholic Education South Australia (CESA)
An induction module must be completed by all teachers who are appointed to a position in a SA Catholic school. This is a two day module: a half a day focusing on the Catholic Identity of the system and its schools.
Teacher Accreditation in CESA is required by permanent teachers and must be completed within five years. This accreditation is fulfilled with the completion of four semester length units in tertiary level Catholic Studies. These can be undergraduate or post graduate courses (or a combination). Most do this through the University of South Australia's Graduate Certificate in Catholic Education. The Marist Methodology course sits within this suite of four Units.
This CESA accreditation is equivalent to a second band in some jurisdictions which applies to RE teachers, and they would have a lower band for other teachers.
Some other jurisdictions would have a higher band for leaders. CESA has the requirement, articulated not in an accreditation policy but in recruitment policies, of a Masters degree (or studying towards it) for Assistant Principals - Religious Identity and Mission (APRIMS) with a significant component in Catholic Studies.
Creevey, P. (2019). Forged in the furnace of God’s love: the influence of St Francis de Sales on the spirituality of St Marcellin Champagnat. Marist Notebooks (37), 5-23.
