About This Training Course

This is the CHCMCEL401A - Plan, conduct and review a marriage ceremony course (with 2 bonus units CHCADMIN5C and CHCCS5B) by Face-to-Face education. The course runs for 3 days in most states, and 2 days in WA or SA. Some work will need to be completed outside the classroom.

Subjects Covered

*CHCMCEL401A Plan, conduct and review a marriage ceremony
*CHCCS5B Identify and address specific client needs
*CHCADMIN5C Work within the administration protocols of the organisation

Training Course Outcomes

In order to Become a Marriage Celebrant in Australia it is mandatory that you complete the required Nationally Recognised and accredited course, CHCMCEL401A. This forms part of the application process, and is a prerequisite. There are additional components to the application process. Please see the prerequisites section.

Prerequisites

Must be over the age of 18.

Must also understand and accept that this course does not instantly entitle you to Become a Marriage Celebrant . You will need to apply to the government upon successful completion and fill in their application forms. During this application process, they will ask for referees and other questions assessing whether you are a "fit and proper person".

More information on this process is below.

Other Information

Congratulations on your decision to become a high quality marriage celebrant. The Academy of Celebrancy Australia is a leading provider of the required accredited courses that are a prerequisite to the application process. We offer a Best Price Guarantee and Unmatched Student Benefits not seen anywhere else. You may consider downloading a brochure, or reading more frequently asked questions about our Marriage Celebrancy course. You can also enrol in this course by clicking here.

When you finish our CHCMCEL401A (Plan, conduct and review a marriage ceremony) course, you would have also completed the units: CHCADMIN5C "Work within the administration protocols of the organisation” and CHCCS5B “Identify and address specific client needs”.

The Attorney-General's Department is responsible for the administration of the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961. The Marriage Celebrants Program was established in 1973. It enables the appointment of suitably qualified people to perform marriages and provides couples with a meaningful alternative to Registry Office and mainstream church weddings. The Department also authorises Marriage Celebrants who do not belong to a recognised denomination.

The Government undertook an extensive 4-year review of the Marriage Celebrants Program commencing in 1996. The review carefully considered the opinions and experiences of Marriage Celebrants, celebrant organisations and the marrying couples who use celebrant services. The review identified a number of deficiencies in the program requiring reform.

A package of reforms was developed that aim to raise the professional standards in celebrancy services provided by Marriage Celebrants appointed under the program. The reforms will broaden and enhance the role of celebrants to include the provision of information on pre-marriage and other relationship services. This aims to ensure celebrants play an important role in developing longer lasting family relationships and stronger communities within Australia.

The then Attorney-General, the Hon Daryl Williams AM QC MP, announced that the changes by the way of amendments to the Marriage Act 1961 would commence on 1 September 2003.

Aspiring celebrants will need to have completed an approved, competency-based training course or have been independently assessed against the competencies in order to be eligible to apply. This is an approved competency-based training course, so you’re well on the way!

Once an aspiring celebrant completes an approved training course or assessment, there will be an additional requirement to demonstrate to the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants that the 'fit and proper person' criteria set out in the Marriage Amendment Act 2002 has been met. The requirements of the 'fit and proper person' test are as follows.


Fit and Proper Person Test

Whether you have a sufficient knowledge of the law relating to the solemnisation of marriages by Marriage Celebrants;

Whether you are committed to advising couples of the availability of relationship support services;

Whether you are of good standing in the community;

Whether you have been convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for one year or longer, against a law of the Commonwealth,

Whether you have an actual or potential conflict of interest between your practice, or proposed practice, as a Marriage Celebrant and your business interests or interests such as employment or hobbies;

Whether your registration as a Marriage Celebrant would be likely to result in your gaining a benefit in respect of another business you own, control or carry out;

Whether you will fulfil your obligations as a Marriage Celebrant; and

Any other matter the Registrar considers relevant to whether you are a fit and proper person to be a Marriage Celebrant.


When will I be Registered?

If and when the Attorney-General approves your registration you will be assigned a 'number' in the queue ready for appointment in September 2008.


Performance Reviews

All celebrants will undergo a performance review a maximum of every 5 years. Reviews will be based on consideration of matters such as any complaints received, compliance with the Code of Practice and satisfying requirements for ongoing professional development. Reviews may be conducted more regularly if required.


Complaints

A mechanism has been developed to deal with complaints against celebrants. Celebrants will have a right to be advised of the complaint against them and to put whatever material they think appropriate to the Registrar before any final decisions are made.

Sanctions may include a caution, a requirement that further professional development be undertaken, and the suspension of a celebrant for a given period of time and only as a last resort, the revocation of authorisation.


Special or one-off ceremonies or participation in a ceremony

Applications will not be accepted for authorisation to solemnise a single ceremony, or to solemnise marriages for friends and relatives. However, persons not authorised as Marriage Celebrants may participate in aspects of a marriage ceremony as long as an authorised Marriage Celebrant is present and fulfils all legal requirements for solemnising the marriage.


The authorised Marriage Celebrant must do the following:

To consent to be present as the responsible authorised Marriage Celebrant;

To take a public role in the ceremony;

To identify themselves to the assembled parties, witnesses and guests as the celebrant authorised to solemnise the marriage;

To be responsible for ensuring the validity of the marriage according to law;

To say the words required by section 46 in the presence of the parties, the formal witnesses and the guests before the marriage is solemnised;

To be in close proximity (i.e. nearby) when the vows required by section 45(2) are exchanged because it is the exchange of vows that constitutes the marriage and the authorised celebrant should ensure that they see and hear the vows exchanged;

To be available to intervene (and exercise the responsibility to intervene) if events demonstrate the need for it elsewhere in the ceremony;

To be part of the ceremonial group or in close proximity to it; and to sign the papers required by the Act.


* Source: Attorney-General's Department

Fees and Refund Policy and Procedure
CHCMCEL401A - Plan, conduct and review a marriage ceremony – Face to Face
RPL/RCC fees: On Application
(Only required if the student is requesting recognition)
Replacement of certificate: $25
Replacement manual: $30
Maximum course length: 3 months from last day of class
Payment: Total upon enrolment (if within 10 weeks of course date)
Tuition starts from: The first day of the Face-to-Face course

CHCMCEL401A - Plan, conduct and review a marriage ceremony - Distance
RPL/RCC fees: On Application
(Only required if the student is requesting recognition)
Replacement of certificate: $25
Replacement manual: $30
Maximum course length: 6 months from enrolment date
Tuition starts from: When the manual is first posted, or when a student number is created


Transfer Policy
Courses may be transferred for the same student in certain circumstances at the discretion of the Training Manager. A course can only be transferred if paid in full. Courses can only usually be transferred to a course covering the same competency. Courses can only usually be transferred from Distance to Integrated, Distance to Face-to-Face or Distance to One-on-One and Face-to-Face to a future Face-to-Face class if enough notice is given (14 days).

To apply to transfer into another course the Academy offers, the student
needs to:
• Submit their intention in writing via postal mail to our National Office including the reason for transfer, and the course they would like to transfer to.
• Pay any additional fees that may be applicable within 14 days which have been explained in the response letter.

In some instances courses can be transferable to another person at the discretion of the Training Manager
provided that:
• The original student has paid for their course in full.
• The original student agrees to cancel their student account and cease all tuition.
• The new student agrees to start from the beginning of the course and to submit their own work and provide a statement to validate this.
• The new student agrees to pay the enrolment fee for the course.
• The new student agrees to use the course manual supplied to the original student.

Courses can only be transferred to another person if they are enrolled as Distance or Integrated.

Course Extension Policy
Courses may be extended in certain circumstances at the discretion of the Training Manager. A course can
only be extended if paid in full. To apply for an extension the student needs to:
• Submit their intention in writing via postal mail to our National Office including the reason for extension, along with a new proposed date of completion.
• Pay any additional fees that may be applicable within 14 days which have been explained in the response letter.
A course may be extended to any length agreed to by both parties.

Cancellation Policy
If a student wishes to cancel a course then the student needs to:
• Submit their intention to cancel the course in writing via postal mail to our National Office, telephone call with the Training Manager at the National Office or via the Student Response System. If possible, the student should advise the reason of cancellation.
• Wait up to 21 days for an official letter confirming that the course has been cancelled and student account closed. A course can only be cancelled if paid in full. If a course is cancelled before being paid in full then the balance of the course will be charged, and then the course cancelled. If the
charge is declined, or the customer did not supply a credit card then Stage 2 of the Course Expiration Policy is invoked.
• If any refunds are granted, then they will be in accordance with the Refund Policy.

Refund Policy
For Classroom
All enrolment/administration fees on courses are non refundable. For classroom courses this fee is $250. If a course is cancelled by us, a full refund will be applicable. If a student cancels (officially in writing as per
Cancellation Policy) within 28 days from the course commencement, a refund of 50% of the tuition fee excluding the enrolment fee of $250 will be given. If a student cancels with more than 28 days notice from course commencement, just the enrolment fee of $250 will be charged, and the remainder refunded.

For Distance/Integrated courses
All enrolment/administration fees on courses are non refundable. For distance/integrated courses this fee is
$250. A course is deemed to have started as soon as a student number is issued and/or course materials
leave our building. If a student cancels (officially in writing as per Cancellation Policy) within 14 days from this time, a refund of 30% of the tuition fee minus the enrolment fee of $250 will be given provisional on all course materials being sent back in the original condition. If a student cancels after 14 days from this time, then no refund will be applicable.

Applicable to both
Courses can be extended or transferred at the discretion of the Training Manager. See the “Transfer Policy” or “Course Extension Policy” for more detail. If a refund is authorised then the payment will be refunded via the same means it was paid within 28 days from the decision being made.
It is important to understand that if a student has enrolled in a course and paid an enrolment fee, the total cost of the course is still owed and this forms the basis of the agreement between the student and the Academy. If a student pays $250 for example, and is offered to pay the rest off via instalment, it is a condition of sale that the student accepts and understands that they are indebted to the entire advertised cost of the course at the time of enrolment. Refunds or cancellations can only be applicable if the course is paid for in full, and all materials are returned to us in their original condition. If a student wishes to cancel a course prior to instalments being paid or if instalments are declined or not made then the ‘Payment Instalment Policy’ will take effect.