Area(s) of Responsibility:
• To develop policies and propose projects for the continuing education, formation, pastoral care and support of clergy
• To develop a team of resource personnel with expertise in spirituality, theology, Scripture, pastoral formation, psychology, anthropology, and social analysis.
• To aid and promote the life-long education, formation, pastoral care and support of clergy
• To support gatherings of Diocesan Directors of Clergy Life and Ministry
• To promote liaison with seminaries and other organisations involved in education and formation of clergy
• To co-ordinate the sharing of resources and resource personnel

Number of Members:
Thirteen (13), which includes
1. Two bishops from Bishops Commission for Church Ministry
2. Five Diocesan Directors, one from each ecclesiastical province
3. Two religious (one a priest)
4. Three lay persons
5. A deacon

Ex Officio: National Director as Secretary; Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate

Appointment of Members:
1. Two bishops nominated by the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry.
2. Five Diocesan Directors, one from each of the five Ecclesiastical Provinces nominated by the Diocesan Directors in the province and appointed by the Bishops Conference.
3. Two religious (one a priest) nominated by the Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) and appointed by the Bishops Conference. Council members may also nominate suitable religious.
4. Three laypersons nominated by the Council and appointed by the Bishops Conference. Diocesan Directors may also nominate suitable laypersons.
5. A deacon nominated by the Council and appointed by the Bishops Conference. Diocesan Directors may also nominate a suitable deacon. (Should the appointee be the Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate, he shall be a non-voting member).

All appointments to the Council are for three years with each member being eligible for a second term. In exceptional circumstances a person may be elected for a third term. The Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate may be invited to be present.

Appointment of Chairperson:
The Chairperson is elected by the Council for a three year term.

Frequency and Place of Meetings:
The Council will meet twice a year at a venue decided by the Council. In the past this has been mostly on the eastern seaboard.

A National Meeting for all Diocesan Directors is held once a year, usually mid-year in Sydney, and is convened by the Director of the Office for Clergy Life and Ministry. The ecclesiastical provinces will meet once a year in a venue decided by them.

Administrative Support:
Administrative support will be provided by the Director of the Office for Clergy Life and Ministry and the Secretariat for the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry.