Rev. Cheryl Holmes on Australian chaplaincy

Spiritual Care Australia – A New Beginning!

Background

Over the past decade in Australia there has been an increasing demand for professional chaplaincy and pastoral care services. Individual practitioners, pastoral care teams and organizations have attempted to respond to this. However, there has been no coordinated, strategic approach to the professional development of chaplaincy and pastoral care.
The Australian Health and Welfare Chaplains Association (AHWCA) responded to this demand in 2006 with the facilitation of a series of search conferences (strategic planning events) held in every state in Australia. Key stakeholders including practitioners from varied sectors, employers, faith communities and government representatives were invited to share insights and experience at these significant events with the opportunity to shape the future delivery of chaplaincy, pastoral care and spirituality services across their particular state or territory.

These events culminated in a National Search Conference held in Adelaide from the 29th-31st May 2008. Over 50 people gathered with representatives from every state and territory chapter of the AHWCA, national and state peak [1] chaplaincy bodies, health, welfare and prison sectors, and senior church representation to discuss the future of the AHWCA as a peak body for chaplaincy and pastoral care.

The National Search Conference

The process for the National Search Conference was to gather together the key issues identified at the state and territory conferences and listen to a presentation by the Executive Director for Policy and Intergovernmental Relations,from the South Australian Health Department, Dr David Filby. Through a series of group processes the gathering then responded to the following agenda:

1. Summarise in non-state based groups what were the 3 things that Dr David Filby gave us that will inform us in our deliberations about the future of the AHWCA.

2. What changes do you think will occur in the next 10 years which will impact the AHWCA?

3. What changes have occurred over the past 5 years that have impacted on the AHWCA?

4. What is the realistic ideal future for the AHWCA in the next 5 years?

5. What is the probable future for the AHWCA without significant change in the next 5 years?

6. Name the 10 strengths of the AHWCA

7. Name the 10 weaknesses of the AHWCA

8. What are the 5 key things that need to happen to move towards a realistic ideal future?

Following this intensive process there was extraordinary consensus that the way ahead was through the formation of a new entity. The final session of the Search Conference proceeded with the formation of three groups given the following tasks:

Group 1: Invent a name
Group 2: Develop a mission statement
Group 3: Decide on the constituency – who does this organization serve?

The AHWCA Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 31st May 2008 following the National Search Conference. At this meeting the National President moved the following motion which was unanimously endorsed by the membership:

“We endorse the new direction identified by the National Search Conference and empower the National Committee to commence the necessary processes for the formation of the new entity.”

This historic decision will see the emergence of a new organization “Spiritual Care Australia” which will become the national professional association for chaplaincy, pastoral care and spiritual services.

Spiritual Care Australia
(An Association for Chaplaincy, Pastoral Care and Spiritual Services)

“AS THE NATIONAL ORGANISATION WE ARE UNIFYING, CONSOLIDATING, SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING CHAPLAINCY, RELIGIOUS, PASTORAL AND SPIRITUAL CARE WITHIN CONTEMPORARY MULTI FAITH AUSTRALIA.”

It is envisaged that this new entity will be ready to be launched at the next AHWCA National Chaplains conference to be held in January 2009. Spiritual Care Australia has a mandate to respond to the strategic directions identified through the search conference process. This agenda will include development of:

• A consistent approach to education and training for chaplaincy, pastoral care and spiritual services.
• A national process for registration/accreditation of practitioners in the field.
• Standards for chaplaincy, pastoral care and spiritual services

Conclusion

The National Search Conference concluded with a strong endorsement by all of those in attendance for the new strategic directions identified. This is an exciting time in the development of a strong, professional identity for chaplaincy, pastoral care and spiritual services in Australia.

Footnote:
[1] Peak chaplaincy bodies are those located in most states of Australia who have the role of liaising with and representing chaplaincy and pastoral care to state government bodies (E.g. like HealthCare Chaplaincy Council of Victoria who employ me as CEO), or who have a specific area they focus on (e.g. the CPE organizations in each state).

For more information about Australian chaplaincy, visit:

AHWCA - (Australian Health and Welfare Chaplains Association) http://ahwca.org.au/

Healthcare Chaplaincy Council of Victoria Inc., http://hccvi.org.au/home.html

ASPEA - (Association for Supervised Pastoral Education in Australia) http://www.aspea.org.au/

Australian Journal of Pastoral Care and Health June 2008 - 2nd edition on-line now www.pastoraljournal.org.au

Australian College of Chaplains http://collegeofchaplains.org.au/

Pastoral Care network in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) http://www.pastoralcareact.org/

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