Celebrating Pastoral Care week 2020

23 Oct 2020

The presence of pastoral care in our Hospitals is a distinguishing feature of Catholic Ministry, a defining aspect of our identity and ministry.

This year’s theme is ‘Interpretation: together we see more’ which allows us to acknowledge the many caregivers who provide therapeutic care and recognise that as a multi-disciplinary team they all play an important part in holistic care.

The day-to-day role of the Pastoral Care practitioner recognises and honours the diverse needs and traditions of contemporary Australian society, and may include coordinating bereavement support or conducting individual or group sessions that focus on bringing hope, meaning and purpose.

Undoubtedly the ways of working for all caregivers changed this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this included Pastoral Care practitioner Carol from St John of God Berwick Hospital. 

“As the number of caregivers with direct access to COVID-positive residents was strictly limited, my role was to liaise with the nurses about the residents’ pastoral needs and to be the primary contact for residents’ families, said Carol. 

“Due to the unique circumstances, the pastoral needs of all of our caregivers on the unit were also considered.

“Working in PPE was also a challenge because, being new to the hospital, I was meeting caregivers for the first time while hidden behind protective clothing.”

At St John of God Richmond Hospital, an 88 bed mental health facility, caregiver Ian provides emotional and spiritual support and guidance to patients who live with a mental illness.

“A day in the life of a pastoral services practitioner is really about understanding pain and about creating a space for patients in which they feel heard and have their feelings validated, said Ian.  

“We respond with compassion and empathy to those who feel broken, who feel wounded, who find it a challenge just to get through the next hour.

“As part of the multidisciplinary team, pastoral services plays an important part in holistic care of all patients. We can all understand the themes of guilt, loss, grief or trauma in order to walk towards healing and peace for each person.” 

This pastoral care week we thank all the Pastoral Care caregivers who support our patients in complex and diverse situations and celebrate their place in the multi-disciplinary team environment that ultimately ensures our patients receive true patient-centered holistic care.