The Chaplains at Sydney Adventist Hospital are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing a confidential service, integrating religious care, spiritual care and emotional support for patients, staff and their families, particularly in situations of stress, trauma or crisis. Chaplains are available to provide support in many different circumstances, such as:
- In the expected events of life - for example, birth, marriage, death
- When you have to cope with a "bolt from the blue"
- When you need help to access the care of someone from your own faith
What can you expect of a Chaplain?
- A chaplain will listen compassionately without making judgements about you or what you are saying, keeping the confidences you share.
- Voicing your concerns may help you to see your thoughts and feelings clearly, allowing you to recognise who and what helps you in difficult times.
- A visit with the chaplain may help you to discover your own spirituality and enable you to use your own spiritual resources to cope with the uncertainty and suffering that comes with life's difficulties.
- A chaplain may help you to contact the people - perhaps a church or a minister - who can help you to manage the things that are happening to you.
- Sometimes what is happening to you or a loved one will prompt you to think about what is important to you and to them. A chaplain will give you the opportunity to talk, and think, and be clear about what you value, allowing you to make decisions that you believe are the best under the circumstances.
Other Resources
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Family Learning Centre - a lending library including books and audiovisual resources on interpersonal relationships, singles, men, women, sexuality, marriage, children and parenting, divorce, grief,etc. Resources are available on a two-week loan basis.
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Leaflets on a wide range of issues that people need to think about when illness becomes a part of their experience.
- The Hospital Chapel, located in the foyer on Level 4, is open each day. Patients and visitors are welcome. A morning devotional is held in the Chapel at 8.15am - 8:30am, Monday to Friday.
Contact
For further information email the Chaplains or phone the Chaplains Secretary on 9487 9289.
Pastoral Care Training
The San has a renowned tradition of training pastoral care professionals and volunteers. Volunteers assist the Chaplains team in visiting patients. Training will be offered to assist volunteers in conversing with people and engaging their spiritual story in the life event they are experiencing. Pastoral Care Volunteers are offered training in two 40-hour modules. Each module is accredited with the NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education and a certificate is awarded to the successful participant.
Click here for Pastoral Care Training Program Flyer
Module 1 - An Introduction to Pastoral Care
This module assists participants to clarify the uniqueness of pastoral care and whether they have an aptitude for this form of ministry by providing the opportunity to understand how to pastorally converse with people. It assists a person to discover whether pastoral care in a hospital setting is what they would enjoy and provides the basis for Module 2.
Module 2 - Basic Skills in Pastoral Care
This module orientates participants to the hospital setting, providing direct experience and supervision in the art of pastoral care to patients. You will learn the difference between patients' religious needs and their spiritual story.
Who Can Apply?
Anyone who is interested in pastoral care is encouraged to apply for Module 1 using the Application Form. Entry to Module 2 is through an application and interview process.
