As a hospice chaplain, Jennifer Bradshaw is accustomed to meeting with patients and their families during their most difficult hours. These days, such meetings are more challenging than they have ever been. With nursing homes and hospitals closed to most visitors due to COVID-19 precautions, area chaplains have had to adjust the way they serve those in need.
The National School Chaplaincy Programme, between 2011 and 2014 known as the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Programme, is an Australian federal government programme which funds chaplains in Australian primary and secondary schools. The chaplains are to provide “support and guidance about ethics, values, relationships and spirituality”, and is based on pastoral care, not religious instruction.
The programme is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by the states and territories under the Project Agreement. The programme is delivered in accordance with the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement Federal Financial Relations. A requirement of this agreement is an evaluation of the National School Chaplaincy Programme.
This report presents the main findings of the National School Chaplaincy Programme evaluation research survey of principals, chaplains, parents and students in schools participating in the National School Chaplaincy Programme in 2016.
The Islamic Council of Victoria yesterday launched the “Caring for Muslim Patients Handbook” in its third edition. Viv Nguyen, Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission conducted the book launch. Proper care of Muslim patients often arises in rural and regional healthcare centres where this is not a significant migrant and settlement populations. Such publications are important for excellence in health care in both urban and regional/rural centres.
Originally developed as Spiritual and Emotional Care during counter actions to White Supremist Hate Rallies, the Guide to Movement Chaplains focusses on holding a space for spiritual care during protest movements. Prepared for the “White Lives Matter” protests of 2017, this chaplaincy guide is also relevant to the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
For those of us who are chaplains, healers, caregivers, and religious or spiritual leaders, there are always questions about how to show up in movement spaces like protests or counter-protests in ways that best channel our skills and strengthen the movement for racial justice and collective liberation.
Leading a successful chaplaincy department is filled with opportunities and challenges. Many directors have requested tools and training to provide successful leadership to support their staff and provide quality spiritual care to patients, family, and staff.
The Spiritual Care Associations’ Chaplaincy Management Training Program is designed to meet this need for current or aspiring directors of chaplaincy/spiritual care departments of any size. This includes both inpatient and outpatient operations as well as remote clinics. In addition to the online courses, instruction and webinar training benefits of the program, candidates will also have the opportunity to virtually meet other directors or aspiring directors and create a network of peers.
This is an online webinarw spread over 4 months. The next program commences in September 2020. Successful candidates will receive the Chaplaincy Management Certificate.
The European Research Institute for Chaplains in Health Care (ERICH) is conducting an international survey about changing practices in spiritual care in response to COVID-19. The worldwide pandemic has influenced the way spiritual care has been delivered in health care. The research group is seeking to collect data from across the world. Although the word “Chaplain” is used on the survey – that also includes those who reference as Pastoral Care or Spiritual Care practitioners. There is a closing date of 7 June.
One of the frequent topics of discussion in gatherings in “normal” times is getting chaplaincy departments the level of recognition they deserve. Some departments are at the leadership table and seen as important partners in organisational decision-making and action. Others strive for this level of recognition and organisational collaboration. What is the difference? There are many reasons, but one important reason is that the chaplaincy team took the opportunity and rose to the challenge of a difficult situation that taxed the organisation, its staff and patients. A situation like COVID-19. The services delivered in these times are remembered and their impact valued, long after the crisis has passed. With this in mind, Chaplaincy Innovation Lab have prepared this eBook to provide you with ideas and resources to support you in caring for your colleagues, and in so doing, rising to what may be the most important challenge of our lifetimes.
Spiritual Care is an essential part of the care of critically ill and dying patients and their family members. This also applies in the current corona pandemic, in which all those involved are challenged to an unprecedented extent. Chaplains in hospitals, geriatric care facilities and in outpatient palliative care bear responsibility for the maintenance of spiritual care, with and for all those involved. They represent the shared caretaking effort of all health professions and are usually the first point of contact for spiritual care.
Spiritual Care Association provides chaplaincy resources and coronavirus strategies to use in a time of infectious disease threats.
The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab invites all spiritual care providers, educators, and others to take advantage of the following resource, which we are gathering and passing along for the use of all. If you have resources and strategies you would like to share, info@chaplaincyinnovation.org. We will update this page as more resources become available.