Pastoral Care is concerned with the well being of the human spirit. Our Pastoral Care staff offer emotional and spiritual support during times of change and challenge that is sensitive to, and respectful of, each person's individual needs.
Services Offered
Pastoral Care is available to all patients, relatives, and hospital staff across Western Health. Pastoral Care staff visit wards most days of the week. The team includes denominational chaplains who can offer pastoral support as well as specific religious needs e.g. Holy Communion, anointing, blessing.
Arrangements can also be made for local faith representatives to attend to patients as needed.
Prayer Services
Weekly prayer services are held at the following hospitals:
The services are brief (10-15 minutes) and informal. Everyone is welcome.
Prayer Rooms
Sunshine and Western hospitals have rooms that are always open to offer a quiet space to pray, read, reflect or rest.
Sunshine Hospital
Follow signs along the Blue line from the café. The Prayer Room is on the right.
Footscray Hospital
Follow the Blue line from the Gordon Street entrance. The Prayer Room is on the left.
Resources
Prayer books
Please feel welcome to write or draw a prayer in the book provided in the Prayer Rooms.
Prayer mats
Prayer mats are provided in both Prayer Rooms. Privacy screen are also available from the Pastoral Care offices.
Sacred texts
The Prayer Rooms have various sacred texts including the Qur'ân and Bible available in different languages. Please contact the Pastoral Care office if you need help to find a sacred text that is not on display.
Please leave all resources in the Prayer Rooms so that others may also use them.
Workforce
The Pastoral Care department works with the Health Chaplaincy Council of Victoria and Spiritual Care Australia in developing and maintaining professional standards using current best practice, as well as advocacy for spiritual care in healthcare.
Partnerships, community education and engagement are integral to the Pastoral Care service. We have formalised service funding partnerships with faith institutions and organizations, and with community groups. We maintain mutual education and training partnerships with community groups and faith organizations such as the Islamic Council of Victoria and Buddhist Council of Victoria.
The department currently consists of 9 part-time staff who service Footscray Hospital, Sunshine Hospital, Williamstown Hospital and Hazeldean, and over 60 registered volunteers and visiting faith representatives. All Pastoral Care staff at Western Health are eligible for membership with Spiritual Care Australia.
We also offer placement opportunities for students undertaking spirituality stream within recognised tertiary programs and as part of Clinical Pastoral Education course requirements.
Contact Us
If you would like to contact the Pastoral Care team during your stay, you can:
Phone
Footscray Hospital - 8345 6532
Sunshine Hospital - 8345 1307
Williamstown Hospital/ Hazeldean Transition Care - 9393 0100 (reception)
Ask a Nurse, Ward Clerk or Reception staff at the hospital's front desks to page a Pastoral Care team member.
Visit a Pastoral Care office near the Prayer Rooms at Sunshine and Footscray Hospitals.
