The Mandate of the Council is to provide oversight and coordination as a forum for a network of organisations within the ACT, in the setting of standards and support in the provision of pastoral care.
The scope of this network may include such areas as health, aged care, education, correctional, community, or any other aspect where there is an intentional provision of pastoral care.
The Board is the executive arm of the Pastoral Care Council in the ACT Inc.
» More info about Council
The draft STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR PASTORAL CARE
Presented at the mid year general meeting of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT held on July 19, 2011
After a couple of years of much voluntary time provided by members of a Subcommittee, these draft standards are completed. This has entailed surveying the local pastoral care landscape as well as developing draft standards in consultation with various interest groups, including representatives from the major hospitals in Canberra.
Standards of Practice are authoritative statements that describe broad responsibilities for which practitioners are accountable. It provides direction for practice and a framework for the evaluation of practice. These standards will provide valuable guidance for the way that pastoral care is provided by individual practitioners. But importantly, this will also provide a reference for best practice within institutions, as well as for the religious and faith bodies which encourage and sponsor the provisioning of pastoral care with chaplains and spiritual carers.
» Standards of Practice
The Board of the Council presented this report at the July general meeting, inviting member organisations to consider, in anticipation of a recommendation that these standards be adopted by the November Annual Meeting of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT.
To Annual General Meeting of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT
On 3 November 2011
The development of a Draft “Standards of Practice for Pastoral Care” is a significant step in providing a basis for best practice. The Standards are about seeking quality and excellence. They describe broad responsibilities for which practitioners are accountable, reflect the values and priorities of the task, and provide direction for professional practice and a framework for the evaluation of practice. This is fulfilling the mandate for the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT of ensuring the standards of accreditation of pastoral care practitioners.
Our approach to the provision of pastoral and spiritual care, in the in the context of a diverse faith and cultural backgrounds, requires skills which can seek to ensure that every person in any context can be supported. This was the driving rational which led to the establishment of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT.
These standards provide valuable guidance for the way that pastoral care is provided by individual practitioners. It also provides a reference for best practice within institutions, as well as for the religious and faith bodies which encourage and sponsor the provisioning of pastoral care with chaplains and spiritual carers. It is proposed that these Standards be adopted as “Provisional”, to be reviewed in twelve months.
Our focus in this coming year needs to be on the promotion, implementation and assessment of these Standards. We should give a vote of appreciation for the many hours of voluntary time provided by members of the Sub Committee in making this possible. However, this has only been a first step in the process. A submission has been made for a grant to fund this process which will include a research project of assessment.
Also there are national implications. The question needs to be addressed as to when we can have a national standard which the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT can incorporate as its criteria which applies to practice within the ACT. These discussions are also being explored with relevant organisations across Australia, including Spiritual Care Australia. Kevin Teo and myself will attend a meeting of national representatives in Melbourne early in November to update and discuss issues about “pastoral and spiritual care”.
The Board has particular ongoing oversight of pastoral care responsibilities at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and at the Canberra Hospital (TCH). This is undertaken by two subcommittees tasked with the oversight these chaplaincy services which are undertaken by Revd. Clair Hochstetler at TCH and Revd. Simon Wooldridge at AMC.
The presence of the web site provides a networking of information for the Council and significant organisations, including Canberra and Region Center for Spiritual Care and Clinical Pastoral Education with information on current training courses, and Spiritual Care Australia, ACT Branch with information on the monthly in-service training programs. Currently a forum for interactive on line discussions on the web site is being designed.
More details about the actions of the Board are contained in the Annual Progress Report of the Council which is written against the criteria for funding from ACT Health, which is based on the mandate for the Council. My thanks is expressed for the efforts of the members of the Board and the sub-committees, as well as the splendid work of our Executive Officer, Kevin Teo. Finally, the Council should note an appreciation for the cooperative support provided by our host of office facilities, with The Center for Ageing and Pastoral Studies (CAPS).
Geoffrey Hunter
Chair, Board for the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT
18/10/2011
was held 3 November 2011
at the Pavilion, 17 Blackhall St., BARTON, ACT
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The Council promotes pastoral care as an essential element of general care and seeks the extension of pastoral care services where it deems needed. |
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The Council develops cooperative multi-faith strategies and a respect for the varieties of spirituality within the provision of pastoral care. |
» About Pastoral Care
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The Council plans to invite pastoral carers to affiliate with the Council and become registered as an "Accredited Pastoral Carer". |
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A certificate of "accreditation" will be issued subject to identification of appropriate training and recommendations. |
» Standards for Pastoral Care
Clinical Pastoral Education or equivalent training has provided an Australian wide standard for pastoral carers.
» Training courses
The Council acknowledges the historical contribution in the development and provision of pastoral care by religious traditions and seeks to incorporate the pastoral care by particular religious bodies as an essential provision of spiritual care within the overall provision of pastoral care.
The Council seeks to evolve cooperative multi-faith strategies and a respect for the varieties of spirituality in the provision of pastoral care.
The Council has co-sponsored a training project evaluating ways of providing training using CPE for pastoral carers who have differing faith traditions, and yet are able to offer care to people of different faith traditions.
This program provided training that would enable people from different faith traditions to train and work together within a shared philosophy of pastoral care.
» Report on Multifaith pastoral care training
The Pastoral Care Council in the ACT represents a cross-section of pastoral care providers: 
