Spiritual Health News
This month, we bid farewell to our CEO of over 20 years, Cheryl Holmes. Read our eNews to explore her parting message, alongside highlights from her farewell celebration and a special tribute to Cheryl's legacy. This edition also contains the latest updates on the National Model, an overview of upcoming events, and a selection of valuable resources.
SHA is pleased to welcome back Christine Hennequin as Transition Consultant for the next three months.
After 20 years of extraordinary leadership, SHA bids a fond farewell to CEO Cheryl Holmes, as we reflect on her remarkable accomplishments and the immeasurable impact she has made on the spiritual care sector.
February has been an eventful time for SHA. Dive into our eNews to read a reflective farewell piece by our Communications Leader, Alicia Stafford, a welcome interview with our Business Development and Partnerships Leader, Dorothy Donaldson, and to learn more about our exciting new membership model!
As we bring our most recent advocacy campaign for government funding to a close, we would like to say a huge 'Thank you!' to each and every one of you who joined our cause. As we navigate the challenges before us, SHA is actively laying the groundwork for a future filled with multiple new paths, and we are genuinely excited to introduce a new membership model that promises to bring us closer to our vision, with Dorothy Donaldson leading the way as our new Business Development and Partnerships Leader.
In this interview, get to know SHA's new Business Development and Partnerships Leader, as she shares her background and approach to business development. Discover what Dorothy's goals are in her new role, as well as what fuels her spirit.
We will miss Alicia, our Comms and Admin Leader, dearly as she moves on after three years at SHA. Reflecting on past projects and achievements, Alicia shares how they have 'helped [her] grow as a leader and have enabled [her] to share our messages in ways that honour the profound essence of spiritual care'.
For 50 years, SHA has been at the forefront of transforming spiritual care in health, and our role is pivotal in defining how spiritual care is delivered and experienced throughout the country. We urgently require a reinstatement of our funding so we can continue our crucial work, and implement The National Model for Spiritual Care in Health.
In 2024, SHA is eagerly exploring new partnerships and developing a fresh new membership model, as well as continuing the pilot of the National Model. We go onwards in hope that what we continue to build within SHA can make a lasting impact, and hope that each of you who are reading this can continue to feel supported and championed in the roles that you play in the spirituality sphere of influence.
As we wrap up an eventful year, we're proud to share some of the outstanding moments of 2023.
At SHA we wait and, in the waiting, we are both preparing for the ‘what next’ and continuing with the ‘what is’: trialling the National Model for Spiritual Care in Health across eleven health services; research on the contribution of spiritual care in the mental health sector; development of key messages from our Spiritual Health Lived Experience Advisory Group; consultation to health services; presentations to key stakeholders; network meetings; social media campaigns and advocacy.
Your support is crucial in maintaining SHA's vital services and upholding a healthcare system that values every aspect of patient care, including spiritual wellbeing.
On 20th November, a response to our Open letter to the Premier was received from the Victorian Health Minister, The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, stating that there is no change to their decision to cease funding. To date, no rationale has been provided for the basis of this decision.
Spiritual Health Association (SHA) stands at a pivotal moment as imminent funding cuts pose a threat to the quality and reach of spiritual care in Victorian health services
Discover how Spiritual Health Association (SHA) is making headlines as it advocates for the crucial role of spiritual care in healthcare, navigating funding challenges that threaten holistic patient well-being, and drawing attention in parliament.
David Glenister, Spiritual & Pastoral Care Manager at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, explains that the model “will provide a recognisable benchmark to strive for, as in past it has been vague and there was great discrepancy between depts.”.
In April 2023 the Minister for Health confirmed that all funding to Spiritual Health Association, including faith community funding, will cease as of June 30, 2024. To gain a comprehensive understanding of this critical situation, we invite you to read the full statement.
Discover Alex and Leila’s journey with Spiritual Care Practitioner Russell. Their story highlights the vital role of spiritual care in holistic palliative care, finding purpose and embracing life fully till the very end.
With our annual AGM and Spiritual Care Week, October was SHA's busiest month of the year! Read our latest eNews to access our annual report, and our new evidence-based resources about mental health and spiritual care.
Cynthia White from Cabrini Hospital reflects on using the Honour Statement to guide a ritual.
Mary Klasen, Pastoral Care Manager at Mercy Hospital for Women, says: “[This] project enables the REVIEW of current MHW pastoral care... [It] will help us to improve our practice and remain dynamic in 2023!”
Inosculate (verb): to “come together or open into each other”. How can we come together and open into each other in new ways, bringing all of our wisdom and expertise for the benefit of all?
SHLEAC Committee Member, Maria Dimopoulos offers a reflection to us this month.
Paul Ryan, Spiritual Care Coordinator, and Simone Noelker, Wellness Centre and Pastoral Care Manager at Grampians Health Ballarat, remark that “it has been great to have a framework to help us benchmark and this will help us drive our quality improvement of years to come.”
Wendy Elson, Spiritual Care Coordinator at Bass Coast Health, shares: “We are delighted to be able to join with SHA in the pilot model as we seek to rebuild our program and offer the highest possible quality of care.”
By recognising the spiritual dimension of human experience, policymakers and practitioners can create more compassionate, resilient, and inclusive solutions that align with the complex challenges and opportunities facing Australia's future. This is what is needed for the health and wellbeing of the nation.
SHA's Response to the State of the Nation Report on Loneliness and Connection.
SHA’s CEO Cheryl Holmes chats with Ian Campbell at PCA about the fundamental significance of spiritual care in delivering holistic health care, right to the very end of life.
The beginning of July marked the commencement of a new financial year, and for SHA that means a new strategic plan! At the heart of our strategic plan is our commitment to co-creating a fundamental change in how spiritual care is understood, valued and integrated into healthcare.
SHA's CEO Cheryl Holmes was guest speaker recently on the Opening Up Chaplaincy podcast.
SHA warmly welcomes Joey Goh to the team as our Administration Assistant.
This month we farewelled one of our treasured colleagues Cuong La, Research & Policy Leader, who has worked with SHA since August 2020. Moreover, a number of the team from SHA attended the Spiritual Care Australia conference here in Melbourne last week. There is much to read about this month as we come to the end of the financial year, that also marks the end of SHA’s current strategic plan 2021-2023.
It is with mixed feelings that we say goodbye to our vibrant, insightful and knowledgeable Research Leader, Cuong La after three years with SHA. Cuong shares his reflections here.
May has been a great month of education and advocacy activity.
Spiritual Health Association urges the government to explore and invest in initiatives that promote multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) inclusive of Spiritual Care Practitioners, harnessing their expertise to enhance mental health services and support the healthcare workforce.
This thought-provoking poetry exhibition offers deeply moving insights into the bereavement experiences of older people, using research poems, videos and illustrations.
SHA’s Mental Health Leader Jenny Greenham presents the reflective practice project ‘Spirituality & Diversity Discussions' the INSS conference.
We sincerely appreciate the government's commitment to improving healthcare services, and we stand ready to contribute our expertise and resources to support the implementation of these initiatives.
Together, the Board and staff at Spiritual Health Association accept the invitation contained in the Uluru Statement to walk together towards a better future. Driven by our values, we are deeply committed to all paths that lead to reconciliation, healing and connection at all levels of society.
In April SHLEAC hosted an online Meet & Greet evening for their Spiritual Health Lived Experience Network members.
Mental healthcare is not just about diagnosing illnesses and prescribing treatments, it is also about understanding the social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs of patients.
Taking risks may just be essential for the spiritual journey.
Almost eight months after commencing the co-design of a national model for spiritual care in health, the project team met for the last time on 20th March 2023. Read more about the progress of the project and plans for next steps.
We asked SHA's new Quality and Advocacy Leader about his experiences working in spiritual care, what he hopes to bring to SHA, and some of the things that bring joy and inspiration to his life.
There has been much in the media over the past months about the need for reform in the health sector. Much of the focus has been on the Medicare system, which last month was described by the Minister for Health, Mark Butler, as ‘no longer fit for purpose.'
The central argument of this submission is that a robust measure of Australia's economic, social, and environmental progress and wellbeing should include a Spiritual Wellbeing dimension.
Health leaders, researchers, educators and people with lived experience of spiritual care gather to discuss the proposed draft model designed to improve the quality of spiritual care for people in hospital in Australia.
Cheryl Holmes, SHA CEO and Richard Egan, Associate Professor Dunedin School of Medicine give an overview of SHA's recent literature review.
3pm, Thursday 9th February 2023.
The four-member Spiritual Health Lived Experience Advisory Committee (SHLEAC) wrap up a busy year and reflect on the ways their leadership has continued to advocate for the inclusion of spiritual care in mental health care.
A joint initiative with our valued partners Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH)
What matters to you? The answer to that question may not always be the things that can easily be seen and measured.
After 13 years as part of the SHA team, Christine will work her final day on 1st December 2022.
SHA together with Spiritual Care in Aotearoa New Zealand Healthcare Co-design Rōpū is excited to announce that our comprehensive literature review is now available.
Testimonial from Jo Baker, Specialist Bereavement Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor and Trainer, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB)
We may be less religious, but is there more to the story?
Spirituality, spiritual care, and mental health: What’s the correlation?
An opportunity to offer some spiritual care to an exhausted workforce.
Mental Health, Spirituality, and Spiritual Care.
SHA is in active conversation with several universities to establish a spirituality and mental health translational research lab, known as the Spirituality Lab.
A national study conducted by McCrindle on spirituality, wellbeing and spiritual care in hospitals
Members of the Spiritual Health Lived Experience Advisory Committee (SHLEAC) presented on the topic of Spirituality, Spiritual Care and Mental Health
Contemporary spiritual care, as practiced in health care contexts, is very different from the way many healthcare professionals and patients perceive it. The Transforming CHAPLAINCY series aims to thoughtfully address strategic gaps in the literature about contemporary spiritual care.
Spiritual Health Association welcomes the release of the final report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and the commitment of the Victorian Government to implement all the recommendations.