Our Spiritual Support Services can help you respond to emotional or spiritual needs as a result of your illness and being in hospital.
About this service
Our diverse team supports you and your carers through times of illness and uncertainty. We assist you to draw on your own spiritual resources, those things that provide meaning, purpose and a sense of belonging.
For some people, the ‘spiritual’ is expressed through formal religious belief, practice and community. For others, it is through informal beliefs and practice, often connected to meaning drawn from culture, relationships and life experiences.
Our services are confidential. They are provided by trained Spiritual Care practitioners and Faith Community Chaplains.
Our services include:
- emotional and spiritual support for patients during illness, surgery, and hospitalisation
- emotional and spiritual support for families and carers
- religious and sacramental care including prayer, communion, anointing
- coordinating visits by representatives from most religious traditions
- support for staff and volunteers.
Our multi-faith Chapel is always open for prayer and reflection.
Who we care for
Our service is available to any inpatient at Canberra Hospital or the University of Canberra Hospital.
If you are an inpatient at North Canberra Hospital you can access their Pastoral Care Service.
How to access this service
You do not need a referral from a doctor or nurse to see Spiritual Support Services. You can contact our team yourself, or you can ask your care team to contact us for you.
You can contact us by:
- Phone: (02) 5124 3849 or
- Email: SpiritualSupportServices@act.gov.au
If you want to refer a friend or loved one in hospital to our services, it is always best to have their permission to do so.
People use our services:
- for specific religious or spiritual needs, such as faith questions or sacraments
- when they have received bad news regarding their own or a family member’s condition
- when their situation has triggered memories or fears of past events that are distressing, especially when affecting their spiritual beliefs and practice
- when struggling with their sense of purpose and meaning
- when experiencing inner conflict in the midst of making decisions about treatment, especially in relation to spiritual beliefs and practice.
What to expect
Our services include:
- emotional and spiritual support for patients during illness, surgery, and hospitalisation
- emotional and spiritual support for families and carers
- religious and sacramental care including prayer, communion, anointing
- coordinating visits by representatives from most religious traditions.
You may visit our multi-faith Chapel at any time.
What to bring to your appointment
- You do not need to bring anything.
Where we’re located
Spiritual Support staff will be able to visit you by the bedside. You may visit our multi-faith Chapel at any time.
Our Canberra Hospital multi faith Chapel is located on Level 2 of Building 3, it is around 50 metres past the Zouki cafes down the main passageway heading south from the main reception area.
We have directions to Canberra Hospital.
(Please note: Spiritual Support Staff may not be present in the Chapel, you can contact our service by calling (02) 5124 3849).
