Membership is open to full time and part time chaplains and pastoral care workers.  Management of the Association is undertaken by an elected National Committee comprising the Executive Committee and representatives from each state.  Each state also has an Executive Committee with elected representatives.

Members work in many different areas such as psychiatric units, correctional institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, aged care, hospices, disabled units, addiction treatment centres, commercial and public industries, the defence forces, arts and recreation, primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions.

The AHWCA is the largest ecumenical chaplaincy association in the Southern Hemisphere. Since 1976 national conferences and state seminars have been held in all states and territories providing pastoral care, professional development and spiritual enrichment for its members through workshops, seminars, retreats and collegial activities.

There has been a strong agenda for change and reform for many years within the AHWCA. In June 2006 the National Committee agreed to a process of conducting Search Conferences (strategic planning events) in every state and territory to identify the key issues for the future of chaplaincy and pastoral care at the state and territory level. These culminated in a National Search Conference conducted in Adelaide from the 29th – 31st May 2008. Over 50 people gathered with representatives from every state and territory, state peak bodies, welfare, health and prison sectors, and senior church representation to discuss the future of the AHWCA. At this gathering there was strong consensus that the time had come for a new and more inclusive professional association. An historic motion that will change the face of the Australian Health and Welfare Chaplains Association was unanimously endorsed at its AGM held on Saturday 31st May 2008.

The decision sees the emergence of a new organization “Spiritual Care Australia” which will become the national association of practitioners in chaplaincy, pastoral and spiritual care.

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Information to members 260209

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SPIRITUAL CARE AUSTRALIA 

An Association for Chaplaincy, Pastoral Care and Spiritual Services.  

INTERIM RULES OF ASSOCIATION AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSES to be adopted at the AGM Hobart 2009.

Downlad document: SCA Interim Rules Dec 08

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National President's Report - AHWCA AGM 27th January 2009

It is wonderful to meet with you within the context of a National Conference and I take this opportunity to thank the Tasmanian Chapter and their organizing committee for what has begun as a great conference experience.

I want to acknowledge before I go any further the death of the Reverend Canon Christopher Newell and while his death has been a significant loss to the whole chaplaincy and pastoral care community, for the Tasmanian Chapter it has been particularly painful. We will take a moments silence to remember Christopher and to honour his life.

Not everyone here will have been a part of the process over the last few years which has brought us to the significant decisions before us today. I think it is important that, as much as possible, we are all clear about where we have been and how we have come to be at this place today.

Background

In November 2005 the National Committee met in Melbourne – my first as President. There had been many conversations, discussions and debates about the future and purpose of the AHWCA over a number of years and I knew when I nominated that there was a strong desire for change and reform.

At the November 2005 meeting I facilitated a workshop “AHWCA: A National Leader”. At that meeting Margaret Bekema talked about a process called a “Search Conference” which had been successfully conducted in the ACT and we agreed to explore the idea of holding State and Territory Search Conferences leading to a National Search Conference.

The Search Conferences provided an opportunity for each State and Territory to gather key people in chaplaincy, pastoral and spiritual care to look at the future of these services in each state and territory and to identify the key issues.

Garry Watson, a gifted facilitator, conducted each of the Search Conferences and I pay tribute once again to his generosity, skill and his commitment to us.

The National Search Conference - May 2008

The National Search conference was held in Adelaide 29th-31st May 2008 and once again was facilitated by Garry Watson. Over 50 people gathered with representatives from every state and territory chapter, national and state peak chaplaincy bodies, health, welfare and prison sectors, and senior church representation to discuss the future of the AHWCA. Following an intensive process there was extraordinary consensus that the way ahead was through the formation of a new entity which was to be called “Spiritual Care Australia”. This was to be the national association of practitioners in chaplaincy, pastoral and spiritual care.

AHWCA AGM – May 2008

At the AHWCA AGM held on the 31st May 2008 the following motion was unanimously endorsed by the membership:

“We endorse the new direction identified by the National Search Conference and empower the National Committee to commence the necessary processes for the formation of the new entity.”

Work of the National Committee

The National Committee has met 3 times since the National Search conference to progress the work towards the formation of the new entity. I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the National Committee who have worked hard and been absolutely committed to this process – and they are a great group of people to work with! While every member has made a significant contribution I do want to especially acknowledge our National Secretary, Pam Robertson. With extra meetings of the National Committee and preparations for today much has been asked of her – and she has given much!

What has been done?

• To reflect the new entity two new members have been co-opted to the National Committee – Rabbi Jeffery Cohen and Dexter Duncan
• The name “Spiritual Care Australia” has been reserved with ASIC
• An interim constitution has been written
• Information has been gathered to ensure appropriate governance structures
• The motions needing to be brought to this AGM were developed
• Opportunities for further exploration of the issues identified through the Search Conference process as critical for the future development of chaplaincy, pastoral and spiritual care have been provided through the conversation pods at this conference.
• Information has been provided to chaplaincy, pastoral and spiritual care networks on all of these developments through written communications; the AHWCA website; the AJPCH; the international on-line journal PlainViews; and face-to-face meetings and presentations.

It has been a busy year!

Spiritual Care Australia

So what’s next? Where are we up to? What is being asked of us today?

At the National Search conference the National Committee was given a mandate by the membership of the AHWCA to proceed with the formation of the new entity “Spiritual Care Australia”.

“Spiritual Care Australia” is an association of practitioners in chaplaincy, pastoral care and spiritual services. This is an organisation that exists within, and is a part of, contemporary multi-faith, multi-cultural Australia. This is an organisation that recognises that all people, regardless of religious, faith or cultural background, have pastoral and spiritual needs that at times will require a sensitive, respectful response from skilled chaplaincy and pastoral care practitioners. This is an organisation concerned with ensuring excellence in the practice of pastoral care.

Today we are taking the next step on the journey begun in 2005. It could be tempting at this moment to want to stall the process, to want to take a step back from the decisions that lie before us. I want to remind you that this has been a long, careful, prayerful, and discerning process. In pastoral care we know what it is like to have to step into the unknown and to have to trust to the process. As an organisation we are at that place now.

We can be fearful and anxious in the face of this change, we can grieve at what must be let go of, we can celebrate all that has gone before that has brought us to this place and we can be thankful for the people who have laid the foundations over many years through the work of the AHWCA and for the support and encouragement this has provided to many chaplains and pastoral carers.

And today, in faith, we take the next step together to ensure that legacy continues and to ensure that we are able to continue to meet the spiritual needs of our diverse communities through the provision of respectful and inclusive chaplaincy, pastoral care and spiritual services.

I look forward to seeing you in 2010 in Melbourne for the first National Conference of Spiritual Care Australia.

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National President's Report 2008        Download: Presidents report AGM 2008

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