One Hundred Trained Volunteers For BaptistCare's Pastoral Care Program

BaptistCare’s Volunteer Pastoral Care Program has reached a milestone of 100 trained pastoral care volunteers across New South Wales providing emotional and spiritual support to seniors either in their own homes or in BaptistCare residential aged care homes or retirement villages.

In its second year, the program plays a vital role in reducing social isolation of the elderly with BaptistCare residents and clients eagerly accepting the friendship, support and genuine connection that pastoral care volunteers provide during regular visits.

One hundred care volunteers are now fully trained, and active in their respective communities, through the free interactive pastoral course that runs for two hours a week over eight weeks including practical work alongside BaptistCare Chaplains.

Project Coordinator Ross Wakeley is encouraged by the response of individuals, both volunteers and recipients.

“It’s quite remarkable. We now have one hundred people, from various teams across the state, trained as pastoral care volunteers and close to 2000 visits have taken place,” said Ross. 

“Yesterday I was out visiting with one of my team members and in every single case, the people we visited asked my team member to return. They were so appreciative of someone coming to offer genuine pastoral care. Many of these people had no church background,” Ross said.

“The project started in May 2015 with a goal to establish seven active teams around the state. We have already achieved that, and we’re going into next year with interest from six more groups.”

Established teams in the program include Frenchs Forest, Macquarie, Goulburn, Hills District, Mid North Coast, Narellan, North Richmond, Springwood, and Wagga Wagga. In 2017, the program will extend to groups in Alstonville, Baulkham Hills, Gymea, Newcastle, Padstow and Tuggeranong (ACT).

While the program continues to grow significantly, it’s the individual reflections of impact that continues to drive Ross’s passion for growth.

“I had one course participant email me and say, “Ross, this has changed my life.” Her comment was, ‘I am seeing what (the program) is doing for people who are lonely, or have emotional issues, and my being there, listening and caring is changing them, and giving me a whole lot of fulfilment in my life’.” says Ross.

This experience is not unique. Program participant Bruce James from Wagga Wagga says this pastoral care program is about broadening the understanding of what it is to do life.

“It’s smashing our limited experience and blinkered vision of our community and the folk who give us the amazing privilege of permitting us to invade their time and space,” says Bruce.

George Lawson, a pastoral care volunteer from Taree, agrees the experience has changed his perspective also.

"From a care point of view, it has helped me increase my depth of empathy towards elderly people in care. It’s something I can take into my every day, it helps me think past the background, past the person that I am looking at.”

If you have a heart for the people in your community, and want to learn practical skills in providing emotional and spiritual support visit BaptistCare's volunteering page.

 Click here to find out more about BaptistCare's retirement villages and home care services.