Join us as we meet some of our incredible team.
When Lauren first left high school, she was certain she wanted a career in music. She enrolled in a Bachelor of Music, majoring in piano and voice.
But formal study soon took the passion out of it for her. “Piano is my therapy, the way my soul speaks,” she says. “I realised that if I made music my career, I’d have to be technical rather than emotional. Playing for the love of it mattered more.”
What Lauren didn’t expect was that life would guide her toward a different calling, one shaped by meaning, purpose and connection. “I completed a Bachelor of Theology, then a Masters and suddenly I was doing a job I thought I’d never do.”
As she moved towards ministry, she completed a rigorous panel process – interviews and assessments focused on self-reflection, boundaries and supporting others safely. In the midst of it all, she also welcomed her son, who turns 18 this year.
From ministry to community spiritual care
After several years as a minister with the Church of Christ, Lauren felt drawn beyond traditional ministry. She wanted to walk alongside people, helping them in their spiritual journey. “I moved into in-home spiritual care because it was much more community-based than the church, and I loved that,” she says.
That shift led her to BaptistCare, where she has now worked for three years, supporting older Australians across Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs. “It’s a wonderful job,” she says. “I feel it’s such a privilege. I adore it.”
Walking alongside people
Many people Lauren meets are navigating loneliness, grief, loss, or major change. Others are seeking clarity, or renewed purpose.
“Our work is about helping people find meaning,” she explains. “Sometimes that’s reconnecting with community, sometimes with themselves, and sometimes with a higher presence – whatever that looks like for them.”
Each visit is different. There may be coffee at the kitchen table, quiet reflection, deep conversation, laughter, or simply sitting together in stillness.
On the road
Lauren often spends days on the road, when she’ll typically see three clients, with an hour or so of travel between each appointment. Her work takes her from Melbourne CBD down to the Mornington Peninsula, and out to Pakenham and Narre Warren.
What she values most about the role is the privilege of being invited into her clients’ homes and hearing their stories. “I sit with the full spectrum of the human experience – joy, grief, excitement, loss, isolation, love, tenderness and grief,” she says. “I'm walking into someone's sacred space and asking them to be completely vulnerable. It is an honour I never take lightly.”
It can be emotionally demanding, so Lauren also takes care to rebalance between each visit. “You learn strategies that help. I tune into my body. I pay attention to where tension sits, what emotions are lingering, and what I need to let go of before I step into the next home.”
She also values the support from her BaptistCare colleagues. “We have a great team. We turn to each other when we need to and touch base and support each other.”
Water and music
Outside work, piano remains central to Lauren’s wellbeing. “It’s still how my soul speaks,” she says. She turns the music in her car up loud. “Sometimes it’s piano,” she says with a laugh, “but sometimes it’s techno.”
She also finds joy near water – strolling along the beach, swimming, or taking the long way home just to see it.
Walking is another favourite pastime. A recent trip to the Grampians with her son brought a moment of unexpected beauty. “I got lost and stumbled across the most profound Indigenous artwork. It reminded me that sometimes getting lost leads you exactly where you need to be.”
Tips for healthy living
Lauren’s approach to wellbeing is grounded in one belief: paying attention.
She checks in regularly with herself, noticing when her mind feels full, when her body feels tight, and when she needs rest. She believes paying attention to these signals is crucial for healthy living.
“When I honour my limits, I’m better able to care for myself and others,” she says. “I think that’s true for everyone. Many of us, especially women and people in caring roles, put ourselves last.”
Is a career as a spiritual care worker right for you?
Lauren says being a spiritual care worker requires listening skills, empathy and self-awareness. Her advice to people wanting to work in the field is to start by learning and keep on learning. “Having a strong foundation of knowledge is so important,” she says. “Study gives you the tools you need.”
She also advises people to choose to work in an organisation with values that align with their own. “Work is tied closely to identity,” she says. “If an organisation’s values don’t match your’s, it can feel jarring. Being somewhere that reflects your own ethics really matters.”
