Join us as we meet some of our amazing aged care workers.
Anne, a chaplain based in Red Hill, Canberra, has a unique role that supports the spiritual wellbeing of both our residents in Carey Gardens aged care home as well as BaptistCare home care clients in the community.
“I used to work in the Commonwealth Public Service,” she says. “My parents had become ill, and I was spending a lot of time in hospitals. Weirdly though, it felt like home. I was often asked a lot of questions about my faith while I was there, and I started to think seriously about becoming a chaplain.
“I moved into chaplaincy work in 2019 and started working with BaptistCare in 2022.”
Anne says her role is about supporting people wherever they’re at.
“Chaplaincy is for anyone who needs spiritual or emotional support – they don’t have to be religious.”
“When I’m meeting with people, I often have this sense that there is something special happening – regardless of a person’s faith, there is a sense of deep connection. I think we all need that as human beings. It’s very special.”
Anne had a recent reminder of this as she was ringing around her home care clients to arrange visits.
“Not everyone knows what chaplaincy is about, and sometimes people are put off just from the word ‘chaplain’,’’ she says. “This particular gentleman told me straight away that he was an atheist and didn’t need a visit.
“I assured him that chaplains are available to meet with all clients who are open to a visit, and it didn’t matter that he didn’t have a religious faith – that he might still benefit from chaplaincy support. He was reluctant but I suggested that I could come once, and if he never wanted me to come again, that would be fine.
“I arrived, and we began chatting. Halfway through the visit, he just stopped and said to me that out of all the services BaptistCare offers, this is by far the most important.’’
Ultimately, he was experiencing loneliness, and perhaps hadn’t identified that he needed some level of spiritual support, even if that just meant someone being present with him and lending a compassionate ear. This is what chaplaincy is all about.”
Chaplains support aged care residents with their spiritual wellbeing, in whatever form this takes for them.
Outside of work, Anne keeps busy with her beautiful family, including her beloved husband and four sons, an adorable border-collie called Indie, and her wider family of 34 – who she remains very close to and meets for dinner every fortnight.
Anne is also a gifted violinist and even toured with the Canberra Youth Orchestra when she was younger!
Anne has always been a gifted violinist – here she is playing at her wedding reception.
“I’ve always been very passionate about supporting and celebrating mothers,” Anne adds. “I’ve been involved in a global group called “Mothers Prayers” for around 17 years, where small groups of mothers come together each week to pray for their own children and all children around the world. We surrender them to Jesus and entrust them into His care.”
Asked what she loves most about working in aged care, she says it’s hearing the stories of lives well lived.
“It’s such a privilege to hear of people living life to the full – to learn about their joys, struggles, and sometimes regrets. Part of our role as chaplains is to be that safe space for reflection, to help them let go of some of that regret.”
