Chaplaincy: Walking alongside you
By Rev. Stan Kolodziej, Chaplain, Resthaven Aberfoyle Park and Westbourne Park
A chaplain is someone who cares for the whole person — heart, mind, and spirit.
Chaplaincy is about kindness, listening, and being present with people in everyday life, especially during times of change, loss, or uncertainty.
Chaplaincy is for everyone. It does not matter what your beliefs are, where you come from, or how you see the world. Every person deserves respect, compassion, and to be treated with dignity. A chaplain offers support without judgement and with genuine care for each person’s life story.
One of the most important parts of chaplaincy is presence. This means being available, listening carefully, and taking time with people. Often, it is not about giving answers. It is about creating a safe space where residents can talk about their memories, worries, faith, doubts, hopes, or simply how they are feeling — and know they are heard and valued.
Many people think chaplaincy is only about church services or religion. While chaplains can offer prayers and worship if people want them, chaplaincy in aged care is much broader. It includes listening, emotional and spiritual support, grief support, life review, and helping people find meaning and peace as they age and face changes in life.
Chaplaincy is also about spirituality, which means different things to different people. For some, spirituality is faith in God. For others, it may be reading, music, time in nature, family, memories, or hobbies like gardening or fishing. Chaplaincy respects each person’s own way of finding meaning and comfort.
A very important part of chaplaincy is confidentiality. Conversations with a chaplain are private and treated with great care and respect. This means residents can speak openly and safely, knowing their personal stories and feelings are handled professionally.
Chaplains are also professionally trained. They usually hold university qualifications such as degrees in theology, psychology, counselling, or related fields. Chaplains complete Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), which includes many hours of supervised practice in hospitals or aged care settings. This training helps chaplains develop strong listening skills, emotional awareness, and professional boundaries. Along with formal education, chaplains bring life experience, which helps them understand and support people with empathy and wisdom.
Chaplaincy also supports staff in aged care. Staff often face emotional and challenging situations. Chaplains offer a confidential and caring space for staff to talk, reflect, and receive support, helping to maintain wellbeing and a strong, caring community.
In simple words, chaplaincy is about being there, listening with care, respecting confidentiality, and supporting people with compassion — wherever they are on their life journey.