Spiritual Care Practitioner

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Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives.  

About Medical and Cancer Services and Wellness and Supportive Care 

Austin Health is one of the largest cancer service providers in Victoria. A complete range of services are delivered to patients and their families, including Medical oncology, Clinical haematology, Radiation oncology (Austin Health and BHS), Cancer genetics, Palliative care, Wellness and Supportive Care programs, an active volunteer program and specialist cancer surgery (managed via separate CSU). These are all provided in an environment that integrates research, teaching, and training. 

All Austin Health metropolitan-based Cancer Services are now delivered within the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness (ONJ Centre) at the Austin Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility provides a new model of individualised cancer care for patients and their families. 

Clinical Services are provided in a range of inpatient and ambulatory settings. Inpatient services include an acute oncology/clinical haematology ward, an oncology/surgical oncology ward and a palliative care ward. Ambulatory services include Radiation Oncology, Day Oncology, Apheresis, and multidisciplinary cancer clinics. 

Wellness and Supportive Care, Cancer Services 

The integrated model of multidisciplinary care within Cancer Services relies on a dynamic, appropriately qualified, and skilled team to support patients undergoing care in both inpatient and ambulatory settings, with a key focus on Integrating Wellness and Supportive Care into standard care 

About the role  

The Spiritual Care Practitioner is responsible for the delivery of best practice, person–centred spiritual care at Austin Health.  The Spiritual Care Practitioner’s role targets the three key principles of spiritual care, meaning, purpose and connection, whilst enabling patients and carers to explore, assert and integrate their spirituality, thus working towards an increased sense of wellbeing. 

Spiritual care is the provision of assessment, counselling, support and ritual in matters of a person’s beliefs, traditions, values and practices enabling the person to access their own spiritual resources. 

A regular day will see you:    

• Using a validated spiritual assessment tool, identifies needs, hopes and resources and possible outcomes. 

• Consulting with family members and/or carers and recording a spiritual care plan as required. 

• Provide emotional support in times of crisis which includes ethics counselling, anticipatory grief and bereavement counselling, support during withdrawal of treatment and support with relationships. 

• Offer spiritual care and grief counselling at the time of immediate death. 

• Provide education for patients, family and about spiritual care. 

• Attend professional supervision and ongoing professional development. 

• Participate in department quality assurance activities including Accreditation activities. 

• Participate in review and development of policy, goals/objectives and strategic direction of the department. 

About you  

As the Spiriutal Care Practitioner, You will be someone who has excellent communication skills, with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care.  

You’ll bring energy and drive to your work, and have a keen interest in developing your skillset. 

To be successful in this role you’ll bring with you: 

• Minimum of Bachelor degree level studies in Theology, Pastoral Counselling, Social Sciences or equivalent 

• Minimum of two (2) units of Clinical Pastoral Education, one unit at Advanced Level or equivalent program of supervised work experience 

• At last 5 years’ experience in Spiritual Care in a healthcare setting 

• Eligibility for certified membership of Spiritual Care Australia 

• A sound understanding of information technology including clinical systems, applications relevant to the management of rostering and risk management reporting or as required for the role and/or department. 

Our benefits  

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including:  

• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation.  

• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program.  

• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options.  

• Mentoring and career development opportunities.  

Work with us!  

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures.  

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date.  

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working With Children Check. Austin Health is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with Child Safe Standards. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager:  Dr Ashley Bigaran, Ashley.Bigaran@austin.org.au 

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details.  

Application closing date: Monday 17 August 2026