St John's Care

Canberra, Australia

Reference: 6690572

An exciting new opportunity exists for a suitably qualified person to serve as a Community Chaplain within a respected parish-based local charity.

**About St John's Care**
- The Anglican Parish of St John the Baptist (Canberra) is a thriving and historic Christian church in the heart of Canberra. For thirty-four years, one of our key ministries has been St John's Care (SJC), a medium-sized, registered charity comprising a mixture of paid staff and volunteers.

**The Role**
- The creation of the new role of SJC Community Chaplain reflects our commitment to truly holistic care, addressing a wide range of human needs including physical, economic, relational and spiritual.
- The chaplain's role will be diverse and wide-ranging. Under the direction of SJC's Executive Officer, their primary task will be to support clients seeking pastoral care or grappling with spiritual anxieties or questions, ensuring they receive appropriate Christian ministry or referral. They will also play a key role in building on SJC's welcoming and hospitable culture, ensuring clients feel loved and supported from the moment they arrive at SJC.
- The chaplain will be expected to work collaboratively and as an integrated member of a team of other staff and volunteers, providing case management, emergency relief and other services as needed.

**Qualifications and experience**
- The successful applicant will possess relevant qualifications and experience that demonstrably meet the needs of the role.
- Qualifications may include Diploma(s) or above in Theology, Pastoral Care, Chaplaincy, and/or Allied Health disciplines. Other training in aspects relevant to human services delivery (e.g. case management in mental health, domestic violence, financial counselling, addiction issues) is desirable.
- Applicants must have a Working with Vulnerable People clearance through the Office of Regulatory Services (ACT), and Safe Ministry clearance, prior to confirmation of employment.

**Selection Criteria**
- ** Spiritual and Theological Formation**:_ Credible account of how their theology, spirituality, and Christian beliefs and practice relate to the range of human experience they will encounter at SJC, and _how these beliefs and practices align with St John's Anglican Christian ethos._
- ** Pastoral Care Skills**:_Proven ability to engage with vulnerable populations empathetically, using active listening and other tools of pastoral care, while maintaining professional boundaries._
- ** The ability to work collaboratively**:_The ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team including volunteers, case workers and support staff, to achieve holistic care outcomes._
- ** Cultural Competency**:_Ability to work sensitively and inclusively with individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, respecting different faith traditions and non-religious perspectives._
- ** Case Management Skills**:_The ability to assess and understand a client's physical, economic, relational and spiritual needs, establish meaningful goals, and guide them in formulating a tailored action plan._
- ** Working Knowledge of Community Resources**: _Awareness of available local community resources (government, religious, etc) in order to make effective referrals for additional support would be an advantage._
- ** Flexibility and Adaptability**: _Ability to adapt to changing needs and demands in a dynamic environment, and demonstrate p_roactivity in identifying emerging needs._
- ** Communication Skills**:_Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with clients, staff, volunteers, and the wider community._

**Other information and contact details**

Applications Close: 13 Dec 2024