SPIRITUAL CARE AUSTRALIA

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:34): I rise to speak about an event I attended last Friday, the SA launch of the Spiritual Care Australia group, previously known as the Health and Welfare Chaplains Association. In attendance at the function with me was His Grace Archbishop Philip Wilson, in his capacity as the current chair of the Heads of Christian Churches in South Australia; the Reverend Carl Aiken, the national president of Spiritual Care Australia; Chaplain Nora Kunzel; Chaplain Frances Bartolomeuz; and leaders of other faiths and beliefs from South Australia.

It was indeed an honour to be present at the birth of such an organisation that has been so thoughtfully planned and promises so much. Up-front, I want to commend everyone involved in Spiritual Care for getting the group off the ground. It was obviously the result of several years of worthwhile discussion by people who daily provide pastoral care within public institutions, such as hospitals, prisons, aged-care homes, universities and with the police.

The aims of the group are sensible and admirable. It is a good thing to foster high standards of pastoral care. For example, it will help practitioners fully develop their skills and, in turn, be supported themselves. Most important of all, they need to have the skills and personal qualities required to carry out their work and to treat those that they help with the respect that is needed for their faith. This is crucial, because matters of faith are inherently sensitive. It is also crucial because pastoral care is frequently provided at times of stress and emotion, such as when a loved one is in hospital through serious illness or injury and family members are looking for comfort.

I am particularly pleased to hear that Spiritual Care Australia is concerned with providing high-quality pastoral care for people of all religious faiths and beliefs in Australia. This is an implicit recognition that one's faith is a very important part of one's cultural identity and, in turn, of the fact that our country is increasingly becoming a multicultural place day by day. The vast majority of pastoral care providers are currently of the Christian faith, but I hope that Spiritual Care Australia will expand its membership such that we will eventually have representatives of all major belief systems. We in this state are well placed to encourage this trend. After all, South Australia was founded in the 1830s as a 'paradise for dissent', a place for religious pluralism.

We should also bear in mind that in the 2006 census South Australians identified themselves as being followers of almost 150 categories and subcategories of faith. I believe that religious diversity is one of our state's greatest social assets and I am passionate about finding ways to foster even greater freedom and understanding, with respect, when it comes to religion.

I am also passionate about the role of volunteers and the respect, value and wonderful contribution they bring to our community. I understand that about 50 per cent of the pastoral care providers carry out the work on a voluntary basis. I take this opportunity to congratulate and thank all the volunteers; they do generous, valuable and selfless work. Perhaps more than most people realise, they help make South Australia a fairer, more compassionate and richer society. We in the state government are determined to support these people, just as they are determined to support those in need in their daily lives when they come in contact with our public institutions.

I am also delighted that Reverend Carl Aiken is a South Australian heading the national body, and it is a great job that he is doing. It seems to me that Carl's work as a full-time chaplain at the Women's and Children's Hospital and his recent service with Australian soldiers in Afghanistan make him well qualified to lead. I know that Spiritual Care Australia will continue to grow and flourish, and provide support to both people in need and their own membership over the coming years, which is a very worthwhile task.