Our team cares for the wellbeing of all people at the Women's, providing emotional and spiritual support during times of change and challenge.
Spiritual care is available to all people receiving care or visiting, in all areas of the Women's.
We offer support that is sensitive to, and respectful of, each person's individual beliefs and needs.
Spending time in hospital may cause feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and stress. Our Spiritual Care staff are dedicated to working with people from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds.
Telling your story in a supported environment may help you to express your feelings, and make sense or meaning of what's happening for you.
You may wish to see someone from the Spiritual Care team if you:
- are feeling lonely, upset, overwhelmed or fearful
- are celebrating a defining stage
- are grieving or experiencing a crisis
- are struggling with future decisions
- are having difficulty with your illness, treatment or care.
- wish to explore questions of meaning or beliefs
- simply want a friendly, listening ear.
Service
Spiritual Care staff are part of your multi-disciplinary care team at the Women’s and offer:
- emotional and spiritual support
- opportunities for reflection, prayer, meditation or ritual
- connection to sacred texts, supportive resources or items of spiritual significance
- support and guidance in death and dying
- access to sacred texts
- grief counselling
- visits on the ward at your request (please let your care team know to request a visit from our team).
Further support
If you belong to a specific cultural or religious community, you are welcome to invite your preferred community leaders to visit with you while you’re in hospital.
Spiritual care staff can also support you to connect with people from your religious or cultural community, if you decide you'd like them to visit you.
Sacred Space
The Sacred Space is located on the Ground Floor in the corridor connecting the Women’s and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Look out for the entry passage opposite the Chocolate Box shop, lined with artwork and texts. The small prayer room is located immediately ahead, while the Sacred Space is to your left at the end of the hallway.
The Sacred Space and prayer rooms are both open to the public, patients, visitors and staff daily from 5:45am- 8:45pm. They offer a quiet place to go for reflection, prayer or meditation.
The Sacred Space displays universal symbols of water, fire, earth and air, to respect and acknowledge spiritual expression in our diverse community.
A variety of sacred texts and a reflective journal are available for your use. These are located to the left, on entering the Sacred Space.
A memorial book is also available for bereaved parents, upon request.