Title:  Spiritual - Pastoral Care Practitioner - Residential Aged Care Service

Spiritual Care practitioner

• Permanent Part Time | Tuesday and Thursday | 9 hours a week  
• Residential Aged Care Service | Car-parking on site 
• Excellent team with purpose and soul | Work-life balance  

Join an organisation with real purpose and values in the aged care sector!  

Eastern Health

Eastern Health is one of Melbourne’s largest public health and aged care providers. We have a proud history of serving a diverse community within the greater Eastern suburbs.

Our Employee Value Proposition is “Being a part of Eastern Health means belonging to a welcoming team of healthcare experts”.

This statement aligns with our promise to our communities, patients, consumers and staff that we will be HEALTHIER TOGETHER. Bolder than a vision for the future, our promise calls us to action. We know that working together is the only way we can achieve what is necessary for a healthier future.

About the role

Help shape the provision of spiritual and pastoral care of residents, families and staff at Eastern Health Murrenda Aged care facility.

Ensuring residents diverse spiritual, pastoral and religious needs are identified and responded to with exceptional sensitivity, compassion, knowledge and skill.

The Spiritual-Pastoral care practitioner participates as a member of the broader residential aged care team in the delivery of services to residents and their family members and is responsible for ensuring that the diverse pastoral, spiritual and religious needs of residents, their families and staff are identified and responded to.

The position of Spiritual-Pastoral care practitioner is part of an integrated team of people working within an established and agreed framework supporting the resident to live their best life.

As the Spiritual-Pastoral care practitioner some of the main duties will include:

• Providing spiritual, pastoral, emotional wellbeing and as required religious care and support to residents according to their needs and your assessment.
• Providing support and counselling for grief, loss, bereavement and life transitions. 
• As required, providing spiritual, pastoral and emotional wellbeing support to residents' family members and to staff
• Establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with key stakeholders
• Completing Spiritual, pastoral care plans for each resident documented in the electronic Autumn care system
• Facilitating a monthly non-denominational spiritual reminiscence reflection session in the Sacred Space for residents, their family or visitors and staff.
• Maintaining the Sacred Space as a sacred space for all people as an inclusive and welcoming place of peace and safety.
• Conducting annual memorial service for families of those deceased in the previous 12months, and ad hoc if requested from family. 

While we are seeking an experienced practitioner, early career practitioners in pastoral care are also encouraged to apply. Support to complete a second unit of clinical pastoral care training is available for those applying as a supervised practitioner.

About you 

To be successful in this role you will possess:

You are a highly engaged professional and experienced practitioner, seeking to uphold the dignity of people living in residential aged care and seeking to make a meaningful contribution to their wellbeing. Working in aged care is a very specialised area and requires people with high levels of patience and empathy.

Essential: 

• A tertiary qualification in pastoral care, spiritual direction, theology, counselling or similar at the discretion of the Manager of Spiritual care
• 2 x Completed units of Clinical Pastoral Education, (2 minimum, 1 will be considered with a plan for 2nd unit to be completed)
• Recent experience working in the same role in an aged or health care setting
• Established skills in preparation, creation, leadership and facilitation of meaningful rituals, services and reflective sessions
• Demonstratable ability to lead memorials
• Ability to lead prayer groups and reflective and or reminiscence sessions
• Highly developed interpersonal and listening skills
• Exceptional time management skills
• The ability to work as part of a diverse team and as a sole practitioner
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Residential Aged Care experience is required
• High level of computer competency skills
• A strong commitment to high quality care
• The ability to work as part of a diverse team
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Eligibility for SCA certified membership
• Own vehicle and Driver’s licence

Healthcare workers are strongly recommended to follow COVID vaccination recommendations provided in the Australian Immunisation handbook (based on ATAGI advice). Seasonal vaccination against influenza is a mandatory requirement of this role and an offer is conditional on this being up to date prior to employment.

What we offer

Eastern Health offers a variety of fantastic Employee Benefits, view the extensive range here!

• Study and professional development leave 
• Friendly & supportive teams
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 
• Fitness Passport for work-life balance 
• Employee Assistance program accessible for you and your loved ones 
• Flexible working hours and excellent entitlements 
• Salary packaging options and an employee benefits scheme 
• Access to Private Health Insurance offers 
• Cafes at all of our Hospitals 

Next Steps

Apply online if you feel we are a good match, you have the skills and qualities to make a difference, and are eligible to work in Australia.

We review all applications when we receive them, and we notify unsuccessful candidates.

If you are shortlisted, we will be in touch to arrange an interview. You must complete a National Police and NDIS check if successful.

Good to know:

• We are an equal opportunity employer and actively promote equality for people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and for people living with disability – within the communities we serve and our Eastern Health team.
• We provide a culturally safe and welcoming environment for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees.
• As a child-safe organisation, we ensure child safety and wellbeing is embedded in our everyday culture.
• Vaccination and screening for immunity to vaccine-preventable disease is a mandatory requirement of this role.
• Advertising may end before the closing date.
• We do not accept recruitment agency application

If you are a current Eastern Health employee please ensure you log in with your internal Eastern Health account to apply for this or other roles.

Please click here for position description 

Contact Person: Jock Allan

Contact Number: 0491023568

Contact Email: anthony.allan@easternhealth.org.au

Job Posting End Date: 1st November 2025

Need help submitting your application?

Just contact the Hiring Manager in the advertisement or call the Talent Acquisition Team on (03) 9955 7555 (Option 1)

Click Here for the Candidate Guide also for help in our recruitment process!

Our Values in Action:

Respect for all | Safe always | Partnering in care | Learning and improving every day