Bringing a child to hospital, whether it be for tests or major treatment, can be a stressful and disorienting experience. Spiritual Care practitioners are available to support you during this time. Spiritual support is likely to be of benefit whether or not you are religious or if you belong to a church, temple, synagogue, mosque, or other practice. 

Spiritual Care practitioners can assist by:

• Providing respectful and non-judgemental listening
• Helping you consider and sort through feelings and options
• Journeying with you during times of stress, loss and grief
• Suggesting spiritual resources consistent with your beliefs and values
• Facilitating the meeting of religious and\or spiritual needs of patients and families
• Care of the "spirit" of the person, encouraging a holistic approach to care

Who are we?

Professional Spiritual Care practitioners at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) are trained to offer person-centred, inclusive service.  We work as members of a multi-disciplinary team addressing the needs of patients and families. We offer a respectful spiritual care service that honours the dignity and value of each person. 

• Spiritual Care practitioners serve patients and families from all faith traditions, as well as those who are skeptical, searching, or just wish to talk.
• Spiritual Care practitioners assist patients and families draw on their own religious/spiritual strengths as they face the issues raised by a child's illness. They offer support in difficult times and listen if patients and families require it.
• Spiritual Care practitioners assist patients and families meet religious and spiritual needs.  This may include ritual, prayer, access to sacred texts such as the Qur'an, Bible, prayer books, a blessing before surgery, or a visit from a religious leader from a specific faith tradition.
• Spiritual Care practitioners help families in crisis situations by counselling, problem-solving, and identifying options when it seems like none exist.
• The prayer and meditation space is a place for prayer and meditation for people of all faiths and none.  It is located on the ground floor in the North Building near the Family Resource Centre. If you require access after 10 pm please ask a nurse to arrange for security to escort you.
• Our Spiritual Care practitioners serve patients and families of many different religious backgrounds. If you wish to connect with your own faith group during your hospital stay, please contact the Spiritual Care coordinator at Ext 51839 or Call Switchboard (91) and ask to be connected or ask a staff member to make a referral to Spiritual Care.

You can download the latest version of our Summary Document for the Spiritual Care Department which outlines in further detail what spiritual care is and how we work within the RCH setting.
Spiritual Care Department Summary Document 

Below are a number of documents that may be useful when considering Spiritual Care of patients and families.  Also at the bottom of the page is a list of policies that relate to Spiritual Care in the RCH context.

Prayer Booklet

The Spiritual Care team have gathered prayers from a variety of sources and faith traditions in a Booklet that is downloadable to your phone or tablet,  it is in a PDF format.  Please feel free to downlaod and use the booklet as you wish.

Prayer Booklet for download

Spiritual Care Flyer

Download a copy of the Spiritual Care Flyer by clicking the link below.

Multi-Faith Calendar

SHA 2024 Calendar   Click this link to Download a copy of the Spiritual Health Association Multi Faith Calendar for 2024.

Ramadan Information

The Islamic Council of Victoria has produced the following guide that provides information about Ramadan.  Please download a copy of the guide using the link below.

Ramadan- A Guide PDF

Caring for Muslim patients  

Below is a link to a Guide for caring for Muslim patients produced by the Islamic Council of Victoria. 

This guide offers informtion about appropriate care and support to Muslim patinets and their families.

This is useful for staff in understanding  the concerns and issues faced by Muslim patients involved in the health system.

Note that its always best to ask families about their neeeds and concerns rather than making assumptions about what they may or may not want.

Caring for Muslim Patients

Relevant RCH Policies

The Royal Children’s Hospital Consumer Focused Care and Child Safety
https://staging.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Consumer_Focused_Care_and_Child_Safety/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Death and Bereavement Policy
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Death_and_Bereavement/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Documentation: Medical Records
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Documentation__Medical_Records/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Family Violence: Responding to patients and families
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Family_violence__Responding_to_patients_and_families/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Family Violence: Support for employees and families procedure
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Family_violence_Support_for_employees_and_families/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Spiritual Care Policy
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Pastoral_and_Spiritual_Care/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Personal Information – Access
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Personal_Information_-_Access/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Personal Information – Confidentiality
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Personal_Information_-_Confidentiality/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Personal Information – Privacy
https://www.rchRoyal Children’s Hospital.org.au/policy/policies/Personal Information_-_Privacy/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Personal Information - Security
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Personal_Information_-_Security/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Privacy Policy
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/Privacy/

The Royal Children’s Hospital Vulnerable Children and Child Safety
https://www.rch.org.au/policy/policies/vulnerable-children/