Pastoral and spiritual care

Chaplains are here to support you.

Students and staff from all faiths – or of no faith – are welcome to make contact with a chaplain for pastoral and spiritual care, support in difficult times, or when you just need someone to talk to.

What is a chaplain?

A chaplain is a faith-based care provider, appointed with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor, whose role is to provide pastoral care and spiritual support to all staff and students. Their task is to provide a safe and supportive environment in which anyone can:

  • Discuss personal or professional issues that are causing concern or distress;
  • Find a safe conversation partner when they’re not ready or able to talk to family or friends;
  • Find someone to support them while undertaking counselling or therapy;
  • Seek assistance when feeling lonely or hurt, or when experiencing grief or loss;
  • Ask all the “big questions” about faith, life, hope, resilience, identity, love, relationships, and more; and
  • Get information about faith communities, worship services, or on-campus groups that might be of interest to you.

Chaplains are part of the broader support network of the University and fill the care gap between formal counselling and a person’s normal support networks (eg family and friends) Whatever is on your mind, we are here to listen.

Anything that you discuss with a chaplain is confidential, and they will not pass on information about you without your consent. The only exception is if they are concerned that there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, or where required by law.  A chaplain may also need to refer people seeking assistance for certain issues to a qualified counsellor or therapist for additional support.