Ralph EstherbyCHAPLAINCY AUSTRALIA

Chaplaincy Australia is the ACC’s network of Chaplains delivering professional support and care across every aspect of Australian society, particularly in times of crisis.

Chaplaincy Australia is delivering effective frontline support across Australia at higher levels than ever before. We currently have over 500 Chaplains and Associates and over 800 members in the network.

This has exceeded our growth goal of 7% per annum. • We have an incredible unified team working across all States • We are receiving more and more requests for Chaplains • More individuals are embarking on Chaplaincy Training • We have good systems in place and we are ready to grow Chaplaincy is progressively becoming part of the DNA of our movement. During the last 24 months, our Chaplains have been tried and tested with multiple deployments to disaster settings and support of our community during COVID19. Our Chaplains minister in almost every sector of Australian Society and it is true to say that wherever there is a group of people, there is an opportunity for a Chaplain to make a difference.

Chaplaincy Australia is ready and enthusiastic to become one of the principal providers of highly skilled, thoroughly trained and passionate Chaplains across Australia.

Leadership Pastor Ralph Estherby is the National Director/CEO of Chaplaincy Australia and he reports to the National Board. Whilst a ‘national entity’, the ministry of Chaplaincy happens at the ‘grass roots’ level in each of the States. Effective state teams are working with their State Executives, and they ‘tailor’ their response to meet the needs of the State they serve. The National Board is chaired by Andrew Coghlan who works with the other members Sonny Yee, Kerrie Frizzell, John Spinella and Bronwyn Bonnell. We have an excellent team of State Directors including: New South Wales – Deb Kuhna Queensland – Angie Herranz South Australia – Jeff Marshall Victoria – Glenise Dedrick

Western Australia – Jody Sisley We want to acknowledge the incredible work that is being done by this great team and the many volunteers who support them. I would also like to honour the previous State Directors who served during this conference period: Pastor Susan Marcuccio (now CA National Supervision Director) and Pastor Shane Brigg both made significant contributions to their States.

Training & Resources Our ongoing partnership with Alphacrucis College continues to be one of our greatest strengths. The synergy present enables both organisations to offer a standard of training in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care which we believe is second to none. In many sectors is becoming the accepted minimum standard. All of our training is presented by practitioners who have had extensive practical experience in Chaplaincy. There are currently over 200 Chaplains in training either completing the Cert IV or Diploma Courses. During Covid19 the training pivoted to online and enrollments remained strong. The demand for effective training in this area is increasing year on year. CA continues to offer ongoing Professional Development training in Chaplaincy specific areas such as Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Grief and Loss, Trauma and Suicide response and prevention. We are also offering training in Practical Pastoral Care for Church teams.

Our Chaplains will continue to be among the best equipped in the nation as we continue to develop courses to meet the needs. Highlights • Disaster responses to Drought (NSW/QLD), Floods (QLD), Bushfires (Nationwide), Tropical Storms (FNQ) and COVID19 (Nationwide). • 20 Community Chaplains deployed on long term appointments to assist bushfire ravaged communities. (Supported through CA & ACCI) • Citations and honours awarded to our Chaplains from various levels of Government

• Launch of 75% Plan to ACC Churches

• Unfolding of the Supervision & Mentoring Strategy across all States. We now have 34 Supervisors and 14 Mentors with more on the way. • Workplace Chaplains placed in FIFO communities in WA. • Growth in workplace Chaplaincy requests across varied industries.

• Largest Chaplaincy Conference on record (NSW 2019) • 3 State Chaplaincy events in 1 day! • 22 ACC Defence Force Chaplains are now in place with representation at the highest levels. There is a high level of engagement across each State Chaplaincy team and enthusiasm and confidence are being expressed for the future. The goal of having at least one CA Chaplain in every ACC Church is moving towards realisation and more and more Pastors are articulating that Chaplaincy is becoming a part of their missional vision.

New initiatives

• 1800Chaplain - We are excited to announce that we will be commencing a 24/7 Chaplaincy support line (Phone/Text/Chat). This service will be activated soon after the National Conference and will be supported by a team of volunteer Chaplains who will be available to all those in need of Pastoral Care.

The 1800Chaplain number will be made available to all ACC Churches as an additional support that they can offer their communities especially at times of crisis. This will become a forward-facing help to the wider Australian community. • Expansion of Workplace Chaplaincy – More and more workplaces, service clubs and agencies are seeking professional Chaplains to become a part of their welfare and support strategies – we are positioning ourselves to meet this need with highly trained, professional Chaplains who will continue to make a difference.

Chaplaincy Australia is in a strong position but innovation and adaptation are needed to continue to meet the needs of a community which is always changing. Goals and Vision

We want to become one of the largest providers of Christian Chaplaincy to the Australian Community. We are projecting growth of 7% per year – by Conference 2023 we will be expecting 915 in the network. We continue to reach for the goal of having a Chaplain or a Chaplaincy ministry attached to every ACC Church.

Chaplaincy is an opportunity for your Church to make an impact across every sector of your community. Imagine highly skilled, well trained and motivated individuals reaching out with passion to demonstrate the love, compassion and acceptance of Christ – what could the Lord do with that?

Chaplaincy Australia is ready to assist you prepare your people to make a difference!

RALPH ESTHERBY