The Record Magazine Issue #04 (September 2016) by The Record

Official magazine for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth

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ISSUE 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

Featured this month

New Archdiocesan Plan Commences implementation

Feature

Physical and religious education

St John of God Health Care

Growth in robotic assisted surgery

MercyCare Virtual reality

‘He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them.’

FROM THE EDITOR Jamie O’Brien

— Luke 10: 34

FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE From Archbishop Timothy Costelloe From Bishop Donald Sproxton

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IN THIS EDITION 2016 Social Justice Statement MercyCare Southern Cross Care Catholic Health Australia Journey: Father Stephen Truscott IdentityWA Reviews Events

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There is one challenge that faces all of us - health. When we think of the issues that arise in talking about health, the list is fairly lengthy - medicine, exercise, hospitals, death, food, nutrition and so on. In this fourth issue of The Record Magazine, we take a look at what are some of the areas where people and organisations across the Archdiocese are making a unique contribution in caring for the lives of those around them first. In an interview that took place in 2013, Pope Francis said the church’s ministers must be merciful, take responsibility for the people and accompany them like the good Samaritan, who washes, cleans and raises up his neighbor. This issue of The Record Magazine reports on these words precisely, looking at the good works of Catholic healthcare services across the Archdiocese of Perth including St John of God, MercyCare, Southern Cross Care, Identitywa and Mercy Heath to name a few. The Record Magazine is a magazine for the people – and I am confident you will all take the time to engage with us. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas at: editor@therecord.com.au, or by contacting us on 08 9220 5900.

ARCHBISHOP’S WORD

MAKE THE MERCIFUL CHRIST PRESENT,

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe with leaders of the various faith communities of Perth at the opening of St John God of God Midland Public Hospital in 2015. Photo: Rovis Media/St John of God Health Care.

BE MOVED WITH COMPASSION

here are many things to be both grateful for and proud of in our Archdiocese. Without doubt, one of them is the extraordinary presence of the Church in the provision of health care. The range of services, agencies and institutions which work in this field in the name of the Church, and more importantly the flesh and blood people who are the face of the Church’s presence in health care in our Archdiocese, are celebrated in this edition of The Record Magazine.

One of the most-widely used phrases of Pope Francis is one which he included in an interview he gave not long after his election as Pope. When asked about the role of the Church, he said this:

“I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level

In this Year of Mercy, it is very appropriate that we focus on those who, in a very real sense, are the face, and hands, and voice, and heart, of Christ’s mercy among us. Pope Francis has insisted often that Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. But of course, for this to be real and effective in people’s day-to-day lives, it is the Church, through the commitment of its faith-filled people, which makes the merciful Christ present.

of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds. ...And you have to start from the ground up.”

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe blesses the new St John of God Midland Public Hospital as part of the official opening ceremony held on Friday, 20 November 2015. Photos: Rovis Media/St John of God Health Care.

The Pope was not, of course, speaking exclusively or even primarily of the Church’s involvement in health care in making these remarks. Rather he was using the image of health care to recall the Church to its own fundamental vocation: to be a healer of people’s wounds in imitation of the one whose own life and ministry was so marked by his care for the sick and the suffering. In this sense, those who minister to the sick become a kind of “sacrament”, a living and powerful sign of something that should be at the heart of every Christian’s approach to life: the quality of compassion.

to be a healer of people’s wounds in imitation of the one whose own life and ministry was so marked by his care for the sick and the suffering

The parable of the Good Samaritan, so shocking to those who first heard it and so challenging and confronting for us who hear it today, captures this essential dimension of the Christian vocation well. For those who do not remember the parable well, it can be found in Saint Luke’s Gospel, chapter 10, verses 25-37. At the heart of this parable are the words, “he (the Samaritan traveller) was moved with compassion”. With these words, Jesus reminds us that it is not just what we do but why we do what we do which really

matters. It is the attitude of mind and heart which we bring to all our encounters with others which makes us true disciples of Jesus. This is exactly what Saint Paul is calling us to when he says to us, in the letter to the Philippians, that we must have in us “the same mind that was in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5). This, more than anything else, is what characterises, and must characterise more and more, all those people, institutions and agencies, which in the name of Christ’s Church, work in the field of Catholic health care. With Christ as their model, their inspiration and the source of their strength, they will indeed heal the wounds of their brothers and sisters, whether those wounds be physical, psychological or spiritual – for in the end it is not simply medical conditions, or pathologies, or diseases, which we are called to heal, but people, daughters and sons of God, made in the divine image, and worthy of the highest respect. With those among us who work in health care as our inspiration, may we all, like the Good Samaritan, be “moved with compassion”. +Archbishop Tim Costelloe ARCHBISHOP OF PERTH

BISHOP’S WORD

orld Youth Day will always be bigger than the Olympics. The sheer number of people who make the journey to participate proves the point. Forty thousand young people from the United States alone made their way to Poland. They joined 3,000 Aussies and young people from countries across the world, including China. For two weeks, we lived as brothers and sisters in the faith. It is estimated that 1.8 million Catholic youth, young adults, companions, priests and bishops celebrated the faith in our God of mercy.

WORLD YOUTH DAY CALLS US TO GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE: WITNESSES TO THE LOVE OF GOD

Since returning to Perth, I have been asked by so many: What was the highlight of the World Youth Day events in Kraków? I have found it very difficult to settle on one. There were many for me. The first has to be having the chance to spend two weeks with such a great group of young people from the Archdiocese. I do not get this sort of opportunity to be with groups of Catholics in the Archdiocese for an extended time like this. It is a unique experience to get to know some of our younger Catholics and for them to get to know me. On the way to Poland, we met the Archbishop in Rome. He accompanied us as we visited the four great basilicas and with us passed through the Holy Doors of each. We prayed for a deepening of our own faith, for our families and for the intentions of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Many of our pilgrims had never been to Rome, but despite the very warm weather, the great city worked its charm on them. They will return one day, I am sure, to discover many more of its wonders. We then travelled to Turin where the Archbishop very gladly introduced us to the life and work of St John Bosco, the founder of the

Bishop Don prepares to celebrate Mass with youth from Perth during the 2016 World Youth Day festivities in Poland. Photo: Supplied

Salesians. The visit to the original house, the Oratory of St Francis de Sales, and Basilica at Valdocco gave us the chance to hear the story of Don Bosco. The Archbishop and I were given the privilege to enter the rooms where Don Bosco spent the last period of his life. His books, some of his writings and a number of personal effects are preserved there. We both prayed for a moment or two in the bedroom, remembering the vast number of Salesians in their work around the world and for the Young Salesians community in Perth. The parish in Warsaw where we were welcomed for the Days in the Diocese experience, is in the care of the Marian Fathers. The priests and people there could not have been kinder or more hospitable. Warsaw is largely a rebuilt city following its terrible destruction in the Second World War. Its people live

in apartment blocks. More modern ones resemble ours in Australia, but those built in the communist times are quite stark. Our pilgrims experienced great warmth from their hosts. There are stories of parents giving up their bedrooms for the pilgrims and sleeping in their lounge rooms. A wonderful connection developed very quickly between the host families and their Aussie guests. We learnt so much about their history, culture and deep Catholic faith that have sustained the people through the great trials of their history. Before arriving in Kraków, we spent a night in Kalwaria (Calvary). It is a popular pilgrimage destination in Poland and was the favourite retreat centre for John Paul II when he was Archbishop of Kraków. It is set in very beautiful and extensive grounds.

Bishop Don, third from left, with Fr Brennan Sia, fifth from left, Fr Mark Baumgarten, and Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, together with youth from Perth during World Youth Day festivities in Poland. Photo: Supplied

Small chapels have been built at each of the Stations of the Cross sites along a road that is at least six kilometres in length. Kraków is a city of about 800,000 people. The city was once the royal capital and was fortunately saved from the awful bombardment that devastated Warsaw during the war. The old city is well preserved. It is a young person’s city, due to the number of universities, so it is really alive. The World Youth Day pilgrims only made it more so! Popular sites for the young people were the Chapel of Divine Mercy, where the tomb of St Faustina is located, and the Shrine of John Paul II. This World Youth Day in Poland, the second there since WYD began with John Paul, gave the Church the opportunity to reacquaint young Catholics with the life of the Polish Pope. It is 11 years since John Paul passed from this life. For many of the youth, he is becoming a distant figure of history. There were fine exhibitions on his life and the significant place he had in post war Polish history. Pope Francis has captured the hearts of this generation of young Catholics. A survey recently found that 78 per cent of young Poles think that he is a good Pope, with important messages for them.

The speech Pope Francis gave to us at the Vigil on the Campus Misericordia in Kraków was received enthusiastically by the young. He helped them to see how forces in the world today are trying to take away our freedom to choose the way of joy and happiness as presented by Jesus Christ. Young people are being encouraged to seek security for their lives by retreating to a place of safety - as he put it, to seek the ”soft sofa” and be transported from the issues of the world by escaping to the world of video games and the computer screen. Whether young or old, there is the temptation to nod off, grow drowsy and dull. The Pope is speaking of the paralysis that can overcome us because of our fears. People can easily become disengaged from the great issues of the world, from other people and, even, from ourselves.

The pilgrims cheered as he finished by saying to them: ”Have the courage to show us that it is easier to build bridges than walls.....to challenge us to take the path of fraternity.....Jesus, who is truth, is asking you to abandon the paths of rejection, division and emptiness..... Are you up to this? May the Lord bless your dreams”.

Pope Francis sees that there are some who remain alert and work for different goals to us. They find it easier to achieve these goals if young people are not free and alert. At the Vigil, he challenged the pilgrims to keep awake and to be always aware of the call of Jesus, pointing them to the future: Go “with him and leave your mark on life, leave a mark on history, your own and on that of many others as well”.

These are the highlights that the World Youth Day pilgrimage provided me. It was a wonderful experience and set afresh in me the fire for the Gospel. There is a great hope for the future because of the openness to faith I found in my fellow pilgrims.

The following morning we celebrated Mass with Pope Francis. He again called us to not be afraid if we feel too small, or fearful of taking a risk to accept Jesus as he passes by, or put off because of what others might think of us. We are children of the Father of mercies and Jesus looks at who we are rather than our failures. The Pope encouraged our pilgrims to trust in the Lord’s mercy and grace, which will lead us to be what we are called to be: witnesses of the love of God.

Bishop Donald Sproxton AUXILIARY BISHOP OF PERTH

STRATEGIC PLAN

ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH MOVES FORWARD WITH NEW ‘PLAN’ The Archdiocesan Plan Co-ordinating Group Chair, Danny Murphy; Executive Officer, Jane Kikeros; Archbishop Timothy Costelloe; and Archdiocese of Perth CEO-Administration, Greg Russo. Photo: Ron Tan

Mr Russo explained the preparation and consultation phase of the plan incorporated the broadest process of its type yet undertaken in the Archdiocese.

He added that, in order to achieve the outcomes of the Plan, a new structure has been developed which includes three key tasks, including the bringing together of the Archbishop’s Office, Church Administration and the Archdiocesan Finance Office to one central location.

The new Plan moved into an implementation period at the end of June 2016 - which is expected to be carried out over the next five years.

“This will facilitate more effective and timely communication with and between Archbishop Costelloe, key clergy and the Archdiocesan administration executives and staff,” Mr Russo said.

new plan with the central message to walk faithfully in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, has now been released by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe.

“The Plan is more than just a document,” the Archbishop said. “It will enable us to walk together on the pathway which we hope will deliver a Christ-centred, faithful, vibrant, welcoming, inclusive and mission-oriented Church, one which will enrich our own lives and the lives of all whom we encounter and seek to serve,” he added. The Archbishop paid thanks to members of the working parties and Archdiocesan staff who contributed their time and experience during development of the Plan, at a Thank You event in late June. Following a brief introduction and welcome by the Plan Co-ordinating Group Chair, Danny Murphy, Archdiocese of Perth CEO-Administration, Greg Russo, gave an overview of the new Plan which encompasses seven key areas: Professional Standards, Effective Communication, Support for Clergy, Strengthening & Revitalising Parishes, Adult Faith Formation, Outreach to those in Need and Archdiocesan Growth and Development. Mr Russo also explained the development process of the plan, which commenced with a preparation of the key priority areas and establishment of the working parties in late 2014. In September 2015, the Plan, which was also known as ‘The Way Forward’ moved into an extensive consultation phase with clergy, parishes, agencies, groups and individuals across the Archdiocese.

“The second key task includes expansion of the Archdiocesan structures to include newly created positions envisaged in the Archdiocesan Plan and the subsequent allocation of responsibilities by the Archbishop to ensure implementation of key priority area strategies and actions, ongoing review of plan milestones and effective communication of its progress. “And, finally, the third key task includes changes to Archdiocesan Administration executive and staff structures to support the implementation of the key priority area strategies and actions,” he said. Archbishop Costelloe also took the opportunity to remind those present for the occasion that it is important to continue open and honest communication, especially as the plan moves to the implementation phase. “Not only to ensure that we ‘stay on track’ but also so that we remain united as we do so,” he said.

Archbishop announces new roles for Archdiocesan Plan implementation In early July, Archbishop Costelloe also announced the appointment of the Vicars who will assume responsibility for key strategy areas as outlined in the Plan. •

Episcopal Vicar for Adult Faith Formation and Parish Renewal – Bishop Don Sproxton

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Episcopal Vicar for Archdiocesan Growth and Development & Communications & Media – Fr Peter Whitely

I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

•

Episcopal Vicar for Clergy – Fr Brian McKenna

•

Vicar for Outreach to Those in Need – Dr Terry Wilson

strengthening and improving governance and administration in parishes with information to assist priests and parish administrators in the areas of employment, privacy, clergy support, parish finance, property maintenance and archives.

Over the next few months, each of the Vicars will determine what support structures they will need in order to begin to implement details of the Archdiocesan Plan. The resourcing of these support structures will be overseen by Archdiocesan CEOAdministration, Mr Greg Russo. In due course, after discussions with the Vicars and Mr Russo, the Archbishop will propose a review structure which will enable the Archdiocese to monitor and review the progress of implementation of the Plan across its proposed five year life span. The Archbishop also explained that a communications plan will be developed to ensure that regular updates of progress are communicated as widely as possible. “It is worth recalling that Vicars, including Vicars General, Episcopal Vicars and (lay) Vicars share in the governance of the diocese in those areas delegated to them by the Bishop,” Archbishop Costelloe said. LEFT TO RIGHT: Archdiocese of Perth CEO-Administration, Greg Russo, gives an overview of the new Plan, which incorporates seven key areas. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe thanks members of the working parties and staff at a Thank You event (on 28 June). Archdiocesan Plan Co-ordinating Group Chair, Mr Danny Murphy. Photos: Ron Tan

“With these updated guidelines, those who look after our parishes in a variety of ways can feel that we are working together, with Christ, as people who belong to a Church and an Archdiocese,” Mr Russo said. “Vicars General (Bishop Don and Fr Peter Whitely) exercise the ordinary authority of the bishop, always according to the mind of the bishop. Other vicars have delegated authority in the areas entrusted to them specifically by the bishop,” he added. “Thank you for your support in these initial stages of the development and implementation of the Archdiocesan Plan,” the Archbishop said. “Let us entrust its success to the Lord, and to the prayers of the patron of our Archdiocese, Mary, the Mother of the Lord and the Church,” he concluded.

Parishes gain greater support with updated guidelines Administrative support has increased for parishes across Perth with the release of updated Parish Guidelines. Details of the new guidelines have been explained at several information nights across the Archdiocese in August. Archdiocese of Perth CEOAdministration, Greg Russo, explained that the new guidelines are about

“Parish administration does not have to be an overburdened cumbersome task and the updated guidelines will be reviewed regularly, should new information become available,” he said. Mr Russo explained that the updated guidelines, which were first developed some years ago, have been reviewed with the changes in laws and various enquiries received by the Archdiocese, as well as the need to address new issues such as privacy and safeguarding. The new parish guidelines are just one of many actions being rolled out as part of the implementation of the new Archdiocesan Plan, which commenced at the end of June 2016.

FEATURE

Modern day society’s increased focus on health, fitness and wellbeing plays a significant role in the way young people perceive themselves and those by whom they are surrounded. While new generations are better informed about healthy eating, drinking and the importance of exercise, there are also new risks involved linked to excessive dieting and body image. Head of Year 11 and teacher of religion and physical education at Perth’s Aquinas Catholic College, Rod Dowling, has seen the changing trends in health among young people over his 20 year career. He recently spoke to The Record Magazine journalist Marco Ceccarelli about young men, the promotion of healthy body images and the importance of the link between health and religious education.

BALANCE OF PHYSICAL AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION KEY TO HEALTHY FORMATION OF YOUNG MEN WORDS Marco Ceccarelli

“Y

oung people are certainly better informed today about health than they were 20 years ago,” Mr Dowling said, reflecting on the progress which health education has made in the past two decades. “Awareness surrounding the effects of smoking, for instance, can be considered one of the greater success stories of our times. Twenty years ago smoking was a central topic of discussion in health education. Today, given the negligible numbers of young people smoking in our schools, more attention can be directed to other health concerns, such as alcohol.”

Head of Year 11 and teacher of religion and physical education at Perth’s Aquinas Catholic College, Rod Dowling, is committed to educating his students on the importance of a healthy body and a healthy soul. Photo: Marco Ceccarelli I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

Aquinas College students mountain bike within the college’s bushland area during physical education class. Their teacher, Mr Dowling, believes living a healthy lifestyle requires looking after the internal, as well as the external, aspects of one’s body. Photo: Marco Ceccarelli

The father of three has taught health and physical education, as well as religious education, at five different Catholic schools in Western Australia. These include Trinity College, Mater Dei College, St Luke’s College in Karratha, Kolbe Catholic College and, for the past eight years, Aquinas College. His passion and devotion for these two subjects have allowed him to witness the progress made in health knowledge in schools and identify areas that require more attention. While he has devoted much of his expertise to physical education across a range of year levels and sports, a new area in health education has recently caught Mr Dowling’s attention: mental health.

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Particularly among young teenage boys, he has noticed the difficulties linked to talking and opening up about problems such as anxiety, depression and coping the with general pressures of life. Thanks to a growth in awareness around the issue, Mr Dowling stated that mental health has become a more talked about topic in schools and has also made its way into the school curriculum. “We have seen significant growth in terms of awareness around mental health and we are gradually addressing it both in physical education and religious education,” Mr Dowling said. “This is in response to boys having to deal with significant mental health issues that have affected either

themselves or someone they know. Understanding the effects of mental health has been an incredible learning curve for me.” Speaking about anxiety and depression in young men, Mr Dowling raised the issue of male body image a current topic of conversation that, in light of a recent study conducted by The University of Sydney, has gained widespread media attention. Published in the Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the study discovered that dieting and extreme exercising has become as much of a problem for school boys as for girls, with 60 per cent of the young men out of the 2000 adults surveyed expressing dissatisfaction with their body. Furthermore, the

“Here at Aquinas, when we talk about health and nutrition we’re becoming more aware of not only the effects of junk food but, for instance, the unnecessary use of protein powders and supplements and the male body image,” he said. “We talk about what in some areas of society is upheld as the perfect image of man. Yes, we teach that a healthy man should eat well and be active, but if we also say that if you’re experiencing anxiety or issues around mental health, then you can talk about them. We also challenge the notion of the typical male who doesn’t talk and is told to suck it up and get on with it. We’re trying to break down a lot of walls by saying that there’s a whole spectrum of what being a man can be.” The Catholic ethos of Aquinas College is playing a significant role in this transformation and is helping the countercultural push around body image.

study found that men with body image issues tended to suffer more from depression because of the stigma associated with seeking help with this problem. Mr Dowling has taken note of the negative trend and believes that good health education, combined with Catholic teaching on self-respect, can be the key to addressing the issue.

“Being a Catholic school we encourage our students to take a holistic view of the aspects of self, and this includes the spiritual side. Our Year 11 retreat program focuses on the journey of becoming a man and considers the aspect of faith, the internal, as a very important element of this journey,” Mr Dowling said. Reflecting on a particular aspect of Catholicism that has helped him to steer students in the right direction, Mr Dowling referred to a biblical

passage he was recently inspired by. “I have talked about the notion that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and must therefore be respected. When we discuss creation we speak about showing respect for creation and, since we have been created by God, we must show respect for ourselves,” he said.

...the study found that men with body image issues tended to suffer more from depression because of the stigma associated with seeking help with this problem. Looking ahead, Mr Dowling dwelled on the importance for young people to find moments in which to slow down and take a break from a very fast-paced society – no small thing to say for a man who has been very active his whole life. “It is very important to stop and have moments of contemplation. The challenge for us today is to make our young people aware that they can move away from focusing solely on achievement and success and become the people who they were created to be,” he said.

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BRINGING OUR AGEING SOCIETY INTO THE LIMELIGHT WORDS Marco Ceccarelli

a place at the table SOCIAL JUSTICE IN AN AGEING SOCIETY

I Social Justice Statement 2016â&#x20AC;&#x201C;17 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

ABOVE: Cover of the 2016-17 Social Justice Statement. Photo: Supplied TOP: Pope Francis has repeatedly warned against a disposable culture that considers the elderly as a burden on society. Here, he is pictured greeting an elderly woman during a visit to Banado Norte, a poor neighbourhood in Asuncion, Paraguay in 2015. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring.

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t should come as no surprise that, along with other developed countries, Australia has experienced significant demographic shifts in its population. There are today proportionally fewer children (under 15 years of age) in the Australian population and a proportionally larger increase in those aged 65 and over. It is estimated that the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double by the middle of the century. Driving this change have been low fertility rates, smaller families, increased life expectancy and a reduced number of people in the workforce compared to those reaching the traditional retirement age.

While this phenomenon is often seen as a success story of human development, it also raises concerns for the dignity and wellbeing of the most vulnerable. The elderly can be prone to abuse in institutional care and in our communities and, in a society that tends to value people only for what they contribute economically, they can be seen as burdensome or even dispensable. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) will this year be responding to such concerns in the 2016-17 Social Justice Statement: A Place at the Table â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Social Justice in an Ageing Society. In a statement issued by the ACBC in July, President Archbishop Denis Hart reported

SOCIAL JUSTICE

that the Social Justice Statement will celebrate the value and contributions of the elderly to the life of the community. LEFT: National Executive Officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), John Ferguson. Photo: Supplied BELOW: Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Photo: Fiona Basile

Archbishop Hart emphasised that the bishops will call for the benefits of work to be shared equitably, particularly where governments encourage older people to work beyond the traditional retirement age. He also expressed concern for the effects of “ageism” – the stereotyping of older people as being dependent, incapable or a burden on society. “We are also concerned for those experiencing declining heath and approaching the end of their lives. The most vulnerable must be protected from isolation, ageism, abuse and any circumstance in which they may feel, or be made to feel, a burden on their families or society,” Archbishop Hart stated.

The effects of “ageism” – the stereotyping of older people as being dependent, incapable or a burden on society “This Social Justice Statement calls for communities of mercy and love, ministering to the vulnerable, building bonds between generations and ensuring everyone has a place at the table.” National Executive Officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), John Ferguson, also warned against the impact of ageism at one of the organisation’s last briefings

before the statement’s launch in September this year. “Ageism can be seen in older people being disregarded in family consultations about treatment, or described as ‘blocking’ hospital beds, being too demanding over standards of care in residential settings, or as just another task on an overloaded community care roster. These attitudes can so easily develop into situations of elder abuse,” Mr Ferguson said. “The Statement notes a recent Senate Community Affairs Inquiry that found residential care and aged care residents are ‘particularly vulnerable to violence, abuse and neglect due to their age, frailty and specific disabilities such as dementia’. The report also noted that elder financial abuse is a growing problem in the community,” he added.

In light of Pope Francis’ repeated warnings against a “throw-away culture” that disposes of the elderly and views people only in terms of their utility, Mr Ferguson stated that the bishops join with Holy Father in challenging indifference and contempt for old age. “They [the bishops] emphasise how ‘each and every person is created in the image of God’. The say ‘this is the basis of our worth and dignity. Even in our weakness, our fragility and decline, the image of God still shines in our eyes and we remain his beloved daughters and sons’,” he said. “This fundamental truth underpins our defence of older people who are frail and vulnerable. We must ensure that no policy or public debate ever casts these citizens as a burden or as rivals to younger generations.”

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Elder wisdom recruited to MercyCare interview panels

esidents at MercyCare’s Residential Aged Care facility in Wembley are helping recruit new staff under a plan to give them a more active role in the centre’s operations. Residents of the Wembley facility are participating with MercyCare staff in interview panels with prospective employees, and then providing feedback about recruitment decisions. Former West Australian Commissioner of Police John Porter, 94, is among a select group of residents involved in MercyCare interview panels and recruitments. Mr Porter, who joined the WA police force in 1946 and served as Police Commissioner from 1981 to 1985, said he enjoyed having input in the recruitment process. “I’ve been interviewing people all my life so this comes very naturally,” he said. “The process can make people nervous and I want to put them at ease and make them feel like they can tell me anything. “That’s why I like meeting them one on one; you find out more about a person. “I always ask them what they like about the job, why they like their job. It’s important to know their likes and dislikes, and what they expect from the job because that’s what helps you understand each other. “We want to broaden our knowledge about each other and create a proper relationship. “I really enjoy being a part of the interview. I like feeling

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recognised for my experience and valued as a part of the team. I want to help more.” MercyCare residential aged care manager Donna Matthews said each resident that had participated in interview panels had formed a close connection with the staff they had helped employ. “This is about making residents like Mr Porter feel valued and empowered to use their knowledge,

MERCYCARE

This is about making residents... feel valued and empowered to use their knowledge, experience and wisdom

Former WA Police Commissioner John Porter, with MercyCare staff Alison Openshaw left, and Donna Mathews. Photo: Supplied

experience and wisdom to help make these important recruiting decisions,” Ms Matthews said.

really working with them to understand and provide

“The initiative is a major shift in thinking and attitudes when it comes to service delivery, but the feedback to date has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Several residents involved in the interview panels have

MercyCare Chief Executive Officer, Chris Hall, said the organisation was dedicated to providing a personcentred delivery model.

MercyCare is a leading Catholic provider of aged care,

“We are not just planning and delivering services we think are in the best interests of our residents, but

than 40 programs and services, from over 30 locations

what they want,” he said. volunteered more of their time and MercyCare is most appreciative. family, health and community services. It employs more than 700 staff and 150 volunteers, delivering more throughout Western Australia.

I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

SOUTHERN CROSS CARE

Most of us agree, as the saying goes, ‘there’s no place like home’. Thankfully, aged care providers such as Southern Cross Care are proving that you can still retain your independence and live your life the way you want to, by receiving the support and care you need in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

In the comfort OF your own home

s they get older, some people may decide that the best solution for them is moving into residential style care or retirement villages. Both of these options have numerous benefits including a sense of community, organised activities and 24-hour care. However, many either do not feel ready or simply don’t want to make the move from their own home – they therefore begin to search for alternatives.

Ms Rayner went on to say that one of the best things about the home care services is that you are not locked into any sort of contract - you just use the service for as long as you need it.

Southern Cross Care Manager Client Connect, Jayne Rayner, said home care services can be the perfect balance for providing people with the care and help they need, while still being able to live in their own home.

Some of Southern Cross Care’s home care services include:

“The request for our home care services only continues to grow, as more people are choosing to stay in their own home and retain their independence,” Ms Rayner said. “Many of our clients may only need a small amount of help, such as household duties like unpacking the dishwasher or sweeping the floors. They are simple tasks, but go a long way to improving the quality of life of our clients. “Some of our clients require a higher level of care, maybe due to ailing health or injury and these clients can access numerous health-based services from our trained medical professionals. “Regardless of the level of care that is required, we are able to deliver that service within the comfort and privacy of our client’s home, at a time that is convenient for them.” 16

THE RECORD MAGAZINE

“You can choose from our menu of services to build a health and lifestyle plan that is tailored to best suit you. These plans are flexible and can always be adjusted as your needs and requirements change,” she said.

• Access to allied health services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dental, podiatry and dietetics to improve your functional mobility and general wellbeing. • Dementia care and respite services. • Health management services for those that do not require a doctor or nurse. • In-home nursing, whether it is needed after a hospital visit or to keep you out of hospital and in the comfort of your own home. • Domestic assistance to help you stay on top of your jobs around the home. • Dressing and grooming services to ensure you step into your day in style. • Gardening services to help your garden thrive. • Meal preparation to give you a hand in putting together nutritious meals.

• Grocery shopping assistance (online or instore), ensuring that you stay in control of your diet and meals.

entertaining friends at my house,

her Monday to Friday to assist her

and I felt like being in residential care

with personal care and once a week

just wasn’t the right place for me,”

she would have someone come

Constance said.

and clean the house and help with

• Transport in fully insured, air-conditioned vehicles with licenced drivers to help you attend social events, shopping expeditions, medical appointments or to run errands.

Constance’s niece Robyn said the

• Access to respite centres on

how much it meant to her to be back

your carer’s day off.

option of receiving care at home fit

“As time went on, it became quite

Constance’s needs perfectly as she

obvious that this level of care was

recovered from a serious illness.

not needed anymore. Constance had

“Constance had lived in her house for almost 65 years, so we knew

become lot stronger and healthier and was able to do a lot more for herself. “After consulting with her family, she

there,” she said.

Eighty-nine year old Constance, from Lathlain, is one of Southern Cross Care’s many home care clients.

“We supported her decision to go

After a lengthy stay in hospital, Constance initially moved into a residential care facility, fearing that she wasn’t strong enough to go home and care for herself. While she appreciated the care that was provided, she decided that the environment was not the right fit for her at this stage of her life.

and care as she recovered and

“I’m a very social person; I love getting out and about and also

domestic duties,” she said.

home, but it was important that she still received the necessary support regained her strength. “Constance is fiercely independent, so we knew initially she might be a bit reluctant to accept the help and have people coming to her house. However, as time went on, I think

decided she no longer needed the services that we provided for her. We are now looking into providing her with allied health services such as

podiatry,

physiotherapy

and

massage to help her maintain her general health and wellbeing.” Constance herself has the final say on what benefits the home care services have provided her.

she appreciated the convenience of

“The (Southern Cross Care) staff that

services provided by Southern Cross

came to visit me were lovely and

Care, and most importantly, she can

always friendly. Having a bit of extra

remain independent and in her own

help around the house and with

home.”

washing and dressing allowed me to

Her

Home

Care

Co-ordinator,

recuperate and get better,” she said.

Gayleen, said Constance was a

“Thankfully, I’m feeling a lot better

wonderful example of the benefits

now so I don’t need as much help, but

of home care service.

I would consider the service again in

“When we first started visiting

the future if I felt I needed it.”

Constance, she was still recovering

If you would like more information

after a long illness and required

about Southern Cross Care’s Home

daily assistance and care. For the

Care services, please call 1300 669

first three months we would visit

189 or visit www.scrosswa.org.au.

I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

ST JOHN OF GOD

Robots are increasingly being used by surgeons in operating rooms across Australia to assist surgeons with precise, intricate movements using smaller surgical instruments with smaller incisions.

n a first for robotic surgery in Western Australia, a robot was used at St John of God Subiaco Hospital in July 2016 to assist with a hip replacement operation – only the second time in Australia. Two patients underwent the robotic procedure that is expected to provide more precise implantation of components when compared to current techniques, which can have up to 20 degrees of positional variation. St John of God Subiaco Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lachlan Henderson, said that, while we have extremely high success rates with traditional hip replacement surgery, robotic technology provides an extra layer of precision for surgeons.

Orthopaedic surgeons at Subiaco Hospital were the first in Australia to use an interactive orthopaedic robot for partial knee replacement (PKR) surgery in April 2015, when St John of God Subiaco Hospital first installed the robot. Since then, 90 robotically assisted PKR surgeries have been undertaken at the hospital. Dr Henderson said robotic-assisted surgical techniques allow highly accurate pre-operative planning, merging the accuracy of computer navigation and the ability to customise position based on the three dimensional anatomy of each individual patient. “The robot gives surgeons the ability to adjust their plan intra-operatively, in real-time, to further optimise the operation,” he said. “The pre-surgical plan is especially useful for surgeons, as they can assess bone preparation areas and customise implant positioning using a CT scan of the patient’s hip joint.”

THE RECORD MAGAZINE

The surgeons underwent extensive training to learn how to best utilise the technology. They plan to use the robotic technology for full knee replacements in the near future. Dr Henderson added that the hospital has invested in operating room robots for a range of speciality areas, including orthopaedics, gynaecology, surgical oncology and urology. “The robot technology is part of our focus to assist our doctors and patients by providing first-class facilities and the latest technologies,” he said. In addition, the hospital is undertaking clinical research on robotic surgery to measure patient outcomes and to ensure care is evidence-based and informed by research. In a move that will revolutionise the provision of a range of surgery in Geelong, the St John of God (Geelong) Hospital took delivery of a surgical robot in May this year.

GROWTH IN ROBOTIC ASSISTED SURGERY Robots are increasingly being used by surgeons in operating rooms across Australia to assist surgeons with precise, intricate movements using smaller surgical instruments with smaller incisions. Photo: Supplied

The new da Vinci Xi system – the first in Victoria – allows surgeons to perform highly precise surgical procedures within the patient’s body through keyhole incisions. The four-arm robot is controlled by a surgeon who sits at a console using a high-definition three-dimensional image to guide the surgical procedure. “This ground-breaking technology is becoming an integral element of a modern surgical service,” said St John of God Geelong Hospital Chief Executive Officer Stephen Roberts. “This robot is a natural extension of the surgeon’s eyes and hands. It allows for greater precision and finer surgical work within the patient’s body, utlilising minimally invasive procedures and resulting in better surgical outcomes.”

This ground-breaking technology is becoming an integral element of a modern surgical service. Mr Roberts said that robot-assisted surgery has established itself as the preferred platform for complex prostate surgery in Australia with more than 70 per cent of all prostatectomies performed in private hospitals now robot assisted and the latest generation Xi robot is establishing an emerging presence in bariatric, bowel, thoracic and gynaecological surgeries.

He said that a complement of surgeons had already commenced an extensive training program to use the new technology. “Delivering the safest possible program of the highest quality is our priority and the introduction of new technology requires a very strong training, clinical governance and a constant review of patient outcomes. “To get the most benefit from the technology for our community we need our people and our processes absolutely on song. “This technology allows us to do things we could never do before. We are very excited to be a leader in this field and at the prospect of offering this world-class service to patients in Geelong.”

I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

atholic health and aged care services in Australia have carved out an especially rich and respected tradition, spanning more than 170 years and built upon the principles of caring for all and the inherent dignity of the human person, service, the common good, and preference for the poor, marginalised and under-served. Together with the Good Samaritan parable, which is widely recognised as the original founding story of healthcare systems in the Western world, these principles formed the foundations of some of Australia’s most trusted health and aged care services. Catholic Health Australia (CHA) represents the largest single grouping of non-government health, aged and community care services in the country. CHA’s members include St John of God Health Care, MercyCare, St Vincent’s Health Australia, Mercy Health, Catholic Homes and Southern Cross Care, among a number of others. Authentically a leadership group, CHA was born in 1978 after the first National Catholic Health

THE RECORD MAGAZINE

Suzanne Greenwood. Photo: Supplied

CATHOLIC HEALTH SERIOUS ABOUT QUALITY OF CARE

WORDS Suzanne Greenwood Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Health Australia Care Conference of the leaders and owners of Catholic health and aged care providers from across Australia. CHA works to promote justice and compassion in healthcare, inform public policy,

advocate for reform and strengthen the presence and influence of Catholic health and aged care services, which contribute significantly to Australia’s overall health and aged care service capacity.

Catholic providers operate more than 9,500 hospital beds across 77 hospitals – both public and private – Australiawide. Catholic providers account for over 25 per cent of the country’s private hospital capacity and about 10 per cent of all health care services in the country. CHA also has member Catholic hospitals in Singapore and Malaysia. In terms of aged care provision, Catholic service providers in Australia operate 23,000 residential aged care beds and provide high-quality care services to over 20,000 home care and support clients. Catholic care providers are serious about quality of care and serious about improved care for all. Importantly, Catholic providers acknowledge the spiritual significance of health, illness, suffering and death. This leads us to understand health and aged care as being more than a scientific pursuit; it is an endeavour to care for the whole person, often beyond the limits of science. Exciting advancements in health care, paired with an increased onus on the importance of health education and preventative health, has

CATHOLIC HEALTH AUSTRALIA

that would allow for an already vulnerable person to elect to have their life ended by clinician-assisted suicide. Palliative care discussion should be promoted across the community, encouraging people to discuss their wishes for healthcare openly, in parallel with increasing the development and implementation of advance care planning. CHA continues to work with and support its member organisations, advocating to government and funders to develop effective policy in all areas impacting our health and aged care.

the place of the Catholic health and aged care sector and its mission to protect the most vulnerable people in our society is perhaps even more important now than it has ever been

Six-year-old Ben Davidson with Nurse Manager, Andrea Rindt and twins Joseph and Niamh Crawford. Nurse Manager, Jill Saville, with Dr Jonathan Barrett in the Intensive Care Unit. Photos: Supplied

seen Australia’s life expectancy rise significantly in the past decades. This is a marvellous success of medicine, but a new and very different reality that Australia must prepare for— both economically, and in terms of meeting the care requirements of an ageing population with adequate high-quality care services, tailored to the needs of the individual. With an increasingly older population subject to higher rates of chronic disease, dementia and other conditions requiring complex care, the place of the Catholic health and aged care sector and its mission to protect the most vulnerable people in our society is perhaps even more important now than it has ever been. For example, 40 per cent of hospitalisations in 2013–14 were for people aged 65 and over, who accounted then for 13 per cent of Australia’s population; some 270,560 people aged 65 and over were in residential aged care at some point within the same period,

Death and dying, including the quality of person-centred care delivered towards the end of life, are issues at the forefront of Catholic advocacy efforts in health and aged care.

It is a privilege to champion Australian Catholic health and aged care services. The sisters, nuns, priests and brothers of the first Catholic health care institutions to establish themselves in Australia lived and breathed the healing ministry of Jesus. They delivered much-needed services to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in the community – people who would otherwise not have had access to care. The Catholic ethos such institutions embodied still circulates and resonates just as strongly today.

Catholic health care providers are calling for greater support to ensure every Australian has equitable access to quality palliative care services, rather than introducing reforms

It is an exciting time to represent the interests of quality wholeperson care, for every Australian, no matter their beliefs, background or circumstance.

and approximately 83,500 people received home care.

I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

MERCYHEALTH

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS MERCY HEALTH RESIDENTS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD

hanks to innovative new software that is improving the lives of residents living with dementia and memory loss, West Australian seniors living at Mercy Health aged care homes are travelling to far-flung locations across the world – all without leaving the comfort of their armchairs. From the savannah plains of Africa to the frozen lands of Antarctica, the ‘trips of a lifetime’ for the seniors are a result of the latest virtual reality software, which has been rolled out at not-for-profit aged care provider Mercy Health’s six aged care homes across Perth. The software involves residents wearing 3D goggles, which enable them to view a computer-generated, 360 degree view of different reality worlds as they move their heads to look around their environment - whether that’s in Asia, Antarctica or the savannah plains. Mercy Health has found the innovative equipment is proving to be especially

THE RECORD MAGAZINE

beneficial for residents living with dementia, Alzheimer’s and memory loss, as a positive diversionary activity which has the ability to bring back memories from the past. Mercy Health WA State Manager, Vicki Fitzgerald, said Mercy Health has spent more than $3000 on the virtual reality goggles and software after becoming aware of how seniors’ overall wellbeing could be enhanced as a result of the technology, from research carried out overseas. “From the initial trials we ran, we have evidence that this new technology not only provides residents with a great deal of enjoyment and pleasure, it also assists those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s to recall memories about their life,” Ms Fitzgerald said. “Mercy Health is focused on staying on top of technology to assist residents with improved quality of life and this virtual reality technology is proving a fantastic way for them to participate in some unique armchair travel.

The software involves residents wearing 3D goggles, which enable them to view a computer-generated, 360 degree view of different reality worlds

WA seniors living at Mercy Health aged care homes are travelling to far-flung locations across the world thanks to innovative new software that is improving the lives of residents living with dementia and memory loss. Photo: Supplied

“One resident who spent many years as a sailor has even been able to get back onto a ‘yacht’, which was particularly special for everyone involved in his care.” Mercy Place Mandurah resident Beth Vine has been enjoying using the 3D goggles since they became a permanent feature at Mercy Health, following the initial trial. “I had never been to visit Antarctica or Africa until now, and the goggles make you feel like you’re really there on a new adventure,” Mrs Vine said.

353,800 Australians living with dementia, and this number is expected to increase to 400,000 in less than five years,” she said.

addressing the specific needs of

“The statistics in terms of the implications for residents in aged care are also confronting; according to Alzheimer’s Australia, three in 10 people over the age of 85 and almost one in 10 people over 65 have dementia, which is now the second leading cause of death in Australia.

way we are able to better care for

Ms Fitzgerald said the 3D goggles were one of the ways Mercy Health was striving to put best practice care options, therapy and activities in place to cater for older people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

“With such overwhelming statistics, it is clear that the number of people in aged care living with dementia is only set to increase, which sets a challenge for the aged care sector in general with regards to how we respond to that challenge over the coming decades.

“According to Alzheimer’s Australia, there are currently more than

“At Mercy Health, we recognise the need to ensure we are thoroughly

people living with dementia, and providing specialised complementary and diversionary activities is one these residents.” Mercy

Health

Catholic

community not-for-profit provider of care, founded by the Sisters of Mercy and grounded in a 2000 year history of caring for those in need. The organisation is a national service provider of health and aged care throughout Victoria, Southern New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland

and

the

Australian

Capital Territory. In

Western

Australia,

the

organisation cares for over 300 people across six residential homes, with 78 independent living units.

“The privilege of it is to be invited into the sacred space of people’s lives in all its messiness.”

GUESTS ON OTHER PEOPLE’S JOURNEYS WORDS Rachel Curry

t was the profound experience of his own spiritual journey that prompted Marist priest Father Stephen Truscott to set up the Fullness of Life Centre, where he has been helping people find their own paths for almost 30 years.

The Fullness of Life Centre was founded by the pair in 1988 and offers spiritual accompaniment, counselling, professional supervision, staff development, retreats and workshops and employee assistance programs.

Fr Truscott works alongside his CoDirector Celia Joyce at their office in Nedlands to promote the holistic development of individuals, groups and organisations.

Fr Truscott said he worked in three different parishes when he was a young priest, and although he enjoyed the experience, he felt called to another purpose. “I wanted to find ways to be more directly involved in the spiritual growth of people, so that’s when I went and trained as a spiritual director,” he said. “My ministry as a priest had been focused in that area for a long time. My own spiritual journey has always been important to me; I found the value of someone being a spiritual accompanier was helpful in my journey so I felt drawn to assist other people on their journeys.” Fr Truscott’s extensive qualifications include a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola

Marist priest Father Stephen Truscott and former midwife Celia Joyce describe spiritual direction as a vocation, rather than a job. They established the Fullness of Life Centre in Nedlands in 1988. Photo: Rachel Curry

“I loved my nursing, but the busyness of nursing meant there wasn’t always the appropriate care given to people,” she said. “Often when people come to hospital, they become more aware of the reality that hits them.”

University in Chicago and a PhD from Murdoch University examining the developmental influences that shape the practice of contemporary spiritual directors. He acknowledged his day-to-day work was somewhat unusual for a priest, recalling with a smile the conversations he would often have with strangers. “If I ever go to a parish function, people say to me, ‘What parish are you in?’ I say I haven’t worked in a parish since 1983 and they give me a confused look,” he said. However, Fr Truscott said there was no line of work in which he would rather be. “The privilege of it is to be invited into the sacred space of people’s lives in

all its messiness,” he said. “Sometimes people come in because they’ve had a critical incident in their life that they want to explore and sometimes there’s not a critical incident, but they simply want to deepen their spirituality. “For some people, it’s short term. For other people, we can be invited to accompany them over many years.” Like Fr Truscott, Ms Joyce was also called to spiritual direction after working in another setting – in her case as a nurse and midwife. During the decades she spent as a healthcare professional, she said she became aware of a lack of services for people who just wanted someone to listen to them.

Ms Joyce undertook Clinical Pastoral Education at Royal Perth Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney and later established the Pastoral Care Department at Mercy Hospital, now St John of God Mt Lawley. She still wasn’t satisfied, so she studied for her Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago, before starting full time work in spiritual direction. Ms Joyce said that as a former midwife, she now “gives birth to people’s lives in another way”. “It’s not so much that we have the answers, but we can work together with people to discern God’s call or their way of being in the world,” she said.

Catholics, the Fullness of Life Centre welcomes people of all religious faiths. As a not-for-profit organisation, it also offers its services to people from a variety of financial circumstances. “We try to make it available to all people, particularly people in marginalised settings,” Fr Truscott said. “We don’t funding but sliding scale endeavours our services everyone.”

have any we have a of fees that to make available to

The centre has also moved into the 21st century, with secure video conferencing offered for people in regional and remote areas, a phenomenon that Fr Truscott calls an emerging trend. Above all, the Fullness of Life Centre aims to provide a supportive environment to encourage personal and spiritual growth, he said.

“A truth told is never the same as a truth discovered.”

“It’s not preachy. At the end of the day, we’re guests on other people’s journeys as they try to discern God’s presence in their lives,” he said.

Although Fr Truscott and Ms Joyce are both

For more information, visit www.fullnessoflife.org.

I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

KERRY SHINES IN ACHIEVING BEST HEALTH AND WELLBEING OUTCOMES Clinical Nurse, Kerry Deakin, with Danny, who lives in an Identitywa shared home. Photo: Supplied.

As one of Western Australia’s leading agencies supporting people with disability and their families, Identitywa is committed to ensuring that all is being done to achieve the best health and wellbeing outcomes for the people it supports.

ith more than 500 individuals being assisted in the community and Identitywa’s shared living homes, it is critical that Identitywa’s staff are trained at the highest level to be able to achieve the best outcomes.

and Planning Officers, who work together with individuals and, in many cases, their family, to develop a health care plan that is comprehensive and aimed at catering for all aspects of their wellbeing.

Listening closely and respecting each individual’s wishes are critical to building close and respectful relationships.

A critical member of the team is Clinical Nurse, Kerry Deakin, who is tasked with overseeing the implementation of health care plans and their ongoing development and management.

Supporting Identitywa’s Shared Living services is a dedicated team of staff comprising Identitywa’s Clinical Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Positive Behaviour Support Officer

Ms Deakin is well placed to be able to successfully carry out her role. She has a broad range of experience, which she brought to Identitywa almost three years ago. Trained in

IDENTITYWA

... to understand, and to work with an individual’s family and the health professionals supporting them adult and paediatric nursing, she has specialised as an emergency nurse in both the public and private sectors and has extensive experience working with the management of chronic disease and cancer care. “Our role is to understand, and to work with an individual’s family and the health professionals supporting them, to ensure we are managing their health care and mobility needs,” Ms Deakin explained. “In our ongoing assessments of individuals, we identify the health supports that are required by referencing individual plans provided by each person’s health professional team and communicating with their general practitioner, medical specialist and therapist. “It is the support workers who ultimately administer the appropriate assistance to individuals.

cancer, respiratory conditions and diabetes are increasing throughout the general population. The impact of these chronic diseases on the people living in Identitywa’s shared living homes and in the community is an issue that support workers are required to manage daily. “Ensuring staff are ‘on the front foot’ underpins our successful management of health issues,” Ms Deakin said. “We are keenly aware, for example, of the importance of being proactive in the prevention of chronic disease in the people we support. “We know that there are a number of contributing lifestyle factors that influence a person’s general health and perhaps reduce the incidence of complications of chronic diseases.

“Constant monitoring and reviewing of health care plans is paramount to improving processes around medication administration. Senior staff engage in conversations with individuals and families around lifestyle. This can include their ‘endof-life’ concerns, as well as how to support them through grief and loss.” To ensure she is knowledgeable about contemporary care and processes, Ms Deakin values the opportunity to network with nurses from other organisations. “It is really valuable to share what others are doing within the disability sector and in general. It is so important that there is ongoing communication between health care providers and disability support agencies,” she said. “It benefits all of us as we endeavour to achieve the best level of wellbeing of the people we support.” For more information about the services offered by Identitywa, please call 08 9474 3303 or visit www.identitywa.com.au.

“We are always looking to improve the skills of the support worker so it is vital that we provide them with the most up-to-date training and support to assist them in their workplace. “For example, we are planning to introduce an early intervention system, which enables support staff to better identify changes in a person’s medical condition and then manage it quickly and effectively.” A growing area of focus for Identitywa staff is the increased prevalence of chronic diseases as people live longer lives. Diseases such as cardiovascular disease,

John accesses support at Identitywa’s Nollamara children’s home. Clinical Nurse, Kerry Deakin, is updating his health care plan with Support Worker, Maddy. Photo: Supplied

I S S U E 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

MOVIE REVIEW BY JOHN MULDERIG

Ben-Hur

Jack Huston stars in a scene from the movie Ben-Hur. CNS /Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.

ew films come to the screen with the kind of storied pedigree that lies behind Ben-Hur. Subtitled A Tale of the Christ, Civil War General Lew Wallace's best-selling 1880 novel, which had previously been made into a wildly successful stage play, first reached audiences of the newfangled cinema way back in 1907. Since that adaptation was completely unauthorized, however, a lawsuit resulted that still stands as a landmark in the development of copyright protection. Flash-forward nearly two decades and an epic-scale 1925 production starring Ramon Novarro and Francis X Bushman becomes, reputedly, the most expensive silent film ever made. This version struck critical gold and won popular favour, though the financial outcome - given that outsized budget - was murkier. The popularity of biblical themes and swords-and-sandals derring-do in the Hollywood of the 1950s made an update of Ben-Hur almost inevitable. And so the last year of that decade saw the release of director William Wyler's 212-minute extravaganza in which Charlton Heston, in the title role, stepped into a chariot and made movie history at breakneck speed. All that represents quite a historical and cultural burden for director Timur Bekmambetov and his collaborators - including executive producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey - to bear in bringing his "re-imagining" to the screen. Which is a shame, since, considered strictly on its own terms, his iteration of Wallace's classic story makes for a reasonably satisfying action picture.

THE RECORD MAGAZINE

The bad news for believers - whose hopes may have been raised by the participation of Burnett and Downey, fixtures in the world of Christianoriented media projects - is that, primarily because of a poorly written script, this Ben-Hur fails to convince when Wallace's religious theme comes to the fore. It arrives by way of what must still be a familiar plot to many, at least in its initial setup: First-century Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) lives a prosperous life in Jerusalem, where he carries on a friendly rivalry with his Roman adopted brother, Messala (Toby Kebbell), and finds happiness through marriage to his true love, Esther (Nazanin Boniadi). After Judah gives shelter to Dismas (Moises Arias), a young zealot who was wounded fighting against foreign rule, however, disaster strikes the House of Hur. So, too, does betrayal since Messala, now an influential army officer on the staff of Pontius Pilate (Pilou Asbaek), refuses to risk his career by helping the family that took him in as a child. Consigned to the miserable existence of a galley slave, and certain that the other members of his clan - including his mother, Naomi (Ayelet Zurer), and sister, Tirzah (Sofia Black-D'Elia), for whom Messala once carried a torch have all been executed, Judah thirsts for revenge against his foster sibling. Until, that is, multiple encounters with Jesus (Rodrigo Santoro) open his eyes to the value of forgiveness and reconciliation. Although the role of Dismas, whose subversive activities substitute for

those loose roof tiles that got Heston in trouble, is an innovation, the epic sea battle and that trademark chariot race remain. Aficionados of the 1959 version may find these lacking, but they're serviceable enough when weighed in isolation. The real trouble arises when screenwriters Keith Clarke and John Ridley turn from mere diversion to something deeper. By skimping on the careful and time-consuming character development that would have been needed to make Judah's ultimate conversion believable, they doom the religious dimension of Ben-Hur as surely as Dismas does its protagonist and his household. What viewers are left with is the cinematic equivalent of Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer's cheap grace, a redemption unjustified and unpersuasive precisely because it's unearned. Though the causalities that litter the arena as the movie's most famous sequence progresses would normally suggest recommendation for mature viewers only, other elements are discreet enough that attendance by older teens would probably not be out of place. The film contains generally stylised but harsh violence, with several grisly deaths and some gore, as well as a non-graphic marital bedroom scene. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

BOOK REVIEW

BEST-SELLING AUSSIE ILLUSTRATOR RELEASES SECOND COLOURING BOOK WORDS Caroline Smith

he increasingly popular trend of adult colouring books has been given a boost with the release of the second book by best-selling Australian illustrator, Lorien Atwood. The adult colouring book is sure to provide hours of pleasure for those attracted by the skill of fine pencil and ink manipulation.

ABOVE: The Lorien Atwood designs in the Reflections book use verses from the ESV translation and feature beautiful lettering and her unique and original designs. LEFT: Lorien Atwood says she loves to play with colour and create intricate designs on any blank surface that will stay still long enough. Images: Supplied.

Reflections: More Beautiful Bible Verses for Colouring features a collection of 18 elaborately illustrated Bible verses in a high quality colouring book that was released in May this year. Reflections follows Mrs Atwood’s first book, Meditations, which sold more than 10,000 copies in the three months following its release in October 2015, and has become an Australian Christian publishing phenomenon. Colouring books on a Christian theme are plentiful, but Mrs Atwood’s work is set apart by the fact that she begins with the verse, rather than simply adding words to an illustration. “The verse is the important bit,” she said. “The art is just an excuse to sit for a while to meditate on the Scripture, and enjoy a creative form of worship.” Mrs Atwood’s designs have been especially beneficial to people who have suffered grief, hospitalisation or mental health issues. Meditations has also travelled, with publishers in the United States of America and the United Kingdom taking it on in recent months and designs from the book being used in over 90 countries as refreshment and encouragement for missionaries and Christian workers.

According to her website, Mrs Atwood is a wife, mum and compulsive doodler from Australia.

reflect and meditate on God's word and encouraging others who also wish to do so.

She grew up surrounded by the rich design elements of South Asia and the Middle East and the tradition of mehendi or henna decoration, which has influenced her drawing style and patterns.

“It is my hope that many people will use my work to worship God and meditate on his truth.”

Mrs Atwood said she loves to play with colour and create intricate designs on any blank surface that will stay still long enough. “The idea to create colouring in resources that combine the therapeutic effects of colouring in with the healing and restorative nature of Scripture is one that sprang up fairly quickly,” she said. “However, I have long been passionate about using creative methods to

For those who use Mrs Atwood’s resources and enjoy them, there are ways you can share your art and stories. The ‘Colouring in Truth’ Facebook group aims to encourage people not only to colour in, but to use art themselves to meditate more on Scripture, and has become an uplifting and encouraging virtual Christian community, and a spur to evangelism. For more information, or to purchase a copy of Reflections, go to www.lorienillustrations.com/about-native/.

I S S U EI S4S SEPTEMBER U E 3 JULY 2016

EVENTS 1 OCT LONGING FOR ECSTASY: MONASTIC THEOLOGIES AND THEIR INFLUENCE This paper considers the way monastic writing in the 12th century drew attention to the Song of Songs in a much more personal way than adopted by Augustine and early medieval exegetes for whom the ‘Bride’ in the Song of Songs referred to the Church, disregarding the insight of Origen that the ‘Bride’ referred to both the Church and the individual soul. To understand and appreciate what these monastic writers had to say, we need to take seriously how much they valued what the Song had to say about longing for the experience of ecstasy. Guest speaker: Professor Constant Mews, Director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology at the School of Historical Studies, Monash University. Cost $60 ($35 concession) - includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Further info: Dr Carmel Posa SGS, 08 9654 8371, carmel.posa@newnorcia. wa.edu.au; Jill O’Brien, jill.obrien@ newnorcia.wa.edu.au. 6 TO 9 OCT JOURNEY TO THE SOURCE – RCIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE After 20 years, Perth is hosting the RCIA National Conference, with Western Australians sharing our warmth and hospitality. Metro Hotel, 61 Canning Hwy, South Perth, Thursday, 6 October to Sunday, 9 October. Click here for flyer. Further info: Karen Hart, rcia.cfl@ perthcatholic.org.au. 7 TO 9 OCT TEENS CAMP 2016 Catholic Youth Ministry presents Teens Camp, an action packed camp during the next school holidays 7-9 October at Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp. Look forward to huge games and adventure activities, inspirational talks from youth leaders, prayer and the sacraments, and making heaps of new friends! All high school aged teenagers (grades 7-12)

are invited to attend. Camp fee is $150 and includes all accommodation, food, and adventure activities. Further info: admin@cym.com.au; or 08 94227 912 or visit http://cym.com.au. 12 OCT HOLY MASS AND HEALING: TALK BY ALAN AMES The evening with start at 7pm with Mass and healing at Our Lady Queen of Poland Catholic Church 35 Eighth Ave, Maylands, followed by talk and prayers. Alan has been speaking and praying for healing around the world since 1994 and has spoken in more than 40 countries. Alan will speak after the Holy Mass and share his unique conversion experiences. Alan has the permission and support of Archbishop T Costelloe for these talks. Further info: Keith 0411 108 525. 14 TO 16 OCT BEING A CHRISTIAN Baptism, Bible, Eucharist and Prayer are basic to our being Christian. They work together as channels of the divine life of grace to bring about our transformation and our conformity to the image of a Jesus who continues to move compassionately among wounded and sinful people. The weekend will provide an opportunity to renew and deepen our grasp and appreciation of our Christian calling through a close reading of Rowan William’s little book, Being a Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer. Presented by David Barry osb. The text is available at www.amazon.com or through the Benedictine Institute for $15. Recommended cost $300. Further info: Dr Carmel Posa sgs, 08 9654 8371, carmel.posa@newnorcia. wa.edu.au; Jill O’Brien, jill.obrien@ newnorcia.wa.edu.au. 15 AND 22 OCT CATHOLIC WORSHIP BOOK II – WORKSHOP The Centre for Liturgy Workshop IV Session I will be on Saturday, 15 October and Session II Saturday, 22 October,

10.30-12.30pm, at St Benedict’s Parish, Canning Highway & Ardross Street, Applecross. The workshop will focus on how to use this new musical resource within the context of your parish and or school. The new hymnal is divided into two parts. The first session of the workshop will teach the Service music and the second session of the workshop will teach the hymns relating to the Seasons and the Feasts. For registration click here. Cost: $10 per workshop. Further info: Geraldine Schivardi; 08 9207 3350 or cfl@perthcatholic.org.au. 25 OCT 12TH NATIONAL ECONFERENCE: MERCY - A WAY OF BEING IN THE WORLD Second offering, 10-2pm, Newman Siena Centre, 33 Williamstown Road, Doubleview. Keynote speakers, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Dr Veronica Lawson RSM, Mr Phil Glendenning. This eConference, hosted by the Centre for Faith Enrichment, will celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy and take up Pope Francis’ invitation to explore mercy, a central element of our faith. No cost. Lunch and morning tea provided. Further info or to register, visit www.cfe.org.au, cfe@ perthcatholic.org.au, or 08 9241 5221. 27 OCT CELEBRATING OF VOICE AND WINDS The 3rd concert in the 2016 Cathedral Concert Series will be held on Thursday 27 October 7.30pm. The vibrant UWA School of Music team up with our Cathedral musicians again to present this mixed programme which includes sacred and instrumental works by Mozart, Brahms, Barber and organ works of Vierne and Renaissance vocal pieces. A special feature is the Mozart’s ‘Mass in C minor’ K139 in a never before heard version re-orchestrated by the composition students from UWA– a very special treat!! For tickets http://www.ticketswa.com/event/ celebration-voice-and-winds-concert-3 or ticketswa direct 08 6488 2440 (between 12noon – 4pm).

Send your events to communications@perthcatholic.org.au To ensure publication, please send details a month prior before the scheduled date of your event. 30

THE RECORD MAGAZINE

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SEPTEMBER 2016

ISSUE 4

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