The Spiritual Care team offers compassionate, listening, supportive presence. We honour the dignity and value of every person. Conversation with a spiritual carer allows you to explore your inner resources and outer supports. This exploration can sustain you through tough times, enhancing your emotional and spiritual well-being.
Spiritual care draws on respect, trust, and understanding.
Spiritual Care is part of the multidisciplinary team. We provide support for patients, families, friends and staff. A spiritual carer is available in each ward and in outpatient areas of the hospital.
Spiritual care can be beneficial at any stage of the cancer experience, including when:
- You have been recently diagnosed with cancer
- Your disease status has changed
- You have received news that highlights the uncertainty of your future
- You have questions about life, meaning, and purpose
- You are feeling sad, lonely or isolated
- Family members need support
- You/your family member is moving towards the end of life
- You have specific religious or spiritual needs
Reflection Space
The Reflection Space is on the ground floor of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
It is open 24 hours a day and offers a quiet space for:
- Reflection
- Meditation
- Personal prayer
- Sanctuary
Our Reflection Space welcomes people of all faiths and those with no religious affiliation.
Within the Reflection Space is an organ and a piano (behind the curtain on the left) available for use by patients, visitors, and staff.
Outside the Reflection Space sacred texts and icons are located on a bookshelf on the right. These include materials from the main world faiths. Separate ablution facilities, prayer rugs and a dedicated space for Islamic prayer practice are available.
On the bookshelf is also a book for people to write prayers in. These can be prayers of thanksgiving, hope, despair or request.
Daily Reflection
Every weekday morning from 9:00am - 9:15am a member of Spiritual Care offers a reflection in the Reflection Space. This can include poetry, music, contemplative texts or meditation. All are welcome to attend.
Meditation
Spiritual Care run group meditation sessions:
- Monday 10:30am – 11:00am
- Tuesday 10:30am – 11:00am
- Thursday 10:30am – 11:00am
Location: Wellbeing Centre, 1st Floor, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne.
Who can attend?
Inpatients, outpatients, relatives, friends, and staff are very welcome. No experience is necessary.
You do not need to book for sessions which are offered free of charge.
Meditating in a group deepens the practice of quietening the mind and promotes relaxation. This can help create inner stillness and peace. It can enhance connection with your wisdom, courage, and insight.
Memorial Service
We hold an annual memorial service in November. During this time, we remember the lives of patients who have died throughout the year.
Life Reflections
Spiritual Care offers Life Reflections, a process which produces a document that tells your life story. A guided interview of around one hour is digitally recorded, transcribed and edited with your input. You may also like to include photos. The final narrative is printed as a bound document and may be shared with chosen family and friends.
Life Reflections can be a meaningful process when facing a time-limiting illness. It gives an opportunity to reflect upon matters of importance, particularly key aspects of your life as well as hopes and messages for loved ones. Please ask a member of staff to contact Spiritual Care if this is of interest.
Availability of spiritual care
Spiritual Care offers an on-call service, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Referral information
If you wish to see a spiritual carer, please speak to your doctors, nurses or ward clerk. You can also contact Spiritual Care directly on (03) 8559 5236 (8:30am-4:30pm, otherwise leave a message). If it is after hours and urgent please call the Switchboard on (03) 8559 5000 and you will be connected to the on-call spiritual carer.
Location
Reflection Space
Ground floor (behind the research lifts)
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
305 Grattan Street
Melbourne, 3000
Contact us
Spiritual Care
- Phone: (03) 8559 5236 (open 8:30am-4:30pm)
Please leave a message on the answering machine if our reception staff are unable to answer your call. We will return your call as soon as possible within business hours.
If urgent and out of hours, please call the switchboard on (03) 8559 5000. The operator will connect you to the spiritual carer on duty.
Spiritual Care resources
Downloads
Links
- Spiritual Health Association
- Spiritual Care Australia
- Association for Supervised and Clinical Pastoral Education in Victoria Incorporated