Disaster recovery chaplains have had their longest summer in years. The drought, bushfires and now floods have ravaged the country and left thousands in need of support. Guest host Justine Toh speaks with three disaster recovery chaplains who were deployed to spiritually support people in the midst of crisis.
In this episode:
Debates around school chaplaincy have left Australians with a message that chaplains may be sneaky evangelists, but chaplains are active in a range of contexts and come from many faith traditions.
Being a disaster chaplain means being present with people who've gone through a traumatic event, but chaplains are human too and aren't immune from the trauma they witness.
"The victims are in our thoughts and prayers" is commonly heard after a tragedy. Is it a substitute for action, or something more?
More Information
Read about hospital chaplain Venerable Cher Gin Gun and hear his conversation with ABC Northern Tasmania's Rick Eaves: Burnie's Buddhist hospital chaplain also committed to fire fighting
Hear Rachael Kohn's full interview with Salvation Army chaplain Major David Brunt on The Spirit of Things: Fire and Light
Guests:
Rev Dr Stephen Robinson is senior chaplain and coordinator of the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network (DRCN) and author of the book, Ministry in Disaster Settings: Lessons from the Edge.
Venerable Tenpa Bejanke Duim is a Buddhis nun, pastoral care worker, counsellor and one of several Buddhists who are part of the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network.
The Rev Jennie Everist is pastoral care minister at St Luke's Anglican Church in Miranda. She was based at the Ulladulla evacuation centre at the height of the bushfires.
Presenter:
Justine Toh
Producers:
Rohan Salmond / Hong Jiang