How do you picture the work of military chaplains? Carl Aiken carl.aiken@health.sa.gov.au

Chaplaincy and Health Care in the ADFThe relationship between body, mind and soul

How do you picture the work of military

chaplains?

Carl Aikencarl.aiken@health.sa.gov.au

Some images…..

Performing Ritual

Relating

Identifying

A bit about me….

17 years Army Reserve service

• Postings in Health, Logistics and Training

• Operational Deployments

# Pakistan Assist – Humanitarian Operation

# Middle East Area of Operations

10 years health care chaplaincy experience

Seminar based on article in ADF Health Journal –

Dec 2008

The Military Chaplaincy Doctrine

The provision of religious ministry, pastoral care, character and moral guidance, advice to commanders and supervisors re religious, morale and welfare issues.

Presentation conflicts with Reality

• Presentation and Image of Army chaplains as predominantly dispensers of religious care

• Reality of the role is highly pastoral and relational

Military Chaplains are highly Skilled

• Military training in leadership, critical incident management, problem solving, suicide

prevention

• Solid foundation in religious, moral and ethical issues

• Live with the reality of the conflict of serving both God and the military

• Strong collaboration between chaplains

On the groundOr

Chaplaincy in an Operational Environment

My main role was the provision of pastoral care and counselling

The issues included

• The moral legitimacy of conflict

• Relationships with coalition partners

• The reality of conflict – danger, death and injury

Operational Environment....continued

• Living conditions- proximity and lack of privacy- working relationships

• Harsh physical environment

• The stuff from home- illness/death of

parents/siblings/children- children’s issues – behaviour, school

performance, missing parent- spouse issues – separation, parenting,

work, house, coping

The Problem

• On operational deployment issues such as bereavement, coping with separation or

stress and relationship breakdown were treated as medical or psychological problems (‘medicalised’) or as administrative issues

• The relationships and responsibilities between the caring professions of medical, psychological and chaplaincy were generally not well defined or understood

The Problem....continued

• The early or inappropriate use of medical and/or psychological services overwhelms excellent but limited resources

• Coalition partners have ‘worked this space’ much more effectively and with greater

understanding and co-operation.

Operational Chaplaincy

• Chaplains are an under utilised operational resource – a holistic approach would

address this

Key Issues

• Good mental health and personal resilience are important in enabling service personnel to cope with the rigours of deployment, perform at a high standard, and return home in good emotional and psychological health

• The values and beliefs that an individual holds – the essence of spirituality – andsignificant components of resilience are ignored in the Australian context.

Military Chaplaincy

&

Healthcare Chaplaincy

• Both have hierarchy

• Chaplains valued but not understood

The differences……..

Health Care Chaplaincy

Multi-faith environment

Holistic/multi-disciplinary setting with case conferences

Sharing information

Consolidated notes and information

Military Chaplaincy

Religious emphasis

Isolation of care sectors

Training for crisis and military leadership

Bringing it Together in Chaplaincy 1

• The World Health Organisation Pastoral Care Codes (ICD 10-AM)

• I used the code on ops to quantify what I did…it works outside of

health!!!

• Provides a great framework

Bringing it Together in Chaplaincy 2

• Our value as Chaplains is in relationships...in both settings!

• The key tool of our trade is the pastoral conversation

• Our focus is being with not doing to

Coalition partners

• Chaplains embedded in preparation for operations and return from

theatre are programs

• Battlemind Program

• Warrior transition program• Doctor, financial advisor, marriage/family

therapist/….chaplain led

Plea to Chaplains

• Focus on the ‘care chain of command’

• Claim your ground and competencies

• Recognise your unique contribution

• Understand that you have the networks!!!• Military, civilian, welfare … that others don’t