Students ‘hands-on’ with care

A university placement program is giving budding student counsellors valuable ‘hands-on’ experience in the aged and disability sector, as well as offering “comfort and companionship” to facilities’ residents.

Eight students from the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP) have been undertaking placements as pastoral care workers since August at Victoria’s not-for-profit aged and disability services organisation, Villa Maria.

The program complements Pastoral Care Week which began celebrations on Sunday, 23 October 2011 to help create awareness of the contribution of spiritual care towards the health and well-being of people.

Pastoral care has reportedly been delivered to thousands of people, offering comfort and companionship, spiritual and emotional support and encouragement, and helping people to
“reconnect” with what gives their life meaning and value.

Leading the students is one of Villa Maria’s pastoral care coordinators, Maureen O’Sullivan, who, along with 12 trained volunteers, has been offering support to residents, their families and Villa Maria staff.

Students have been supporting residents and their families at Villa Maria’s Bundoora, Berwick and Prahran aged care residences, and adults living with acquired physical disabilities, such as brain injury, stroke, aged residents and their carers.

Listening and talking to people on topics such as grief, loss and the anxiety and frustration around dementia diagnosis, Ms O’Sullivan says the students, who are mostly mature-aged, are able to broaden their experience in listening and attentiveness.

“The students are very respectful, honouring the values and mission of our organisation, particularly our person-centred approach,” she says.

ACAP student, Kathy Edelman, says the “hands-on” experience has been an “invaluable” opportunity.

“I spend a lot of time just listening to people’s stories,” Ms Edelman says. “I find they quite often just need someone to quietly talk to, aside from the staff members who are obviously very busy with their everyday tasks,” she adds.

Now nearing the end of her placement, Ms Edelman says: “it has been a terrific opportunity, and hopefully also for the people I’ve listened to.”

For more information about the pastoral care program at Villa Maria, call (03) 9855 7675 or email pastoral.care@villamaria.com.au.