Meet Theo – Pastoral Care Manager
“The best part of it all is working with all my colleagues, including clinical and support services, and also my team. Their kindness, compassion, care and consistency (contributing week in, week out) inspires me daily.”
Theo has worked at UnitingCare since 2010 and Buderim Private Hospital since 2018, and provides pastoral care to patients and staff and also leads the hospital’s mission practices.
Learn more about Theo with our ‘Fast Five’ questions:
1. How would you describe your role and what’s the best part?
Chaplaincy (Pastoral Care) is a bit like being part of the Coast Guard for people. We go out and check on the flotilla of boats (patients, family and staff) that are sailing on the health sector sea to see how they are going. We check in with what help and support they need and hopefully contribute in some way for them to get through the storms. The best part of it all is working with all my colleagues, including clinical and support services and also my team. Their kindness, compassion, care and consistency (contributing week in, week out) inspires me daily.
2. What does a typical day at the hospital look like for you?
No day is ever the same but they all involve some form of sustaining others, being a listening ear, offering presence and solidarity and helping people reconcile matters triggered by their health journey or this health setting. This can be anywhere from in the car park to the intensive care unit, from the coffee shop to the cardiac catheter laboratory or from the chapel to the emergency centre, etc.
3. What’s one thing about your role that surprises people?
That Chaplains are normal human beings and that Collingwood supporters are really the best of people.
4. What did the year 2020 teach you?
It did reinforce to me that perspective and gratefulness is paramount in life. To be thankful and to always keep being mindful of others contexts (both locally and globally).
5. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Laughing, eating, wondering, exploring, conversing, exerting, cheering, learning and finally, sleeping.
Learn more about Year of the Health and Care Worker and Buderim Private Hospital