Pastoral Healthcare Network Australia – Geelong Centre located at 264 Shannon Ave Geelong West, is an independent , community based not-for-profit health promotion charity, offering professional healthcare and support services to people of all ages living with -:
• Chronic illness
• Acute illnesses
• Life limiting illnesses
• Grief & loss issues
• Anxiety & depression
• Loneliness and isolation
• Spiritual distress
• Stress related illness
• Carer burnout
The range of services offered include,
• Pastoral Nursing Care
• Health assessments
• Health counselling
• Health information sessions
• Advocacy
• Referral services
• Exercise classes
• Meditation sessions
• Myotherapy
• Hand or foot massage
• Singing sessions
• Hospitality & listening lounge
• Carer respite
• Education eg,CPR , Managing Hypertension , Dementia , Stress
PHNA is staffed by people devoted to combining their medical expertise and faith-inspired compassion to the activity / ministry of holistic healing.
They each offer a unique and effective combination of medical know-how with prayer-filled empathy – the most effective medicine of all!
Such a service offering is extended to everyone in the community but particularly to those who otherwise don’t receive such attention.
PROGRAMS
In our outreach to the greater community, The Pastoral Healthcare Network also provides a series of unique programs & resources.
Some of these include:
Pocket Heart Ministry
Pocket sized felt hearts , providing tangible comfort -in times of illness , grief or loss giving permission to grieve knowing others care.
Our Hand Made Hearts of Hope & HealingPrayer Shawl Ministry
Shawls handknitted in prayer, to wrap and enfold one in times of sorrow and pain.
Operation Hope Project
Fighting depression and despair with words of encouragement and care, stored in signature boxes for ready access.
Carers Day out
A day out for all those who serve in a carer role to receive some well earned pampering and a wide range of resources to help them in their role. Choose from hand or foot massage, Bowen Therapy, manicure, foot spas, etc.
‘Signed’ Prayer
A gentle but powerful moving art of prayer. Common prayers and blessings are taught in sign language and combined with movement and music. Ideal fuel for mind , body and spirit.
Health Assessments
Individual Health assessments conducted by Division 1 Nurses and /or appropriate referrals and or advocacy arranged.
Blood Pressure Screenings
Free Blood presssure minitoring sessions arranged after Church services and healthy lifestyle information given.
Topical Health Information Seminars
Workshops and Seminars arranged on relevant health issues to your community. Experts in the field invited to share latest developments , whilst PHN staff link Spirituality with healthcare.
Workshops
Tailored to meet demands in your commnunity, eg Living with memory loss, Creating safe & healthy environments.
Nurse Education- Pastoral Nursing Role
Curriculum, adapted from the International Parish Nurse Resource Centre , St Louis Missouri, is offeerd for Nurses who feel called to specialise in Pastoral and Spiritual Healthcare.
Volunteer Training – in Faith Communities
Training is provided to empower laity to utilise their gifts so they can support pastoral healthcare services in their faith communities.
Grief & loss notes series
Resourcing groups with a series of notes at periods of 1 -2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months to help people understand the normal grief reactions.
The Five Wishes program – Future Healthcare Planning resourcing
Assisting people make decisions about their future healthcare and what they want thier loved ones to know after they have gone.
Creating Healthy Workplaces – Workplace Assessment & Training
Conducting audits on workplaces and facilitating training and policy and procedure development in order to create safe & healthy workplaces.
Prayer Bead Ministry
Bead bracelets and finger rings are handmade and packed with prayer cards for prayers such as the Serenity Prayer and the Lords prayer as an aid to meditation on the words.
Promoting Healthy Eating Program
Sponsored by local businesses, Fresh fruit and vegetable boxes are delivered each week , free of charge to identified families, complete with a healthy eating recipe and an inspirational quote or health tip.
Prayer & Meditation resources
Candles decorated with ‘Faith, Hope & Love’ are handmade as an aid to prayer and meditation.
Health Ministry support team
Volunteer groups of individuals committed to helping others in their homes are trained and supported in this truly powerful outreach of God’s love & mercy.
Grief & Loss Workshops
Based on the Seasons program from Centacare Catholic Family Services.
