The Role and Value of Chaplains in an Australian Ambulance Service: A Comparative Study of Chaplain and Paramedic Perspectives.

Tunks Leach, K; Simpson, P; Lewis, J; Levett-Jones, T

The Role and Value of Chaplains in an Australian Ambulance Service: A Comparative Study of Chaplain and Paramedic Perspectives.

Tunks Leach, K

Simpson, P Lewis, J

Levett-Jones, T

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Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: J Relig Health, 2022, pp. 1-19
Issue Date:: 2022-11-19

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tunks Leach, K https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5195-4782
dc.contributor.author	Simpson, P
dc.contributor.author	Lewis, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8668-712X
dc.contributor.author	Levett-Jones, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4279-8957
dc.date.accessioned	2022-12-01T05:05:16Z
dc.date.available	2022-10-18
dc.date.available	2022-12-01T05:05:16Z
dc.date.issued	2022-11-19
dc.identifier.citation	J Relig Health, 2022, pp. 1-19
dc.identifier.issn	0022-4197
dc.identifier.issn	1573-6571
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/164010
dc.description.abstract	Chaplains are embedded in several ambulance services across Australia, however as Australia's religiosity is currently in decline and questions are being asked about retaining chaplains, little is actually known about their role and value within Ambulance services. The aim of this paper is to present the key findings from interviews with chaplains about their role and value of being ambulance chaplains. These findings are then compared with those of paramedics derived from an earlier phase of this study. Thirteen chaplains participated in semi-structured interviews, and data were analysed using framework analysis. The results indicated that ambulance chaplains provided paramedic-centred emotional and spiritual care through proactively and reactively supporting paramedics in their work. Chaplains saw value in their relational approach which facilitated trust and access, did not seek to 'fix' or diagnose but instead offered physical and emotional presence, and promoted supportive conversations. Chaplains and paramedics valued operationally trained and equipped ambulance chaplains who provided a relational, around the clock, 'frontline' staff support presence in paramedic workplaces, regardless of the paramedic's personal religious/spiritual beliefs.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.ispartof	J Relig Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s10943-022-01685-4
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Social Psychology
dc.title	The Role and Value of Chaplains in an Australian Ambulance Service: A Comparative Study of Chaplain and Paramedic Perspectives.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-12-01T05:05:15Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online

Abstract:

Chaplains are embedded in several ambulance services across Australia, however as Australia's religiosity is currently in decline and questions are being asked about retaining chaplains, little is actually known about their role and value within Ambulance services. The aim of this paper is to present the key findings from interviews with chaplains about their role and value of being ambulance chaplains. These findings are then compared with those of paramedics derived from an earlier phase of this study. Thirteen chaplains participated in semi-structured interviews, and data were analysed using framework analysis. The results indicated that ambulance chaplains provided paramedic-centred emotional and spiritual care through proactively and reactively supporting paramedics in their work. Chaplains saw value in their relational approach which facilitated trust and access, did not seek to 'fix' or diagnose but instead offered physical and emotional presence, and promoted supportive conversations. Chaplains and paramedics valued operationally trained and equipped ambulance chaplains who provided a relational, around the clock, 'frontline' staff support presence in paramedic workplaces, regardless of the paramedic's personal religious/spiritual beliefs.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/164010