Pastoral Practitioner
Casual opportunity | Residential Aged Care | Georges River / St George area
Make a meaningful difference where it matters most
Closing date for all applications, Friday, September 11th, 2026
There are some roles where what you do matters. And then there are roles where how you are with people matters just as much.
As a Pastoral Practitioner with Uniting, you’ll have the opportunity to walk alongside older people and their families through some of life’s most significant moments – offering a listening ear, companionship, spiritual care, comfort and connection.
Based across our residential aged care communities in the Georges River and St George area, you’ll become a trusted and valued part of the community. You’ll take the time to understand each person’s story, what matters to them and what gives their life meaning.
This might be sitting quietly with someone who is having a difficult day, supporting a resident through grief or change, sharing a prayer or reflection, helping a family through a significant moment, or simply being present when someone needs to know they are not alone.
It is purposeful work. It is deeply human work. And it can make an enormous difference.
About the role
As a Pastoral Practitioner, you’ll provide person-centred spiritual and pastoral care to residents, families and, where appropriate, staff.
Your approach will be inclusive, culturally sensitive and respectful of all faiths, beliefs and spiritual expressions, providing religious care within the Christian tradition where appropriate.
You’ll build genuine relationships and help create an environment where residents feel known, heard, respected and connected.
What you’ll be doing
- Providing one-to-one pastoral and spiritual support to residents, families and sometimes staff.
- Supporting people through grief, adjustment, anxiety, illness and end-of-life.
- Listening deeply and helping people explore meaning, hope, belonging and connection.
- Providing prayer, reflection and Christian spiritual care where appropriate, while respecting people of all faiths and beliefs.
- Building trusting relationships and taking the time to understand each resident’s background, beliefs and life story.
- Supporting chapel services, worship, memorial services and other spiritual or reflective activities.
- Working alongside care staff, facility managers, volunteers and the Chaplaincy & Pastoral Practice team to provide genuinely holistic care.
- Contributing to care planning, referrals and appropriate documentation of pastoral care.
- Maintaining professional boundaries, confidentiality and high standards of practice.
- Participating in supervision, training and reflective practice to continue your professional and personal development.
- Living Uniting’s values of compassion, respect, inclusion and dignity in everything you do.
About the Georges River and St George community
The Georges River and St George area is home to wonderfully diverse communities, rich in culture, connection and community spirit. Our residential aged care communities are places where people bring with them decades of experiences, relationships, traditions and stories.
This role is about becoming part of those communities – not simply providing a service to residents.
You’ll have the privilege of meeting people at different stages of their lives and helping them maintain a sense of identity, purpose and belonging. You’ll work alongside families, volunteers and care teams to make sure the person behind the care plan is never forgotten.
Whether you’re sharing a conversation over a cup of tea, sitting with someone in a moment of sadness, celebrating a milestone or providing comfort at the end of life, your presence can matter enormously.
About you
You’ll bring warmth, maturity and genuine compassion to your work, along with the ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and walks of life.
You’ll be comfortable having meaningful conversations, including conversations about faith, spirituality, loss, ageing and end-of-life. You’ll also understand that pastoral care isn't about having all the answers – sometimes the most important thing you can offer is your time, your attention and your presence.
You’ll be someone who:
- Has experience in pastoral care, chaplaincy, spiritual care or a related discipline.
- Can provide appropriate Christian pastoral and spiritual care while working inclusively with people of all beliefs.
- Builds trust easily and communicates with empathy and respect.
- Understands the importance of person-centred care and professional boundaries.
- Is comfortable working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary aged care environment and willingness to work in multiple facilities/locations.
- Values reflective practice, supervision and ongoing learning.
- Is confident documenting care and maintaining appropriate records.
- Willingness to work in multiple facilities/locations
Why Uniting?
At Uniting, our purpose is to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.
Our residential aged care communities are about much more than care. They are about people continuing to live meaningful lives, maintain relationships and feel a sense of belonging.
As a Pastoral Practitioner, you’ll play a unique role in making that happen.
If you believe that sometimes the greatest gift, we can give another person is our time, our attention and our presence, we’d love to hear from you.
Join Uniting and put compassion into action.
If this sounds like meaningful work you would value, we would be very happy to have a conversation about the arrangement that could work for you and for our service.
Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Louise Massie via email at [email protected]
At Uniting, pastoral and spiritual care is about the whole person.
We welcome and support people of all faiths, spiritualities, cultures and worldviews. Our approach respects each individual’s beliefs, identity, choices and life story while creating opportunities for meaning, purpose, hope, belonging and connection.
As part of the Mission team, you will join an organisation whose purpose is to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice, and whose pastoral care is grounded in compassion, dignity, inclusion and respect.
If you are someone who understands the value of simply being present, listening without judgement, recognising what matters and supporting people through some of life’s most significant moments – we’d love to hear from you.
Mandatory Reporters are employees who deliver services directly to children and young people, or who supervise employees who deliver these services. However, all employees are responsible for applying the Protecting Children and Young People Policy.
Employment with Uniting will require background checks, including a Working with Children Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check, Police Check and references.