Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Correctional Services and Prison Chaplaincy in Australia: An Exploratory Study

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper summarizes an exploratory study undertaken to consider the work of Australian chaplaincy personnel ministering to prisoners within correctional facilities. This qualitative research was not concerned with specific correctional institutions per se, but predominantly about the perspectives of chaplains concerning their professional contribution and issues they experienced while trying to provide pastoral care to prisoners. Data from a single-focus group indicated that prison chaplains were striving to fulfill religious and spiritual duties according to national and international standards for the treatment of prisoners. Given various frustrations identified by participants, that either impeded or thwarted their professional role as chaplains, a number of improvements were subsequently identified in order to develop the efficiency and effectiveness of chaplaincy and thus maximize the benefits of pastoral care to prisoners. Implications of this exploratory study relate not only to prison chaplaincy but also to ecclesiastical organizations, correctional facilities, governments and the need of support for further research to be conducted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AHWCA. (1998). Health care chaplaincy standards. Melbourne, Victoria: Australian Health and Welfare Chaplains Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, L. B. (2008). I’ve never been more blessed in all my life”: Correctional Services chaplaincy review. Melbourne: Australian Health and Welfare Chaplains Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, L. B. (2012). The utility and commissioning of spiritual carers. In M. Cobb, B. Rumbold, & C. Puchalski (Eds.), The Oxford textbook of spirituality in healthcare (pp. 397–408). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, L. B., & Cohen, J. (2008). Religion, spirituality and health care treatment decisions: The role of chaplains in the Australian clinical context. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 15, 25–39. doi:10.1080/08854720802698491.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, L. B., & Del Medico, L. (2013). Chaplaincy and mental health care in Aotearoa New Zealand: An exploratory study. Journal of Religion and Health, 52(1), 46–65. doi:10.1007/s10943-012-9622-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CCACNSW. (1999). The role of corrective services chaplaincy in New South Wales. Sydney: Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittens, B. (2002). ‘A wheel of misfortune’, Behind the walls, Sydney: The Salvation Army Australia, 15 Aug, 1–2.

  • HCCCACSA. (2002). Prison chaplaincy. Adelaide: The Heads of Christian Churches Chaplaincy Advisory Committee, South Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • HCCG (2002). Cross, R. Carey, L.B., Allen, N., Owens, N. Health Care Chaplaincy Guidelines, Melbourne: Australian Health and Welfare Chaplains Association.

  • ICRC (1949). The Geneva conventions, International Committee of the Red Cross, Aug 12, Geneva, Switzerland.

  • Newell, C. N., & Carey, L. B. (2000). Economic rationalism and the cost efficiency of hospital chaplaincy. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 10(1), 37–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NHSTD. (1993). Healthcare chaplaincy standards. Bristol: NHS Training Directorate.

    Google Scholar 

  • PHCPE (2001). ‘Impact of inmate participation in chaplaincy programs’, Chaplain professional equity, Precious Heart, 15 Aug, 1–2.

  • Potter, H. (1999). Prisons, Legood, G. (Ed), Chaplaincy: The churches sector ministries (pp. 100–108), London: Cassell.

  • UN (1955). Standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, 1st United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, United Nations, Geneva.

  • UNESCO (1977). Standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, United Nations Economic and Social Council Organization, Resolution 2076 (LXII), 13 May 1977, United Nations, Geneva.

  • WHO (2002). ‘Pastoral Interventions’, ICD-10-AM: International classification of diseases, Geneva: World Health Organization, vol. 10—Australian Modification.

Download references

Acknowledgments

It is important to acknowledge the Salvation Army Chaplains who participated in this research. Their willingness to share their time, their experience and their knowledge is gratefully appreciated. Specific appreciation must also be acknowledged to Chaplain Major Christine Broadbere (Rtd) and Spiritual Care Australia for encouraging such research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Palliative Care Unit, Department of Health, School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin St., Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Lindsay B. Carey & Laura Del Medico

Authors
  1. Lindsay B. Carey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura Del Medico
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lindsay B. Carey.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carey, L.B., Medico, L.D. Correctional Services and Prison Chaplaincy in Australia: An Exploratory Study. J Relig Health 53, 1786–1799 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9788-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9788-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation