Mrs Ruth Davenport1, Ms Lisa Hobbs1, Dr Scott Devenish2
1University Of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Australia
2Australian Catholic University, Banyo, Australia
Background: Every day, emergency services personnel (police, fire, and ambulance) provide an essential service to the community responding to a wide variety of critical situations and incidents, which can often be confronting, high risk, and traumatising. Research shows that emergency service work places these first responders at greater risk of stress, physical ailments, burnout and mental health conditions. In each of the emergency services organisations, chaplains provide pastoral care to staff and the general community. Chaplains are also a conduit between emergency services agencies and the faith community. The role of emergency services chaplains during and after critical incidents in Queensland has not been examined, nor have facilitators and barriers to interprofessional chaplaincy collaboration been explored.
Method: This study will investigate the attitudes and experiences of emergency services chaplains in a rural centre, and emergency agency State Chaplains. Participants will participate in a one-on-one interview regarding their chaplaincy role, experience of inter-agency chaplaincy engagement at critical incidents, and views on further inter-agency chaplaincy engagement.
Results: Data collection will commence post ethical clearance. It will be of interest to see the types of themes that emerge about chaplaincy in each of the emergency services, and how these three professions engage with each other through chaplaincy.
Conclusion: The proposed study will address a gap in the emergency services and spiritual literature about the interprofessional collaboration and relationship of emergency services chaplains in Australia. It is expected the data generated could inform further initiatives of chaplaincy engagement within the emergency services.
Biography:
Ruth is an Advanced Care Paramedic, Peer Support Officer and Chaplain for the Queensland Ambulance Service on the Darling Downs. Ruth is currently studying a Bachelor of Science (Honours) through the University of Southern Queensland.