Brilliant work…As a non-faith based organisation we have felt included and extended our own understanding – and role in – ensuring that older Australians in our care are provided with opportunities to explore and express their spirituality. In whatever form that takes. Thank you.
Member survey Nov 2017Busy enough? Death Backpack and more in our latest news
I don't need to tell you that there is a lot happening in aged care at present. In addition to actively supporting 1.3 million older Australians, engaging with many millions more who make up their families and loved ones, plus inspiring a workforce of 366 000 people*,...
read more
Table Talk – A Conversation Game
Meaningful Ageing Australia is trialling a new resource with member organisations and seeks your feedback! Table Talk: A game of conversations, was designed in the UK to spark deeper conversations for older people. Following simple guidelines, a facilitator gives an...
read more
Building a relationship with death: How do residential aged care workers find meaning when caring for people who are dying?
My grandfather died in my arms and it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Pa was a determined, some might say stubborn man who was buried on what would have been his 95th birthday. A farmer, his body had been strengthened by years of hard work and...
read moreSpirituality is more than religion
As the peak body for spiritual care and ageing, we know it can come as quite a surprise to many people to find out that spirituality is more than religion. Spirituality is integral to, but not confined by, religion and faith. It is about what gives us a purpose to our lives. It is about our sources of meaning and hope, which in turn is intimately related to our connectedness to ourselves, to others and to the world. We are not a faith-based organisation. We work with organisations who come from a wide range of world views and are united around a common goal of full quality of life for the older people they are serving.
Our main activities
We create high quality, practical resources enabling best practice pastoral and spiritual care for older people.
We deliver engaging education services.
We advocate with government and key agencies regarding the value of spiritual care for older people.
Impact
The impact of our work is seen in comments from our members:
“The National Guidelines have helped our organisation see that there are better ways of structuring our organisation to give greater meaning and purpose” in the lives of clients.
“Since beginning with Dementia Services, our staff are noticing a reduction in disruptive behaviours at meal times and less anxiety between residents.”
“Our staff are having talks about wanting to see people employed because of character, not technical skill. This has been a big change.”
Who are we?
We are a growing membership based not-for-profit, supporting organisations and groups to respond to the pastoral and spiritual needs of older people, their significant others, and their carers. We advocate for spiritual care to be included in all care settings. Membership is open to organisations and groups who provide support, care and/or accommodation to older people. We have begun with a focus on community and residential aged care. We work with a wide range of organisations: faith-based and not faith-based, private sector and charitable.
If you are someone who shares that vision, or is simply curious about how something like ‘spirituality’ can be an integral part of caring, then we would love to stay in touch. Please take some time to learn about us on this site and join our mailing list.
Our website for seniors and their loved ones is seemeknowme.org.au.
What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is the way we seek and express meaning and purpose; the way we experience our connection to the moment, self, others, our world and the significant or sacred. (adapted from California Lutheran Homes Centre for Spirituality and Ageing)
There is now a large body of evidence showing that spiritual care is an essential part of holistic care for everyone, particularly older people including, importantly, those with dementia.
For more definitions please read our definitions document found here
Our Melbourne office is on the land of the Wurundjeri people.
We are registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission.
Thank you for your outstanding work. Your resources have become a fundamental part of our work.
Member survey Nov 2017Latest resources
