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- Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026, 12:30pm AEST
- Duration: 1 hour
- Type: Event
- Venue: online
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Humanity at the heart of healthcare: Maintaining focus in the face of competing demands, with Richard Read.
In this conversation, Richard and Cheryl will explore how one health service has reimagined spiritual care – not as something that sits on the sidelines, but as something woven into the culture of care itself. Drawing on the work of the Centre for Wellbeing and Sustainable Practice, Rich will share practical insights into creating cultures where staff, residents, patients and families all experience care that is deeply human.
Our monthly National Spiritual Care Leaders Network meeting is for Heads of Mission, Directors of Spiritual Care, or Executives responsible for leading spiritual care delivery, or strategy related to spiritual care in both the aged care and health sectors.
This forum is led by an elected Chair and supported by Meaningful Ageing Australia, custodians of the intellectual property and related initiatives of former Spiritual Health Association (SHA).
Facilitated by Cheryl Holmes, Strategic Advisor – Health & Spiritual Care
Cheryl Holmes is an experienced health and spiritual care leader, currently serving as Strategic Advisor, Health and Spiritual Care at Meaningful Ageing Australia. She also works as Regional Pastoral Lead, Healthy Ageing at Mercy Health.
Cheryl served as CEO of Spiritual Health Association from 2002 to 2024. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping contemporary spiritual care practice, professional standards, and sector collaboration across Australia.
Awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2015 for services to health, Cheryl brings deep expertise in organisational leadership, professional formation, and spiritual care in public health settings. She holds a PhD, Master of Applied Social Science, Graduate Certificate in Management (Psychology), Diploma of Pastoral Ministries, and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology). She is widely respected for her thoughtful, collaborative approach and her enduring commitment to strengthening meaningful, holistic care in health and aged care settings.
Luke Bowen, (formerly SHA Board Director) MAA Board Advisor – Health
Luke Bowen served as a Board Observer as part of an agreement with Spiritual Health Association and Meaningful Ageing Australia, supporting the transition process in an advisory capacity.
Luke is the Director of Best Care Improvement at Western Health, located in Footscray, Victoria. Prior to this role, Luke served as the Director of Patient Safety, Experience, and Clinical Excellence at Austin Health from 2019. Luke’s educational background is both diverse and comprehensive, including undergraduate degrees in criminology and theology, a Master’s in Pastoral Care, a Master of Business Administration, and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Governance. He is also a certified improvement coach with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and has led numerous health service and statewide clinical governance improvement initiatives.
In addition to his professional roles, Luke is the past Board Chair of Spiritual Health Association. He is an Associate Fellow of the Australasian College for Health Service Management, a member of the Australasian Institute for Clinical Governance, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an Associate Lecturer in Practical Theology at the University of Divinity.
Richard Read has been a veterinarian for over 50 years, but in his early 50s, he felt he was losing his connection with colleagues and students – the human connection he had always loved. He enrolled in a clinical pastoral education course at Royal Perth Hospital and more than 10 years later, he looks back with amazement, satisfaction and gratitude for the joys and challenges this new path has given him. What was a traditional Christian faith-based service for patients now provides spiritual care for patients, carers and loved ones, as well as spiritual care and education for healthcare staff, always appropriate for their faith background (or none). The team provides these services across 4 (soon to be 5) healthcare campuses in Perth, under the Centre for Wellbeing and Sustainable Practice, launched in 2019.
Agenda
- Introductions and Acknowledgement of Country
- Monthly Topic for discussion
- New research in spirituality and health
- Strategic or advocacy matters arising
- Network news around the grounds
- Professional development opportunities
- Wrap up and reflection
