Information for Hospitals

The Department of Health recognises that patients, their families and staff in public hospitals and healthcare institutions have a basic right to spiritual care and to access Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Services. A Memorandum of Understanding has therefore been signed between the NSW Department of Health and the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee. The Memorandum of Understanding defines how chaplaincy services are provided to hospitals in New South Wales. Download here.

The Department of Health has a centralised arrangement with the Buddhist Council to cover the costs of Buddhist chaplains visiting hospitals. This means that the appointment of a new Buddhist chaplain does not financially impact the hospital that chaplain will visit.

The Buddhist Council is looking to appoint to hospitals more Buddhist chaplains who have completed the introductory course in Clinical Pastoral Education (5 day CPE course).

A hospital may contact the Chaplaincy Team at the Buddhist Council of NSW by emailing to chaplaincy@buddhistcouncil.org.

Hospital Emergencies. While hospitals are free to contact Buddhist chaplains that they already know, especially for emergency or crisis situations, the Buddhist Council of New South Wales can be contacted to find a Chaplain in an emergency. The Council will endeavour to assist in finding a chaplain of a particular Buddhist tradition, language, or cultural group, if requested. The emergency number is 0458-9966-58.