Pastoral care in aged care: a growing need in Australia

For many older Australians living in residential aged care, the biggest challenges aren’t always physical. Loneliness, grief, loss of identity, and the search for meaning in later life can weigh just as heavily as any medical condition. These are the concerns that pastoral care workers are trained to address — and in Australia’s aged care sector, the demand for this kind of support has never been greater.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety made it clear: older Australians deserve holistic, person-centred care that goes beyond medication and physical assistance. Spiritual and emotional wellbeing is now embedded in the Aged Care Quality Standards, and the sector needs qualified people to deliver it.

If you’re drawn to supporting older Australians through life’s most significant moments, pastoral care in aged care is a career path worth exploring. Here’s what it involves, why the demand is growing, and how to get qualified.

What is pastoral care in aged care?

Pastoral care in aged care is the practice of providing emotional, spiritual, and existential support to older Australians living in care settings. It’s about being present for people as they navigate the deeply personal experiences that come with ageing — grief, loneliness, changes in identity, end-of-life concerns, and the search for meaning and purpose.

It’s important to understand what “spiritual” means in this context. Spiritual care isn’t limited to religion. It encompasses the broader questions that matter to every person: What gives my life meaning? Where do I find connection? How do I make sense of loss? What brings me hope?

Some residents will draw on their faith. Others won’t hold any religious beliefs at all. A pastoral care worker meets each person where they are, without judgement or agenda. The focus is always on the individual’s needs, not the worker’s beliefs.

How pastoral care differs from counselling and religious ministry

Pastoral care in aged care occupies a distinct space between clinical counselling and religious ministry:

• Clinical counselling uses structured therapeutic techniques to treat specific conditions. Pastoral care is less about treatment and more about accompaniment — being a grounding, compassionate presence.
• Religious ministry serves the spiritual needs of people within a specific faith tradition. Pastoral care is inclusive by design, supporting people of all faiths, no faith, and everything in between.

In practice, pastoral care workers collaborate with both counsellors and chaplains from faith communities. They’re part of the broader care team, bringing a unique focus on the whole person’s emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Why aged care needs pastoral care now more than ever

The Royal Commission’s findings

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2021) found significant gaps in holistic, person-centred care across Australia’s aged care system. Its recommendations made clear that older Australians deserve emotional and spiritual support as part of quality care — not just physical and medical attention.

The Aged Care Quality Standards now embed spiritual wellbeing as a core component of quality care. Standard 1 (Consumer Dignity and Choice) recognises every resident’s right to have their spiritual needs respected. Standard 4 (Services and Supports for Daily Living) requires providers to support residents’ emotional and spiritual wellbeing alongside their physical needs.

This isn’t a suggestion. It’s a standard of care that aged care providers are assessed against.

A growing ageing population

Australia’s ageing population is increasing steadily. According to ABS population projections, the proportion of Australians aged 65 and over is projected to rise from 16% to between 21% and 23% by 2066. More older Australians means more people in aged care settings — and more demand for the kind of relational, person-centred support that pastoral care provides.

What does a pastoral care worker do in aged care?

The day-to-day work of a pastoral care worker in aged care is deeply relational. It’s built on presence, listening, and walking alongside people during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.

Key responsibilities include:

• One-on-one conversations with residents about their concerns, memories, hopes, and the things that matter most to them
• Supporting residents and families through grief, loss, and end-of-life transitions — being present during dying, supporting bereaved family members, and helping residents process anticipatory grief
• Facilitating group activities that foster connection and meaning — reminiscence groups, creative expression sessions, mindfulness activities, and gatherings that help residents maintain a sense of community
• Contributing to holistic care plans — working with nurses, allied health professionals, and care staff to ensure each resident’s emotional and spiritual needs are part of their care plan
• Providing culturally safe spiritual support — respecting and responding to the diverse cultural, religious, and personal beliefs of residents from all backgrounds
• Supporting staff wellbeing — aged care workers experience high rates of burnout and compassion fatigue, and pastoral care workers often provide informal emotional support to their colleagues as well

The common thread is relationship. Pastoral care isn’t a service you deliver in a session and move on. It’s about building trust over time, being a consistent presence, and helping people feel seen, heard, and valued in a stage of life where those things can easily slip away.

Interested in a career supporting older Australians? Explore Hader’s Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care — nationally recognised, fully online, and open to people of all backgrounds.

The growing demand for pastoral care in aged care

Several factors are driving increasing demand for qualified pastoral care workers in aged care settings across Australia.

Workforce shortages. The aged care sector already faces significant workforce shortages across almost every role. Pastoral care is an emerging but growing niche within this — as providers work to meet the Quality Standards, they need people qualified to deliver spiritual and emotional support.

New Aged Care Act reforms. The Aged Care Act reforms (2024 onward) are strengthening requirements for holistic, person-centred care. These reforms will further embed spiritual wellbeing into the regulatory framework, driving additional demand for pastoral care workers.

Multiple care settings. Pastoral care in aged care isn’t limited to residential facilities. Home care providers, palliative care services, and community-based aged care programs are all settings where pastoral care is increasingly valued. As more older Australians receive care at home, the demand extends beyond traditional residential settings.

Regional and rural shortages. Regional and rural aged care facilities face particular workforce challenges. Pastoral care workers who qualify through online study can help address these gaps without needing to relocate to a capital city for training.

Flexible employment models. You might work as a dedicated pastoral care worker, a chaplain, or as part of a broader lifestyle or wellbeing team within an aged care organisation. Some workers combine aged care chaplaincy with roles in other settings — hospitals, community organisations, or schools — creating a varied and fulfilling career.

The intersection of pastoral care and aged care is also relevant to workers in related fields. Professionals with mental health peer work skills, for example, bring overlapping capabilities in emotional support that complement pastoral care practice in aged care settings.

How to qualify for pastoral care work in aged care

The nationally recognised pathway into pastoral care work is the CHC42315 Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. This qualification covers the core competencies you’ll need to work effectively in aged care and other pastoral care settings.

What the qualification covers:

• Active listening and empathic presence
• Grief and loss support
• Ethical practice and professional boundaries
• Cultural sensitivity and interfaith awareness
• Crisis support
• Self-care, supervision, and reflective practice

You don’t need to be from a particular faith background. Hader Institute of Education delivers this qualification 100% online with self-paced delivery, making it accessible to people anywhere in Australia. The program is inclusive and secular — your ability to listen, hold space, and provide genuine care is what matters, not your personal beliefs.

Work placement is included. Your qualification includes supervised practical experience in a real care setting, giving you hands-on experience before you graduate. This is where many learners discover that aged care is the setting they want to build their career in.

Want to go further? For those who want to develop deeper therapeutic skills for aged care work, the Diploma of Counselling is a natural next step. Combining pastoral care and counselling qualifications creates a powerful skill set for supporting older Australians holistically.

Start your pastoral care journey with Hader. Study online, at your own pace, from anywhere in Australia — with the support of trainers who bring real industry experience.

Frequently asked questions

What is pastoral care in aged care?

Pastoral care in aged care is the practice of providing emotional, spiritual, and existential support to older Australians in care settings. It addresses concerns like grief, loneliness, loss of identity, end-of-life experiences, and the search for meaning and purpose. It’s inclusive of all beliefs and backgrounds — “spiritual” is understood broadly to include meaning, connection, hope, and purpose.

What does a chaplain do in aged care?

An aged care chaplain provides one-on-one emotional and spiritual support to residents, supports families through grief and end-of-life transitions, facilitates group activities that foster connection and meaning, contributes to holistic care plans, and provides culturally safe support that respects diverse beliefs. They also often support staff wellbeing.

Is spiritual care a requirement in aged care?

Yes. The Aged Care Quality Standards embed spiritual wellbeing as a core component of quality care. Standard 1 (Consumer Dignity and Choice) and Standard 4 (Services and Supports for Daily Living) require providers to respect and support residents’ emotional and spiritual needs. Providers are assessed against these standards.

Do I need to be religious to provide pastoral care in aged care?

No. Modern pastoral care is inclusive by design. While many pastoral care workers come from faith backgrounds, secular practitioners are increasingly valued in aged care settings. What matters is your ability to listen without judgement, hold space for difficult emotions, and meet people wherever they are in their beliefs and values. The Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care at Hader is open to people of all backgrounds.

How do I become a pastoral care worker in aged care?

The pathway is to complete the CHC42315 Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, which is available fully online through Hader Institute of Education. The qualification covers the core competencies needed for pastoral care work, including active listening, grief support, ethical practice, and cultural sensitivity. It includes a supervised work placement component.

What qualifications do I need for pastoral care?

The nationally recognised qualification is the CHC42315 Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. No religious affiliation is required. For those wanting to develop deeper counselling skills, the Diploma of Counselling is a complementary qualification that broadens your scope of practice.

Make a difference in the lives of older Australians

Pastoral care in aged care is meaningful, needed work. As Australia’s population ages and the sector responds to the Royal Commission’s call for holistic, person-centred care, the demand for qualified pastoral care workers will continue to grow.

For those drawn to supporting older Australians through life’s most significant moments — with genuine presence, deep listening, and compassionate care — this is a career with real purpose.

Read our complete guide to chaplaincy and pastoral care careers in Australia — including salary data, qualification pathways, and career outlook across all settings.