Our first speaker is Katie Tunks Leach, who has recently returned from volunteering as an ambulance chaplain in areas affected by bushfires. Katie will talk about the challenges of chaplaincy during significant events such as the fires, as well as the unique day-to-day challenges ambulance chaplains face. Katie is a 2020 ADM Senior Research Fellow. A registered nurse, ambulance chaplain and academic at UTS, Katie will use her Fellowship to research the pastoral and spiritual care provided by chaplains to the ambulance service. Katie will work with both paramedics and chaplains to understand how to best ‘care for the carers’ in this challenging profession. Read more about Katie here.

Our second speaker is Reverend Kerrie Newmarch. Kerrie is a Chaplain at Bankstown Hospital and was previously a Chaplain for the Professional Standards Unit (Safe Ministry) for the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Drawing on her experience in the latter role, Kerrie will talk a bit about the impact of trauma and how a chaplain is trained to help people as they work through that impact, as well as reflecting on church recovery when a person in leadership has failed. Along with her Chaplaincy roles, Kerrie has also been a Curriculum writer for the Anglican Education Commission, Children's Minister at Yagoona Anglican, Dean of Students for Youthworks College, Ministry Support Advisor for the Wollongong Region, Lecturer at Mary Andrews College and Church Partnerships and Training Manager for Anglican Deaconess Ministries.

Our third speaker is Reverend Suzanne Gorham. Suz is Senior Chaplain to the Specialist Units in the New South Wales Police Force. She focuses primarily on the Dog Unit, Aviation Command, Highway Patrol and Corporate Services, and completes other special projects when needed. The role is both proactive and reactive as she seeks to minister to those in her care. Suz has also been involved in School Chaplaincy and Parish Ministry for the last ten years.

Engage Dinner: Chaplaincy in hard places

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