Caring for others
Our Wellbeing program is dedicated to helping qualified non-religious care workers to support people needing guidance through life’s milestones and challenges. Along the lines of how others have access to the religious support they seek, humanists and non-religious folk more generally deserve care informed by secular caring modalities or informed by humanist values. Humanist carers therefore provide compassionate care using humanist principles and values in secular institutions, such as military, aged care, prisons, schools and communities.
Humanist values
Consistent with HA values and vision, our Wellbeing program is committed to supporting our communities and members to access compassionate care that is informed by reason and evidence, and facilitated with integrity by open, honest and respectful carers who embrace the inherent diversity across our communities.
Tailoring terminology to cater for your needs and experiences
We take this opportunity to acknowledge that the term “chaplain” can illicit varying responses among our diverse supporters and members. We know not everyone engages comfortably with the word, given its common association with faith-based care and actions. Yet we also know, as consistent with regulatory qualifications, that chaplaincy has a much broader definition and function beyond the confines of religious circles. At HA, we believe it is a term a non-religious affiliated carer can own in that more general sense to facilitate a place at the table for humanism in providing diverse care across diverse communities. But in keeping with our value of diversity, we are also committed to supporting humanists and those who share humanist values by offering flexibility in how different carers prefer to identify themselves within their formal compassionate care roles.
Interested in knowing more about compassionate care and its contemporary context in Australia and around the world? READ MORE
Humanist Care and HA
Are you interested in becoming an accredited humanist carer?
We are keen to hear from anyone interested in becoming an accredited humanist carer. We are exploring ways we can support you to access training of a nature that suits you and developing humanist-accreditation in offering non-faith-based care.
Are you already a qualified carer and keen to offer your time to fellow humanists?
HA would like to hear from you if you are already qualified to provide this type of care and willing to offer some time and support to your local community or our national members via our Wellbeing program. No immediate commitment necessary, we can chat first.
Criteria for HA accreditation in humanist care
HA can accredit a person as a humanist care provider if the following criteria are met, as assessed by HA:
proof of training/qualification and/or at least two years experience in providing general wellbeing care.
active member of the HA community for at least 12 months and recognised by the HA wellbeing committee as having good standing within the community to be able to offer support around emotional, existential care and moral guidance.
completion of the HA ‘What is humanism?’ short course.
Recognition by HA as humanist in wellbeing care will expire after 5 years, at which time the person’s circumstances are to be reviewed and certificate reissued at that time, where applicable.
