Hospital chaplain named WA Chaplain of the Year
Above: Clare pictured front and centre, with her Pastoral Care team. Below: Clare with SMHS CE Neil Doverty.
A heartfelt congratulations to Clare Oudman who was named the 2025 Chaplain of the Year at the third annual Governor's Chaplaincy Awards, receiving the highest honour of the evening.
The awards celebrate and acknowledge the unwavering dedication of those who have demonstrated extraordinary service to communities and individuals in need.
Clare's work with initiatives such as Soul Space and How to Catch stood out among 22 finalists across eight categories. She is the first recipient to come from a healthcare background, with previous winners typically representing sectors in education, emergency services, corrections, and other agencies.
Feeling overwhelmed yet honoured to be recognised for the work she does by His Excellency the Governor of Western Australia and Mrs Dawson, Clare said winning this award would not have been possible without her amazing team.
"Although I was the one recognised, I know without my team I would not have been standing there," Clare said.
"Chaplains are trained to see people. We view ourselves as grief catchers, meaning makers and hope finders.
"We take notice of what is important to the other person, and we follow their lead."
South Metropolitan Health Service Chief Executive Neil Doverty, who attended the awards evening, said hospital chaplains play an important role.
"They provide short-term holistic care to patients, families and staff, supporting them and their emotional and spiritual wellbeing during what can be a challenging time," Neil said.
"The Pastoral Care team at FSFHG consists of qualified, credentialled chaplains who offer inclusive, person-centred support to individuals of all cultures, backgrounds, and belief systems.
"Their presence is integral to the functioning of our hospitals, and their compassion, dedication, and resilience in emotionally demanding situations are deeply valued and never go unnoticed."
The team also support the wellbeing of staff through dedicated initiatives including Soul Space, How to Catch, one-on-one counselling, and psychological first aid for wards and teams.
Those seeking support from the pastoral care team do not need to be religious to benefit from the care a chaplain provides, their approach is professional, inclusive and grounded in empathy.
Find out more about pastoral care services at FSFHG.
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