|
|
The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
|
a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
|
|
|
|
|
June 2005 |
|||
|
|
||||
Feature - Can your faith have an impact on your work?Allan Carmichael is Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, Head of the School of Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Health Science at the University of Tasmania. He is also an advisor to the Department of Health and Human Services in Child Health Services, and for the past 12 years has been Head of the Department of Paediatrics at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Allan has been a member of St Clement's Kingston for about 13 years, and is a Lay Communion Assistant there. Stephen: Allan, how does your faith impact on your working life? Allan Carmichael: I find that it brings a basis for understanding relationships with people, and informs some of the interrelationships between people that I deal with (e.g. within families, or with wider society). Other areas of my working life that are informed by this Christian basis (though not exclusively Christian) include a striving for excellence, integrity, and a compassion for individuals and society. What is it like being a Christian in your position? Are there issues you come up against? There can be, in terms of some things that you are prepared to stand up for, especially if your belief goes against an accepted norm. There can also be difficulties in use of resources, weighing up individual and societal benefits. A number of Christians seem to work in medical and related fields. Have you noticed this? Why do you think it's the case? It's not something I've particularly noticed, though there are a number of Christians in health services. There can be a tendency for Christians to be drawn to this work out of a desire to help others or use their gifts for the benefit of others - but this can also happen from a humanitarian point of view. The churches do have a long history in medical areas, health services and social services. How can we in churches be better supporting and praying for Christians working in medical areas? It can be helpful for those working in the health field to find understanding of their role and support personally - this may be best done in small groups where they can be especially supported and feel able to share issues (non-confidential). There have also been some attempts in Tasmania to utilise the Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Australia. Churches already often pray in services for the sick and those who care for them - which is good. Perhaps there is less awareness and prayer for those in administrative, policy and planning, and political roles - these people are very much in need of our prayers too. Where do you see the relationship between the health system, and Christian healing (and perhaps issues arising near the end of a person's lifetime)? We are realising in our teaching and practice that there is a close link between physical, emotional, psycho-social and spiritual areas, especially in dealing with chronic illness. The spiritual aspect and prayer are important for the individual and the carers. The end of a person's life is always a difficult time - we may be praying to seek God's will, which may mean a cure, or may be that the person dies as comfortably as possible. You've had some experience and input into the problems that our health system appears to have being grappling with over the past couple of years especially. What should we expect our health system to be able to deliver and not be able to deliver? I was one of the members of the committee that produced the recent Richardson Report into the acute hospital sector. The balance we are seeking to find is between an increasing demand for services, and for better and more expensive technology and drugs, while living in a small state like Tasmania. We need statewide co-ordination of services, and the ability to deliver emergency care locally, but we cannot deliver every treatment in every site. It can be difficult to balance what might be desirable in people's minds to have on their doorstep with what treatment might be delivered better and more safely but further away. In terms of teaching and training, we need our own major programs like medicine and nursing, but it is often better to collaborate and co-operate with interstate universities for smaller or more specialised programs than to try and provide it locally (e.g. with dental and other allied health training). What does John Harrower's vision of 'a healthy church, transforming life' mean for you as a Christian and a health professional? It helps provide a more holistic view of one's faith within work, as well as on Sundays. The local church can help us live a consistent Christian life within our professions, and from the realm of work we can help the church be aware of kingdom issues there. This morning I was studying 1 Peter 2 with some others and was reminded again of how we are to be operating in the world and its structures, whilst still being very conscious of God, having Christ as an example (particularly in suffering) and seeking to enable non-believers to acknowledge God by the way we live. David Llewellyn is the Labor representative in the State Government electorate of Lyons. He currently holds the office of Deputy Premier and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly. In addition to these roles, David is Minister for Health and Human Services and Minister for Police and Public Safety. Both Allan and David recently discussed some perspectives with Stephen Carnaby. David Llewellyn MHA has been a part of the Anglican Church in Tasmania throughout his life and currently attends St John's New Town, as well as being Chair of the Diocesan Remunerations Commission. Stephen Carnaby: Have you always been a Christian, or was there a point in time when you came to faith? David Llewellyn: I've always been a part of the Anglican Church. I grew up in the St Marys area, and went to Sunday School at Cornwall, where my uncle was the Sunday School teacher. My mother and father were strong Christians and very involved in the local church. When I was young I also took part in some local groups for kids with the Salvos. However, I don't think that I really fully committed to Christ in my heart until much later on, perhaps the early 70s. Tell me about your involvement in Anglican ministries. I was a Synod representative for over 20 years, from the mid 1970s, including about half that time as Chair of Committees. In fact I was a part of the Synod which saw John Harrower elected Bishop. However, I was then overseas in America when the next parish AGM was held and they thought that with my heavy workload I would appreciate not having Synod added to my list of tasks! I was also Chair of Anglicare for about 6 or 7 years, but when I became a Government Minister it was appropriate to relinquish that role. How does your faith relate to your role in politics? In one sense, I'm conscious of that issue in respect to decisions made within government. Also, if there were issues very important to me, and the Party or the process was going along a different line, I would have to make a stand and bring the Christian values out first in deciding the issue. But I don't think I've actually been in that situation as the Party has left some matters to personal conscience (for example, abortion). Do you sometimes get comments about your faith? Yes, sometimes. People may apologise if they say the wrong thing in front of you, for example. Or sometimes general issues of Christian history or principles may come up in conversation as an argument against you. Acting out your faith is a very important part of your missionary journey as it influences others. People do look at others and see how they react in different situations. Being a Christian, there is a responsibility that goes with that. How do you think the church and politics should relate (given for example Alexander Downer's comments last year to Church leaders to stay out of politics)? Australia is a Christian nation. Although there are not as many Christians as perhaps some years ago, it is still the predominant religion here. We are a free democratic society and Christians need to be able to say whatever they feel they need to - they have equal rights with others. I think it is appropriate and proper that Christian leaders speak out, and lots of people listen to those leaders. Over the last year there has been political and media pressure about hospital funding and other issues within your portfolio as Minister for Health and Human Services. Where do you think health sits in terms of priorities that the government should have? In Tasmania, the health portfolio is broader than other states, taking in the whole sector from acute hospitals to community and disability services. In the broad context, especially from a Labor perspective, it's the most important consideration - but there are other priorities (people need jobs, education etc). And if there's a lot of debt, for example, you need to resolve that issue first so that you have money for other areas. How do you go about deciding where to put limited/scarce resources within the health system (which could always use more)? I listen to what the issues are from the various groups, seek information from experts who I can trust and rely upon, and then prioritise on the basis of the greatest needs first. Does your faith have an impact on these priorities? In my background I've always tried to improve others' well-being, whether through politics, the church or many other ways, but also before I entered politics. It seems that lots of Christians are involved in the health system (doctors, nurses, therapists etc), more than most other fields. Have you noticed this? Why do you think it's so? I think your observation is probably correct. The Christian message and philosophy in many respects is similar to the role that many people play in the health professions, therefore it's not surprising that they may find an affinity there. Of course there are others who are not Christian who hold similar values too. Is there any way Anglicans could help or be involved in the area of your portfolio? One thing that comes to mind, there is a great need in finding people who are able to take on a role as a foster carer or look after vulnerable people. We don't have enough people to care for disadvantaged young people and children needing love and affection. It's not an easy role - but that is an area where a valuable contribution could be made. John Harrower has set as the vision for the Anglican church - a healthy church, transforming life. How might the health of the church be beneficial to the health of the state? From a Christian point of view I agree with John. It's easy to be isolated as a church and not be involved. He brings a missionary vision and the need to interact with the community and show our good work. If people can truly do this it has a very positive effect on the community as a whole. What would you like to see in the church in 10 years time? You would need to ask the Bishop that! …a more engaging and outward looking organisation, meeting people where they are. That would be good to see!
The Rev. Stephen Carnaby is Associate Minister at BayWest and Chaplain at the University of Tasmania. |
|
|||
