By Sarah Knight
GV Health is celebrating Spiritual Care Week by highlighting a new service designed to strengthen holistic, person-centred support for patients, families and staff.
Introduced earlier this year, GV Health’s Spiritual Care Service provides emotional and spiritual support during times of illness, grief, and uncertainty. The initiative underscores the health service’s commitment to recognising the whole person – mind, body and spirit – in the care it delivers.
Leading the program is Spiritual Care Coordinator Martins Aloga, who brings more than two decades of experience in chaplaincy, pastoral care and strategic leadership. Since joining GV Health, Martins has been working closely with clinical teams to identify and respond to patients’ spiritual needs, while also building relationships with local faith and cultural leaders to ensure the service is inclusive and culturally sensitive.
“Every human being has a spiritual dimension,” Martins said. “It’s not about religion, it’s about meaning, connection, purpose and identity. When those needs are met, the clinical journey becomes a little easier for patients.”
GV Health Chief Executive Matt Sharp said the addition of spiritual care services reinforces the organisation’s dedication to whole-person wellbeing.
“Spiritual wellbeing plays a vital role in recovery and resilience,” he said. “This initiative ensures our patients feel truly seen, heard, valued and supported, regardless of their background or beliefs.”
The service is currently available for admitted patients at Shepparton Hospital, with plans to expand across GV Health’s other campuses in the future.
Spiritual Care Week, held globally from 19–25 October, celebrates the contribution of spiritual care practitioners in health and community settings. GV Health’s new program aligns with this international recognition of spiritual wellbeing as an essential part of healing and healthcare.
