Each year, Mercy Health’s 9,000-plus staff care for about 105,000 people through our health services, aged care homes and the community. Formation programs give staff an opportunity to spend time away from the workplace and reconnect with the stories of the Sisters of Mercy Foundress Catherine McAuley and Jesus, both of whom modelled the importance of serving others.
Formation describes the way Mercy Health prepares its staff to care for and value the whole person. Distinct from training, formation is an interactive and communal process that acknowledges each person’s spirituality and vocation, as well as the organisation’s rich heritage.
Mercy Health Formation Lead Carmel Crawford
“I think at times it can be challenging for us to ‘live mercy’,” says Mercy Health Formation Lead Carmel Crawford. “We are all so busy — the wards are hectic, we have deadlines and budgets to meet — that we begin to think the task is the focus, but really showing mercy is the most important thing. The formation programs we offer support staff to reconnect with that core purpose and idea.”
The formation offerings cover a range of areas including leadership, spiritual and pastoral care, ethics and wellbeing.
It actually gave me peace, inspiration and new energy to care for people.
Mercy Place Templestowe Pastoral Carer Mary Quirk recently completed ‘Nurturing a Merciful Heart’, a one-day wellbeing course held at the beautiful St Joseph’s by the Sea centre in Williamstown. Mary found the course deeply refreshing. “My work is rewarding but can be emotionally draining at times,” she says. “To go off site and take time out to reflect was immensely helpful — it actually gave me peace, inspiration and new energy to care for people. In our life we don’t take the opportunity to reflect as much as we should.”
Staff participate in a meditation exercise as part of the ‘Nurturing a Merciful Heart’ wellbeing course
Carmel affirms: “The programs give staff the opportunity to look into their heart and bring out the best of themselves. They show them how to connect their values to Catherine McAuley’s story or the gospel story so they can feel inspired in their roles and part of the Mercy Health mission.”
Last reviewed July 5, 2019.