Chaplain
Uniting Mingaletta – Port Macquarie, NSW

Be present. Build community. Walk alongside older people with compassion and faith.
Set in the heart of beautiful coastal Port Macquarie, Uniting Mingaletta is home to 110 residents who bring with them rich life stories, wisdom, faith, and experience.

We are seeking a Chaplain who feels called to offer presence, pastoral care, and spiritual leadership within our aged care community.

This role is about walking with people — in joy and grief, reflection and worship, everyday conversations and sacred moments — while helping nurture a strong sense of belonging for residents, families, volunteers and staff.

About Uniting and the Uniting Church
Uniting is the services and advocacy arm of the Uniting Church in Australia (NSW & ACT Synod). Together, we seek to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.

Our work spans aged care, disability, child and family services, community support, chaplaincy, and social justice advocacy.

Across everything we do, our values guide us — we are Compassionate, Respectful, Imaginative, and Bold.

We celebrate diversity and welcome all people regardless of ability, culture, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We are committed to child safety and to creating environments where people feel safe, valued, and respected.

About the Role
This Chaplaincy position is part of the Uniting Mission Directorate, within the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Practice team, and is based at Uniting Mingaletta Aged Care Home in Port Macquarie.

The primary focus of this role is to provide pastoral and spiritual care to 110 residents, while also offering support to families, volunteers and staff. The Chaplain will play a key role in sustaining the spiritual life of the home and ensuring pastoral care is thoughtful, inclusive and responsive to the needs of older people.

The role also involves:
• Overseeing and supporting a group of pastoral care volunteers
• Building strong relationships with Port Macquarie Uniting Church
• Liaising with other Uniting services in the region
• Developing and maintaining connections with local churches and community organisations

This position may be a Synod placement for an Ordained Minister or an employed position through the Synod Board. Operationally, the role works under Uniting, with accountability to the Director of Mission, Uniting NSW.ACT, and pastoral oversight through the local Presbytery.

What You’ll Be Known For

• Providing pastoral and spiritual care to older people that honours their dignity, life stories, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds
• Leading worship, prayer, and sacramental life within the aged care home in ways that are meaningful and inclusive
• Supporting residents and families through grief, transition, loss, and reflection
• Nurturing and coordinating a volunteer pastoral care team, ensuring they feel supported and valued
• Building bridges between Uniting Mingaletta, local congregations, and the wider Port Macquarie community
• Offering theological reflection and ethical leadership that supports staff and strengthens practice
• Contributing to the ongoing development and evaluation of pastoral services in line with Uniting policies and accreditation requirements

About You

You are someone who:
• Is grounded in the Christian faith, with the ability to minister respectfully with people of other faiths or no faith
• Has a heart for aged care ministry and the unique pastoral needs of older people
• Listens deeply, leads gently, and offers presence without agenda
• Is organised and reliable, yet flexible and responsive to the moment
• Actively celebrates diversity and inclusion

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Diploma or Degree in Theology, Ministry, or a related discipline
• Ordained Deacon or Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church; or a minister from another denomination willing to enter the Admission of Ministers process; or a suitably qualified lay person eligible for Ministry of Pastor
• At least 2 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in ministry, chaplaincy, or related community work
• Understanding of the Uniting Church, its mission, and polity
• Australian work rights and relevant compliance checks

Highly regarded:

• Experience providing pastoral care in aged care or later-life settings
• Experience supporting or coordinating volunteers
• Established connections with local congregations or community organisations
• Liturgical experience and the ability to adapt worship to meet diverse needs

Why This Role?

Because pastoral care in aged care is sacred work.
Because Mingaletta is a place where relationships matter.
Because this role offers the chance to live out faith through presence, compassion, and community.
If you feel called to journey with older people and be part of a connected, coastal community of care, we would love to hear from you.

If you feel called to journey with older people and be part of a connected, coastal community of care, we would love to hear from you.

How to apply : Please send your CV and Cover letter via the job advertisement platform, as this ensures accurate tracking of your application. 

For recruitment enquiries, please contact Louise Massie at mmassie@uniting.org

For Chaplaincy enquiries, please contact Rob Atherton at ratherton@uniting.org

About Uniting
Uniting NSW.ACT contributes to the work and mission of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT through social justice advocacy, community services and spiritual care. We provide care and support for people through all ages and stages of life, with a focus on people experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability. Our purpose is to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.
Uniting is a Child Safe Organisation committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of children and young people.
Empowered by diversity
At Uniting, inclusion isn’t just something we value – it’s how we work. Our culture and practice reflect the vibrant diversity of our colleagues, and the clients and communities we serve.