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Lutheran Church of Australia

where love comes to life

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ADMINISTRATION
CHURCH WORKERS

Wellness and Support Program

The LCA's Church Worker and Family Wellness and Support Program is one of the supports we offer our church workers at no cost to them. Care and support enable church workers to perform to the best of their ability and benefits not only the individual but also their calling/employing body, ministry, colleagues and family. Our service provider, Empatia, is a Christ-centred organisation with a team of Christian professional counsellors.

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Empatia's employee assistance program is caring, compassionate and confidential. Watch our LCA Empatia welcome video to find out more.

Download MP4 video

About the Wellness and Support Program

The LCA is committed to the ongoing wellbeing of our church workers. The LCA’s Church Worker and Family Wellness and Support Program is one of the supports we offer our church workers at no personal cost.  

If you are on the Roll of Pastors (currently in active service), on the Roll of Lay Workers, or an employee paid through LCA Payroll, you can access the LCA’s Church Worker and Family Wellness and Support Program. Immediate family members living at the same address also have access to this program.  

The Church Worker and Family Wellness and Support Program provides short-term, solution-oriented counselling, coaching and referrals to support you in meeting the challenges and demands of work and personal life. The program is not intended to replace pastoral care and support but can be considered a useful addition.  

Empatia, our program provider, is a Christian organisation that provides Christ-centred caring, compassionate and confidential support to address personal and professional challenges.  

Their consultants are here to support our church workers through a variety of situations, including:

  • workplace conflicts 
  • relationship issue
  • anxiety and depression 
  • stress management 
  • grief counselling 
  • trauma support.

When you contact Empatia, one of our four link consultants will determine the best support worker based on your specific needs and preferences.

Find out more

Ready?

If you are ready for online or onsite support, contact Empatia for an initial conversation.

Arrange a consultation
  • Professional

    All our counsellors are fully qualified.

  • Personal

    You may choose your counsellor based on your needs (eg a woman; a non-Lutheran).

  • No cost to you

    The LCA covers the fees.

  • Confidential

    The LCA does not receive the names of people using the service.

Testimonials from LCA clients

published with their permission

Thank you for referring me to [consultant]. I feel like he’s an old friend – but one who can get into deep territory while we laugh … and cry. He also said something at the end of the appointment that echoed the same word I was given recently at a prophetic conference – almost verbatim. I’m looking forward to our next appointment. God bless you guys.

[Consultant] and I had a very good session. I walked away feeling 'elated' – having found someone to listen well, 'connect' easily with me and most importantly 'share in prayer' with our God of love and strength. 🙏🙏 Thanks and praise to God!

[Consultant] has been an absolute treasure. He’s one of those skilled folk who look like they’re just having a chat but they actually know what’s going on. I’m pleased he doesn’t let me flounder, nor does he push too hard. Very skilful.

Meet our team

Joanne Hood – Primary Link Consultant (National) Expand

Email: jo.hood@empatia.com.au 

Phone: 0412 482 819 

  • Masters of Human Resource Management 
  • Grad Diploma in Human Resources and Industrial Relations 
  • Bachelor of Arts 

Jo specialises in supporting women in senior leadership roles juggling work, family and life in general.

Jo has served in numerous human resources roles mainly for professional services firms throughout the Asia Pacific. She was the people and culture manager for KPMG Canberra before joining their internal National Executive Coaching and Leadership Development team as a senior manager.

In her undergraduate studies, Jo majored in Organisational Psychology. She has a Graduate Diploma in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, as well as a Masters degree in Human Resource Management.

She is accredited in Lumina Spark and the Leadership Circle. She is a member of the Australian Human Resource Management Institute and the Association of Coaches.

Jo loves a bush walk, reading the Women’s Weekly and is a closet royal watcher.

Dee Berisya – Core Team (Tas) Expand

  • Masters of Management, Leadership and Health Care 
  • Bachelor Applied Social Science and Counselling (Theology) 
  • Diploma of Community Services 

Dee has worked in people-caring roles for more than 20 years, including trauma healing support groups and parenting groups.

She has a Diploma of Community Services and a Bachelor of Applied Social Science, with further specialised training in supporting men and women with family and domestic violence concerns.

Dee is a bookworm and has the very bad habit of trying to read too many books at a time.

Dr Mel Burr-Dixon – Core Team (NSW) Expand

  • PhD Counselling Psychology 
  • Masters of Theology 
  • Masters of Christian Counselling 
  • Masters of Education 

Mel lectures at Bible College, is a school counsellor and facilitates supervision training for counsellors in NSW. She was a secondary mathematics and history teacher and enjoys connecting with teenagers.

Her private practice focuses on children, teenagers, and women, as well as supervising other counsellors. Mel is the author of Toddler to Teen (over 20,000 copies sold) and A Grateful Heart.

Mel is an elder in her local Churches of Christ church and enjoys reading, tennis and playing with her most squishable grandchildren.

Rev Sheldrin D’Rozario – Core Team (WA) Expand

 

  • Masters of Social Work 
  • Dip Leadership & Management 
  • Grad Diploma Ministry  
  • Bachelor of Theology 
  • Bachelor of Engineering 

Sheldrin is currently the Head of Department, Pastoral Care Services, at King Edward Memorial Hospital and a pastoral counsellor. He was the founding coordinator of Pastoral Care Services at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Sheldrin is an accredited pastor with the Baptist Churches WA.

Sheldrin is a member of the Carlton Football Club, and he is very grateful to his wife and two children who endure lots of shouting, cheering and singing when Carlton is playing. Go the Blues!

Rev Dr Shannon Hood – Core Team (Vic) Expand

  • PhD in Counselling 
  • Masters of Theology 
  • Masters of Counselling 
  • Masters of Education 
  • Masters of Commerce 
  • Grad Diploma of Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy 
  • Grad Diploma of Ministry 
  • Bachelor of Theology 
  • Bachelor of Engineering 

Shannon specialises in working in blue-collar industries, especially critical incident and trauma work with emergency services.  He has been a clinical manager with Converge International and a clinical supervisor for OZ Help Foundation. He is the dean of counselling for Perth Bible College and has an active private counselling practice.

Shannon is a Level 4 member of the Australian Counselling Association and a member of their College of Clinical Counsellors and College of Supervisors.

Terence Lynch – Core Team (ACT) Expand

  • Masters of Counselling (in progress) 
  • Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Family Therapy 
  • Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education 
  • Bachelor of Arts 
  • International Coaching Federation Level 1 

Terry is a qualified counsellor, professional and pastoral supervisor and an ICF-trained performance and leadership coach. He was also a secondary mathematics, science and music teacher for two decades in NSW and ACT Christian schools.

Terry provides training and equipping for teams and individuals in communication and state-management strategies and conducts individual and group therapy in coaching and counselling modalities for anxiety and stress, grief and depression and marriage and relationship growth.

Penny Adams – Core Team (SA) Expand

  • Bachelor of Counselling
  • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Penny Adams is based in the lower mid-north of South Australia. She is a counsellor, trainer and clinical supervisor registered with the Australian Counselling Association (Level 4). She is a member of the College of Supervisors and a PACFA Clinical Member.

In addition to her work in schools, she also brings eight years of experience as a supervisor, offering professional supervision to counsellors at all stages of their careers. As an experienced trainer, Penny spent seven years working for a Christian RTO training counsellors and now uses her skills to deliver Australia-wide supervision training.

From Catholic roots, Penny is now involved with a Pentecostal church. Outside work, she enjoys the quiet life in rural South Australia, spending time with her adult children and West Highland Terrier, enjoying her garden and travelling, contemplating the beauty of God’s creation.

Fr Nicholas Pearce – Core Team (Vic) Expand

  • Master of Clinical Mental Health Counselling 
  • Master of Psychology 
  • Graduate Diploma of Theology 
  • Bachelor of Theology 

Fr Nicholas Pearce is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. Ordained in 2010, he has worked in numerous parishes and held several positions within the Archdiocese, most recently leading a team of staff developing and implementing a discipleship-based ministry to youth, young adults and university students.

His particular area of interest is promoting positive mental health and wellbeing among clergy and religious, and he works from a strengths-based IFS and ACT-informed approach.

To relax, Fr Nicholas enjoys cooking, playing the occasional game of squash (not well), and spoiling his nephew and niece. When time permits, Fr Nicholas enjoys getting outside and has led multiple groups of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago over the past ten years.

Marissa Priaulx – Core Team (Qld) Expand

  • Master of Counselling 
  • Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy (Spiritual)  
  • Bachelor of Education (K–12) 
  • Advanced Diploma of Counselling and Family Therapy, Diploma of Counselling 
  • Diploma of Bible and Christian Ministry 

Coming from a lifelong Christian and ministry background, Marissa is passionate about helping people live fulfilled lives and be all they can be. She holds various counselling, education, training and ministry qualifications. Marissa is a clinical member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and their College of Supervisors. Marissa is also a registered teacher in Queensland and is an adjunct counselling lecturer with Perth Bible College and the Australian College of Ministries.

Marissa likes to keep busy, enjoys her own continued education and is a devoted lifelong learner. That said, her various cross-stitching projects are a pleasant hobby for her in her downtime.

Poster

Please download this poster and place it in a room or office where your churchworkers work or gather.

Click to download
Click to download

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Lutheran Church of Australia
Church Worker Support

197 Archer Street North Adelaide SA 5006
08 8267 7300
cws@lca.org.au

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197 Archer Street
North Adelaide SA 5006

PO Box 731
North Adelaide SA 5006

08 8267 7300
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