Meet Aaron Schick: the chaplaincy all-rounder.
In his role as a Community Chaplain, Aaron supports a wide range of people across a number of Carinity services around the Rockhampton region.
There are the seniors who live in aged care or in their own homes, the teenagers staying in youth accommodation, and the dedicated staff members who support people of various ages in the community.
“I enjoy hearing stories, particularly the history of the region I live in. I enjoy helping people discover new things about their life, themselves and God,” Aaron said.
Aaron was called to be a chaplain. Having grown up in a “loving, charismatic” Catholic family of seven, he joined a Baptist church community when he returned to Rockhampton 20 years ago.
“While studying Christian ministry and helping run church youth group, a local pastor and chaplain who I knew asked if I ever considered school chaplaincy,” Aaron recalls.
“That question got the ball rolling: I had never considered chaplaincy but remembered the positive interactions with my own school chaplain.”
After serving as chaplain at three primary schools and one state high school, Aaron landed at Carinity Education Rockhampton, a special assistance school for teenagers.
After three years in that role, Aaron now provides pastoral care for residents and staff at the Carinity Shalom aged care home and retirement village, as well as Carinity Home Care clients and their carers.
He can also be found at Carinity Wahroonga – supporting staff and adults in the life of young clients who receive counselling there – and Carinity On Track, which provides medium-term accommodation for young people in the child safety system.
“There are plenty of differences between supporting the youth and the elderly, but everyone is still in need of strengthening in their faith, hope and love,” Aaron said.
“What I have noticed is that despite where we are at in our journey through life, we all still need our friends and family – and we still need God’s comfort.
“Chaplains bring comfort and help people see things from a different perspective. Most importantly, we carry with us God’s presence and comfort.
“I look for ways to assist people to see hope in their situation and seek God for their greatest support. It is in that space where chaplains are most important.”
