A day in the life of our pastoral care team
Meeting people where they are: A day in the life of a Pastoral Care Worker
For Kavita Posselt, pastoral care isn’t about preaching – it’s about presence. As a Pastoral Care Worker at The Forrest Centre, Kavita’s days are shaped by quiet conversations, small acts of kindness, and a deep belief in the power of connection.
Kavita’s journey with The Forrest Centre has come full circle. After working in community services and aged care – including a previous two-year stint at Forrest Community Services – she returned in her new pastoral role around six months ago. “I was looking for a change, and I always found myself drawn back to aged care,” she reflects. “It’s where I feel I can make the most meaningful difference.”
Her role spans both Loreto Home of Compassion and Mary Potter Nursing Home. Mornings often begin with simple greetings along the corridor, which are gentle check-ins that open the door to deeper conversations. On church service days, she helps set up the chapel and supports residents in attending services, but her care is never limited by religion. “Some residents like me to pray with them, others just want someone to sit with. I meet people where they’re at.”
What sets Kavita and our Pastoral Care Team apart is her attentiveness to the individual. Whether it’s walking a resident in the sunshine, reading aloud from a book written by a palliative resident, or playing music for another, Kavita is always seeking ways to honour each person’s story. “It’s about making them feel like their life still has meaning, that they’ve lived a life worth remembering.”
Kavita also supports families and staff, knowing the weight of caring roles first-hand from her decade working on the floor. Her pastoral care extends to carers, encouraging them in their journey and involving them in meaningful ways. “We’re all part of the same wheel, working toward the same goal: quality of life for the people we care for.”
At its core, Kavita’s work is about truly listening. “Sometimes people just need someone to sit with them. No fixing, no advice. Just someone who’s really present.”
In Kavita’s eyes, pastoral care is more than a service. It’s a vital thread in the fabric of aged care. And at The Forrest Centre, it’s a thread that weaves compassion, dignity, and human connection into every day.
