Hervey Bay woman shares why she became a prison chaplain

A volunteer chaplain who sits opposite criminals in Queensland prisons every week has revealed why she chooses to do the “delicate yet rewarding job”.

Rose is a volunteer prison chaplain with Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy, which is celebrating 50 years supporting people in Queensland correctional centres.

A Hervey Bay chaplain who steps into prisons every week to help change the lives of criminals has spoken out about why she does it.

Rose is a volunteer prison chaplain with Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy, which is celebrating 50 years supporting people in Queensland correctional centres.

She said prison chaplains supported people who were “lost and on paths of self-destructiveness” and they helped “love the unlovable back to life”.

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“Chaplains are important because they bring the hope of Jesus to lost, hurting people,” Rose said.

“Sometimes just sitting and listening to the person’s story may help them feel – for the first time – that a person cares about who they actually are and what they have gone through.

“Chaplains have a delicate yet rewarding job ... which not only changes the person but can change the lives of their families on the outside also.”

Maryborough Correctional Centre.

Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy, operated by Brisbane-based not-for-profit Carinity, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, with the gathering attended by guests from as far away as Cairns.

The event included presentations from past and current chaplains and Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy co-ordinators, as well as former prisoners whose lives have been transformed.

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Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy has around 30 volunteer chaplains providing pastoral care to men and women in 14 correctional centres around Queensland.

“I love to see the transformation each week of people in prison who understand there is a hope of a different way of living to their current lives – and there are people that actually care for them,” Rose said.

“I also love to see Christians that have made the wrong life choices, and have ended up in prison, have their faith grow.”

To find out more about prison chaplaincy, click here.