How great grandmother Barb Carter is using her faith to help people cope with trauma

BARB Carter has seen suffering in different places and countries in her many years as a compassionate counsellor but has still not lost faith in humanity.

Vineyard Church chaplain Barb Carter has been counselling people for over 20 years. Pictures: Peter Kelly

BARB Carter has seen suffering in different places and countries in her many years as a compassionate counsellor but has still not lost faith in humanity.

The McGraths Hill great grandmother has helped people in traumatic situations, such as hostages from the Lindt Cafe siege, the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, the Christchurch earthquakes, and boat people from Asia.

Saying her faith in God keeps her strong amid all the suffering and destruction, Mrs Carter said making people believe they have hope is one of the most positive rewards she gets.

Bar Carter is the chaplain at Vineyard Church.

Barb Carter’s work is making a difference for people.

Mrs Carter, a regional chaplain for the Australian Christian Churches, based at Vineyard Church is also a supporter of DoSomething Day on June 15 where people are encouraged to help or do good in the community.

“You have to focus on somebody outside yourself and help out with volunteering if you can,” said Mrs Carter, who told of many heartwarming stories.

“I had watched this girl in one place who was very difficult to work with but I managed to get her to focus and now she has got a job at an op shop, which is great.

Barb Carter always has time for people in need.

“The hardest thing to deal with is to see someone in a place where they feel they have nothing to look forward to.

“The best thing is to sit with them, listen to them and see them in a place where they can overcome their difficulties and have hope in the future.”

Mrs Carter became a chaplain about 15 years ago after her husband Malcolm died.

She first worked as a volunteer at Nepean Hospital for two years before training to be a clinical pastoral educationist.

“When my husband was alive, he had this ability to reach out to people and he used to bring people home,” Mrs Carter said.

“We had a lot to do with boat people and some still call me ‘Aussie mum’.”

Mrs Carter turns 77 on June 8 and has seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

“I feel my work has been there for a lifetime as we always had other kids staying over when we were growing up,” said Mrs Carter, who previously lived in Rouse Hill and Castle Hill.

“We built a kindy on Annangrove Rd as it was our way of sowing peace and love in the community and ran it for seven years.”