Mission & Values

The values of St Vincent’s Hospital derive from the mission and traditions of the Sisters of Charity. Firmly grounded in the Christian tradition, our values seek to give form to our activities and are at the core of our Code of Conduct and Code of Ethical Standards .

Inspired by the values of the Sisters of Charity and Sisters of Mercy, our mission is to bring the healing ministry of Christ to all we serve.

Vision
Our vision is to serve the community through excellence in care, teaching and research in both public and private health and aged care services, and to reach out to the poor and the marginalised. In doing so, we maintain our fundamental respect for the skills and talents of our staff and our profound respect for the humanity of every individual patient.

Values

Compassion	We will accept people as they are and display kindness and sensitivity to them
Justice	We will act with integrity and believe that people have the right to good health care without discrimination.
Human Dignity	We will treat all people with care, acknowledging each person is unique in the eyes of God.
Excellence	We will excel in all that we do so that we can positively promote the healing ministry within our society.
Unity	We will create a community in which we collaborate with gentleness as a sign that we value one another.
Mercy	We will respond to those in need by providing the best possible treatment and care.
Hospitality	We will welcome people with kindness and do all that we can to assist their health and wellbeing.
Respect	We will be open to all people who need our care and our time, acknowledging that they have the right to our services.

The St Vincent’s Hospital Mission
At the heart of the hospital is the St Vincent’s Hospital Mission, comprising the Mission Office, Pastoral Care, Chaplaincy and Volunteers. These services, while a visible reminder of our Mission, are only one small part of the way Mission underpins the services and care provided to patients.

As part of the larger ministry of Catholic health care in Australia, our commitment to holistic care is grounded in the Gospel and motivated by the values of charity, care and compassion. These values are central to how St Vincent’s Hospital responds to the needs of the sick and marginalised in the community.

The Mission Office
The Mission Office at St Vincent’s Hospital works closely with the National Office of St Vincent's Health Australia to ensure that Mission is integrated into governance, leadership, management, care delivery and research. It takes particular responsibility for development of staff and contributes to programs such as orientation, mandatory training, leadership development, staff retreat programs, liturgy, Feast Days and service recognition.

The Mission Office also plays an important role in facilitating the promotion of ethical policy development and decision making and works closely with the Plunkett Centre for Ethics.

Celebrating St Vincent’s Hospital’s heritage and tradition
Heritage and tradition are core elements of the St Vincent’s Hospital mission and have been celebrated with recent milestones marking foundation anniversaries.

These milestones are important reminders of the legacy we have inherited. In particular, St Vincent’s Hospital’s Sesquicentenary in 2007 marked the beginning of Catholic health care in Australia. The history of St Vincent’s reveals remarkable stories of how, in spite of many challenges and hardships, the spirit which inspired our founders has remained embedded in our care and service to the communities we serve.

Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy
‘Central to the delivery of health care in the Catholic ministry is the virtue of caritas – that special love of others which characterised Christ.’

‘Being a Catholic Hospital’, CHA 2004

For many patients, the time they spend in hospital is a time they are more likely to experience vulnerability and uncertainty. This is not only reflected in their physical condition but also in the emotional and spiritual journey which accompanies the experience of illness, pain and loss. The ministry of Pastoral Care provides patients with carers who walk this journey with them.

During 2006-07 Pastoral Care Services have been established to provide specific care and support to patients suffering from mental illness.

Chaplaincy services are integral to the care and ministry provided by St Vincent’s Hospital. Catholic Chaplains are provided at St Vincent’s Hospital in addition to visiting multi-denominational support. Anglican, Jewish and Methodist chaplains are also on staff at St Vincent’s Hospital. This support enables a rich liturgical service across the facilities.

Volunteers
When the Sisters of Charity established St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney they knew that, to deliver care in the true tradition of hospitality, they would need to call on the service of many to assist them with their ministry. The spirit of volunteering was therefore a hallmark of the communities that grew around the hospitals. This tradition is as alive and vibrant today as it was 150 years ago. In 2006, over 400 volunteers offered their service in a myriad of areas supporting the administration and clinical areas of our facilities. Read more about Volunteering