Motorsport Ministries Inc.
Motorsport chaplains serving Australian motorsport since 1986.
Our Vision
Why we are here
We are here to train, appoint and guide dedicated men and woman to provide chaplaincy services to the people of the motorsport communities of Australia regardless of race, religion or gender.
A chaplain at every motorsport event in Australia
Our motorsport chaplains are involved community members who provide essential service and care to all people in Australian motorsport. We are "people carers", responding to the immediate and deep needs of these diverse motorsport communities.
Pastoral care for all who need it
Issues such as poverty, depression, suicide, grief and loss, emergency response situations, illness and injury recovery, and any of the other issues affecting the lives of those involved in motorsport. Our chaplains are ready to provide pastoral care and peer support to all participants, whether officials or competitors, family or team members, demonstrating Christian love and hope in a practical way.
Testimonial
I have always considered us very fortunate to have the unconditional support, friendship and loyalty of Motor Racing Ministries – I am very glad to have supported the chaplains in my time at Motorsport Australia. Unfortunately, we have had the odd incident resulting in serious injury or death and inevitably, the first question I ask is “what do our chaplains say about the families”… you have been a constant source of comfort to our motorsport family and I cannot thank you enough for the support we have received and continue to receive from you both and your fellow chaplains.
About Us
We are a national organisation that has been serving Australian motorsport since 1986.
You will see us at
most motorsport events across the country, including F1, Supercars, Circuit Racing, Rally, Bikes, Karts, Speedway, Drags, and Off Road.
Every member chaplain
has been accredited after having training, and each champion the Guiding Principles of Motorsport Ministries.
Our National committee
is comprised by six senior motorsport chaplains, with collective experience of more than 150 years.
The Charter
Motorsport Ministries Incorporated’s charter is twofold:
Firstly, to operate as a part of a broader team to respond in the moment of the occurrence of an incident/emergency or a fatality at a motorsport event, providing effective support by way of critical incident stress management and, if a fatality, grief and loss support, to families, officials and other members of the motorsport community who may be involved – support which carries on after the event – and often long after the event, including hospital and home visitation.
Secondly to provide effective encouragement, guidance and a listening ear, as well as advocacy as appropriate, for those in stressful situations or under duress, including, but not limited to challenges associated with social issues such as relationship breakdowns, domestic and family violence, drug and/or alcohol abuse, suspected or actual child abuse, etc., as well as from financial stress and health challenges/diagnosis, such as cancer.
Trained, committed and equipped responders, known as chaplains, are the vehicles to deliver these outcomes.
Role of a Chaplain
Peer Support
A motorsport Chaplain attends a motorsport event as a peer support / pastoral care person (“people carer”) to be available for any personal or administrative matter that is deemed helpful for the running of the event and/or for the well-being of any person connected with the event in any way. This may be with race team members, race officials on and off track, support staff, or others and often involves follow up after the meeting is over, sometimes extending to months or even years of recuperation and often strong friendships are forged in assisting people to overcome trying circumstances.
Confidentiality
For the Chaplain, each and every conversation or peer support / pastoral care matter is strictly confidential with the person involved, and the Chaplain cannot be placed under any compulsion or obligation to report the details of any such conversations with any other, including staff and administration. There are a small number of matters which, if they arise, are required by law to be notified to Police by the Chaplain, but these are not referred to here. However, where the Secretary of the Meeting or the Clerk of Course requests the Chaplain to meet with a designated person, a report on that person’s ability to function for the event may be given.
The Role
a) To mingle with staff and officials, competitors, their families and pit crews, with a view to serving them in any need, and to be available to them in a peer support / pastoral care role. This role often requires:
- private conversations at motorsport events;
- the provision of self-help material for further reference; and
- follow up after the meeting either by phone or in person.
- assistance in referral to specialist professional help where required.
This part of the Chaplain’s role is ongoing and is conducted without fanfare on every day of every meeting. Conversations from one meeting tend to carry over to the next meeting and new conversations begin at every meeting.
b) These conversations are confidential, sometimes even emotional, and often it is helpful if they take place in private away from public view. Often these conversations are related to critical incidents from previous events, ongoing assistance with difficult personal issues, personal/family matters (which are often related to consistent participation at events) or, regarding officials, referrals from a Senior Marshall to help the person carry out his/her assigned duties at the event on the day.
c) To be available to any official, competitor, their family, friends and pit crew if they have been injured or affected as a result of an incident or illness or are being burdened by circumstances.
Send us a Message
If you have any questions, please submit your enquiry here and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
