Series 3 – Soul

The third series of Body, Mind & Soul is Soul. Series 3 will explore 14 topics relating to religion and beliefs and in particular, religion in Defence. Series 3 – Soul covers:

  • Episode 1: Spiritual Wellbeing
  • Episode 2: Eastern Faiths
    • Hinduism
    • Sikhism
    • Buddhism
  • Episode 3: Non-Christian Monotheistic Faiths
    • Islam
    • Judaism
  • Episode 4: Christian Denominations
    • Catholicism
    • Anglican
    • Protestant
  • Episode 5: Faith & Diversity
    • Non Religion
    • Women Spirituality and the ADF
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Spirituality
  • Episode 6: Moral Injury
  • Episode 7: Army Chaplaincy – A Day in the Life of a Chaplain

Presenters

Series 3 – Soul is presented by The Cove in conjunction with Chaplain Ivan Grant. All interviews have been conducted with members of the Religious Advisor Committee who are introduced prior to their relevant episode.

 

Episodes

Episode 1 – Spiritual Wellbeing

In this edition, we will be discussing Spiritual Wellbeing.

Our guest speaker for this episode is Chaplain Dan Hynes. Senior Chaplain Dan Hynes has been a serving Commonwealth Naval officer for over forty years. Born in Ontario, Canada he began his naval career in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Seaman Officer, serving onboard destroyer escorts sailing from either Halifax into the Atlantic or Esquimalt into the Pacific. After 14 years involving various NATO, UN and overseas deployments, he laterally transferred to the Royal Australian Navy. In 1996, he was posted aboard HMAS Brisbane for an initial circumnavigation opportunity of Australia. He then went on to complete Principal Warfare Officer training at HMAS Watson and was subsequently posted west. Following back to back sea postings to HMAS Canberra and Adelaide he was appointed Executive Officer of HMAS Stirling. It was during this period that he received his call to ministry. He completed in-service training for Chaplaincy with the Australian College of Theology and the Baptist Theological College of Western Australia in 2007. Dan was ordained in October 2009. He has since served as Chaplain onboard HMA Ships Cairns, Creswell, Tobruk, Choules, Toowoomba and various Armidale/Cape class patrol vessels, rounding out a career of over fifteen years at sea. He is currently posted to Joint Health Command as the Director of Spiritual Health and Wellbeing.

 

Episode 2a – Eastern Faiths: Hinduism

In this episode, we will be discussing the Hindu religion and posing the questions: How does the faith supports a believer? How does Hinduism support Defence capability? How can commanders support an adherent to the Hindu faith?

Our guest speaker for this edition is Subramanian (Sebu) Ramamoorthi. Sebu is currently the Religious Advisor Committee member for the Hindu faith and a national leader for the Hindu faith in Australia.

 

Episode 2b – Eastern Faiths: Sikhism

In this edition, we will be discussing Sikhism (or Sikhi). After getting an overview, we will ask the following questions: How does the Sikhi support a believer? How does the Sikhi faith support Defence capability? How can local commanders support an adherent to Sihki?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Sardar Ajmer Singh Gill who is the President of the National Sikh Council of Australia, an umbrella body of the Sikh community in Australia. Ajmer is passionate about the work of the Council and has displayed great leadership in addressing Sikh issues, educating the public about Sikhs and helping community members to play a full role in Australian life. Since 2007 he has organised Sikh participation at the annual Sydney ANZAC Day march. He is also a Marriage Celebrant and the Nominating Authority of the Council. Ajmer recognises youth are the future and has since 1998 worked hard to organise Sikh faith retreats and forums. In 2005 he received the NSW Community Relations Commission Award for Community Service. Ajmer has successfully developed and delivered various community projects, focusing on integration, awareness and harmony including: the World Sikh Conference, Exhibition of Sikh Military History, Multi-Faith Projects such as Prevention of Family Violence, establishment of a Global Sikh Council and development of the NSW Punjabi Language Syllabus. He is a great advocate for human rights, an ardent supporter of multiculturalism and an active executive member of the Multicultural Communities Council of NSW. Ajmer is passionate about interfaith relations. He participates regularly in interfaith workshops, conferences and seminars. He is a member of Religions for Peace, Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations and presented a paper at the Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne 2009. 

 

Episode 2c – Eastern Faith: Buddhism

In this episode, we will present a brief overview of Buddhism. Posing the following questions: How does the faith support a believer? How does Buddhism support Defence capability? How can commanders support an adherent of the Buddhism faith?

Our guest speaker for this edition is LCDR Jeffrey Newton who is currently studying to be a Navy Chaplain. Towards the end of high school he explored several career options including ministry, the police force, nursing and teaching. LCDR Newton states of his faith: "Looking back on these choices now I see that I am naturally drawn to working with people to improve their lives. I chose teaching and after university I was engaged with the Queensland Department of Education for eight years. Moving into RAAF, I continued in the education and training industry as a TSO. Now, finally finding myself I am upskilling to become a Chaplain in the Navy. Growing up attending the local Anglican Church most Sundays, I found spirituality to be a natural and needed part of my life. During my university studies and early teaching career I became interested in Buddhism and started moving towards this faith as it just 'spoke my language'. It felt like a good fit and whenever I attended the local temple or a retreat, I felt like I'd come home. In 2012 I found easy access to a Buddhist Temple and a stage in life which gave me some space and maturity to deeply explore myself. Since 2012 I have been doing my best to follow the middle path in all that I think, say and do while also gaining direct education from a Tibetan Lama. I formally 'Took Refuge' in 2019."

 

Episode 3a – Non-Christian Monotheistic Faiths: Islam

In this edition, we will be discussing Islam. Starting with an overview and then exploring the following questions: How does Islam support a believer? How does the Islamic faith support Defence capability? How can commanders support an adherent to Islam?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Imam Ahmed Abdo. Ahmed is currently the Religious Advisor Committee member for the Islamic faith and the President of the Council of Imams NSW. 

 

Episode 3b – Non-Christian Monotheistic Faiths: Judaism

In this edition, we will be discussing the Jewish faith beginning with an overview. This will then move on to answering the questions: How does the faith support a believer? How can the Jewish faith support Defence capability? How can local commanders support an adherent to the Jewish faith?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Rabbi Ralph Genende, OAM who is the Religious Advisor Committee member for the Jewish faith.

 

Episode 4a – Christian Denominations: Catholicism

In this edition, we will be discussing the Catholic religion including an overview. Then posing the questions: How does the faith support a believer? How does Catholic faith support Defence capability? How can commanders support a Catholic member?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Chaplain Thomas Zaranski. Chaplain Zaranski commissioned into the Army in January 2022 after completing the Special Service Officers Course at RMC-Duntroon, followed by the Chaplaincy Course at the Defence Force Chaplaincy College. Chaplain Zaranski has completed a Bachelor of Economics, a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education and a Graduate Certificate in Religious Education at the Australian Catholic University. Chaplain Zaranski was ordained a Deacon in 2017 and a Priest in 2018, and has served at several parishes within the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. In late 2021, he was released to be in a Chaplain in the ADF and is currently posted to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. 

 

Episode 4b – Christian Denominations: Anglican

In this edition, we will be discussing the Anglican faith. Starting with an overview of Anglicanism and then exploring the familiar questions: How does the Anglican faith support a believer? How does the Anglican faith support Defence capability? How can local commanders support an Anglican member?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Reverend Grant Dibden, who is the Religious Advisor Committee member for the Anglican faith. 

 

Episode 4c – Christian Denominations: Protestant

In this edition, we will explore the Protestant faith. Beginning with an overview and then answering the familiar questions: How does Protestant faith support a believer? How does Protestant faith support Defence capability? How do commanders support an adherent to the Protestant tradition?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Reverend Ralph Estherby who is the Religious Advisor Committee member for the Protestant faith.

 

Episode 5a – Faith & Diversity: No Religion

In this edition, we will provide a brief overview of the variety of people who identity as No Religion. Answering the questions: What are these belief systems and worldviews? How it can support Defence capability? How commanders can support an adherents to secular beliefs, other spiritual beliefs, those with no religious affiliation, and more?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Chaplain Ivan Grant who at the time of recording is the Deputy Command Chaplain of Forces Command.

 

Episode 5b – Faith and diversity: Women, Spirituality, and the ADF

In this edition, we will be discussing if and how faith and spirituality is expressed differently by women. How does spirituality support women in the ADF? Are there barriers that women in the ADF face in expressing their spirituality? What could the ADF do to remove or minimise some of these barriers? How can a woman's perspective on Spirituality enable Defence capability?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Reverend Kaye Ronalds who is the Religious Advisor Committee member for the Uniting Church. 

 

Episode 5c – Faith and diversity: ATSI Spirituality

In this edition, we will provide a brief overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Spirituality. Asking the questions: How can ATSI Spirituality support a believer? What difference does it make to the individual? How does Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spirituality support Defence capability? How can a local commander support an adherent to ATSI spirituality?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Captain Clint McGoldrick who is the RAAChD Indigenous Advisor.  

 

Episode 6 – Moral injury

In this edition, we will be discussing what moral injury really is. Exploring the questions: How does moral injury affect an individual? How prevalent is moral injury in Defence? What impact does it have on Defence capability? How do people recover from moral injury? How can a commander support a member with a moral injury? Can moral injury be prevented? What are some practical considerations for individuals and commanders to manage the risk of moral injury?

Our guest speaker for this episode is Colonel Mark Francis (Retd) who at the time of recording is the Moral Injury Project Director for Joint Health Command. 

 

Episode 7 – Army Chaplaincy: A Day in the Life of a Chaplain

In this edition, we will be discussing what an Army Chaplain does. Who do chaplains support? How do chaplains support religious and spiritual belief? What is a chaplains role in providing pastoral care? What is a chaplains relationship with the commander? Do chaplains support character development in Army? What does a 'normal' day look like for a chaplain in a barracks environment? How is a chaplains role different in the field or on operations? What difference does chaplaincy make to individual members and families? How does chaplaincy contribute to Army capability? If someone was considering becoming a chaplain, what advice would your give them?

Our guest speaker for this episode Chaplain Kerri Frizzell who at the time of recording is the Coord Chaplain at RMC-D.