Spirituality of Care and Community in a Turbulent World:
Dr Eugen Koh

At CSCC’s AGM on 18 May, Eugen gave a very thoughtful and stimulating talk about his 30 year experience with traumatised individuals and collectives. Eugen is a founding member and former chair of CSCC, and a psychiatrist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist based in Melbourne.

Over the past 15 years he has focused on working with traumatised communities as whole entities, including Aboriginal communities in central Australia suffering the effects of colonisation, communities in Japan struggling with various kinds of shared trauma in the shadow of their complex trauma from the Second World War, and communities in Northern Ireland recovering from the 30 years of sectarian conflict.

From these experiences, Eugen has developed theories of community, culture, and concepts of collective and cultural trauma, and the broader application of psychodynamic thinking in international relations, conflict and peace building. In 2020, he was invited to contribute to an international multidisciplinary project to develop a new framework for the United Nations on the prevention of genocide.

Presentation Overview:

As the world becomes polarised on so many issues, the divide between progressives and conservatives has deepened with a growing hatred that increasingly erupts into violence. Like the 1930s, we are seeing again the rise of fascism. How do we find a spirituality that guides the way we treat each other, and the way we might face the challenges of living in an increasingly turbulent world? Eugen reflected on an example from two communities in Northern Ireland where a spirituality of care and community combined with a particular kind of courage has enabled these communities to come together and care for each other across a divide.

There has been much interest in and discussion following Eugen’s talk. A link to the recording is available by request to those on our mailing but only for private viewing and not to be distributed.

Plans are also underway for CSCC to host a workshop on Spirituality of Care and Community in a Turbulent World, facilitated by Eugen.

If you would like to receive a transcript of Eugen’s address and/or express interest in the suggested workshop on a Spirituality of Care and Community in a Turbulent World, please send your details to secretary@cscc.org.au.

How do we respond together in life giving ways when terrible things happen?

Father Michael Lapsley is an Anglican priest and a member of an Anglican religious order - the Society of the Sacred Mission. Born in New Zealand, he trained for the priesthood in Australia. He was transferred to South Africa in 1973. Fr Michael was part of the liberation struggle to end apartheid. While living in Zimbabwe he was sent a letter bomb by the apartheid regime in 1990 which blew off both of his hands and destroyed one eye. In 1998 he founded the Institute for Healing of Memories. Today he is the President of the Healing of Memories Global Network. His memoir, Redeeming the Past: My Journey from Freedom Fighter to Healer, has been translated into many languages and is available as an ebook

Final details of the Oration will be sent to people on our mailing list and it will be advertised on our website. You can register your interest by sending an email to secretary@cscc.org.au

CSCC’s Roy Bradley Oration 2024

The seminar was held on Friday 12 September from 1-3pm AEST via Zoom (see details below). Bruce writes:

At the beginning of this session, I will outline the extent to which current bereavement care models take spiritual need and spiritual resources into account. I will go on to suggest how some of these insights might inform spiritual care practice that understands spirituality not only as disrupted by bereavement but also as a resource for living with bereavement. We will then discuss the contributions trained spiritual care providers might make to bereavement care in multidisciplinary and community care settings.

A copy of the recording can be purchased here:

‘Time for Remembering Victims of Road Trauma’ Event

At our AGM last year, committee member Andy Calder spoke of his work with the Amber Community – a group dedicated to providing free professional counselling and support to those affected by road trauma, while also addressing, through education, the attitudes and behaviours of road users. During his talk, Andy shared this beautiful video of Solace -Victoria's first ever road trauma memorial, overlooking Corio Bay in Geelong.

www.tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/community/road-trauma-memorial

Every year, the Amber Community hosts an event in Queen’s Hall, Parliament House, to provide an opportunity for people bereaved or injured, professionals and volunteers who provide support and care, to come together in a safe and reflective space.

This year's event will be held on Sunday 16th November 2025. To learn more and register:

CSCC’s Financial Sustainability

An important element in the formation of CSCC was the concept of Foundation Memberships – people who would each contribute $1,000 (either as a once off contribution or $200 a year over 5 years). It was hoped this would build towards a membership of 100 members and an endowment fund of at least $100,000. Interest from this investment endowment, it was planned, would support the Annual Roy Bradley Oration by covering the honorarium that would be offered

To date far we have recruited twenty-six Foundation Members - not as many as we anticipated but we would love to hear from anyone who would like to discuss becoming a Foundation Member. Becoming a Friend of CSCC is another way of being involved but without the financial commitment. You can find out more information and download an application form on our website: www.cscc.org.au/become-involved

Apart from payments by those who chose to pay their Foundation membership over five years, our income over the recent years has come mainly from donations sought at the time of the annual Roy Bradley Oration.

We have however, as we reported in our last newsletter, received one significant anonymous donation of $5,000 given particularly to subsidise Foundation Memberships for anyone who would be willing to serve on the management committee but who would struggle to afford $1,000. (Our constitution specifies that to be a management committee member one must be a Foundation Member.)

Clearly, for CSCC to be sustainable we need to address our fundraising strategy

Becoming a Friend of CSCC is another way of being involved but without the financial commitment. You can find out more information and download an application form on our website:

Welcome to New Member Helen Moore

We are delighted to welcome Helen Moore to the CSCC Management Committee. Helen is a gifted and passionate educator with over 30 years’ experience in primary education as both a teacher, mentor and leader including as school principal.

Helen is committed to fostering voice, agency and a love of learning in young and old learners. A lifelong learner Helen loves the challenge of acquiring new skills and knowledge.

Helen is actively involved in the community, serving on kindergarten, school and church communities, sharing her musical gifts as a flautist and working to protect the environment. She is dedicated to respecting and nurturing natural environments, parks and reserves, where she enjoys spiritual connection.

Helen brings significant organisational and other skills in programme and policy development, IT and community development. Helen and her husband David are foundation members of CSCC.

Centre for Spirituality of Care and Community
Incorporated 333 Rathdowne Street, Carlton, 3053
Email secretary@cscc.org.au | Website www.cscc.org.au

Incorporated as Association, Registration No A0105260W

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