Religious Diversity in Australia

This chapter will explore religious diversity and how religion can impact delivery of health services. Students will be introduced to the main religious groups in Australia and explore how the different religions interact and are impacted on by the dominant Christian beliefs in Australia. The chapter will discuss how spirituality can assist people to end a sense of meaning or purpose in their lives in a way that is strongly influenced by cultural heritage. Students will be guided through activities to explore how religious beliefs adopted by people influence the way that individuals, families and community groups respond to significant life events like birth, illness, death and dying. Case studies will be provided as a basis for discussion about how health professionals can respond sensitively toward the beliefs and values of diverse religious groups in their care.