Martins Aloga

As a teenager, Martins was admitted to hospital after collapsing on a sports field and requiring surgery.

The clinical care he received was excellent, but he remembered feeling increasingly alone and disconnected as the days went by.

“One afternoon, someone knocked on my door,” he recalled.

“He introduced himself as a patient visitor, pulled up a chair, and simply asked how I was.

“That moment changed everything for me.”

“The surgeon fixed my body as a patient, but he cared for my spirit as a person, made me felt connected, reassured that I wasn’t alone.”

“As years went by, I remembered the professional care of the clinicians, but never forgot how that visit made me felt.”

That encounter inspired Martins to pursue training in the humanities and dedicate more than 20 years to spiritual care services.

Six months ago, he began his new role at GV Health, where his focus is on embedding spiritual care support as part of patient holistic care.

Day to day, that means working with the multidisciplinary teams, taking referrals, meeting patients and families, assessing their spiritual needs, and offering presence and comfort during moments of transition, grief or uncertainty.

“Every human being has a spiritual dimension,” he said.

“It’s not about religion, it’s about meaning, connection, purpose and identity.”

“When those existential needs are met, the clinical journey becomes a little easier for patients.”

Shepparton’s diversity makes the role even more vital. GV Health serves people from many cultures and faiths, and Martins believes all deserve to feel respected, valued & included.

He is proud to be building a service that recognises the whole person, not just the patient, knowing that “every patient is a person with needs”, and “The number has a name,” Martins said.

“That changes everything.”

For Martins, being ‘proud to serve’ means offering the same compassionate presence that once made all the difference to him.

“I know what it feels like to be seen & heard,” he said.

“Now I can give that back.”