23/06/2026
Outstanding Spiritual Care Practitioner – Penny Street
From the nominations received, our award winner for 2026 is Penny Street
The SCA Best of Care Awards recognise and celebrate best practice and excellence in the provision of Spiritual Care and raise awareness of best practice within the Spiritual Care sector. An individual or a team may be nominated for an innovation in spiritual care practice OR for long term excellence in spiritual care. Nominees must exemplify the SCA Capabilities Framework and the SCA values of Inclusion, Collaboration, Empowerment & Professionalism.
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Penny Street, Aged Care Spiritual Care Coordinator at MercyCare, demonstrates exceptional leadership and commitment to embedding high-quality, person-centred spiritual care aligned with the Spiritual Care Australia (SCA) Capability Framework and Aged Care Quality Standards. She leads a team of Spiritual Care Practitioners with clarity, compassion, and professionalism, ensuring that spiritual care is recognised as an integral component of holistic care across the organisation.
Penny has worked tirelessly to elevate the profile and practice of spiritual care within residential aged care. She models best practice through her consistent presence, reflective approach, and deep respect for the dignity, beliefs, and life experiences of each resident. Her leadership ensures that spiritual care is not only responsive at times of crisis, grief, or end of life, but is embedded in everyday interactions that promote meaning, connection, and wellbeing.
A strong advocate for continuous professional development, Penny actively encourages and supports her team to build capability and confidence in their roles. She fosters a learning culture grounded in reflective practice, ethical awareness, and evidence-informed care. Her own professional achievements—including the Morling College Prize for Personal Achievement in Chaplaincy Studies, and qualifications in Human Flourishing Coaching and Mental Health Coaching—demonstrate her commitment to excellence and lifelong learning.
Penny’s leadership is deeply relational and values-driven. She builds trusting, collaborative relationships with staff, residents, and families, creating safe and inclusive spaces for diverse spiritual expressions. Her ability to integrate spiritual care into multidisciplinary teams strengthens holistic care planning and enhances outcomes for residents.
Her personal vocation and life journey inform her authentic and compassionate approach. Penny’s faith, resilience, and dedication are evident in her daily work, inspiring those around her and contributing to a culture where spirituality is honoured as central to human experience.
Through her leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment, Penny exemplifies the SCA values of compassion, respect, collaboration, and excellence, significantly enhancing the spiritual wellbeing of the MercyCare aged care community.
Penelope Street
