About Adelphicare

Adelphicare.org is a site developed by members of the Christadelphian faith and is devoted to demonstrating the love of God through caring for and supporting those facing trials and life-challenges.

Who are Christadelphians?

The word "Christadelphian" was coined by a medical practitioner, John Thomas, who worked with others of similar views and needed a religious identity during the American Civil War for men with a conscientious objection to war. He used "Christadelphian" to show that these men were brethren in Christ, following Christ's principles of allegiance to God rather than to the world's political entities.

The word's root is the Greek delphos, meaning "womb" — Christadelphians, then, are men and women who emerge from the womb as brothers and sisters, and in a spiritual sense, are "born again." While the word's original registration as conscientious objectors referred to men, its contemporary meaning refers to men and women alike who are Christ's. You may see references to a "brother" or "sister" on this site — we use these terms often when referring to one another.

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How this site is run

This site is developed and maintained within the parameters of the Association of Australian Christadelphian Ecclesias, an organisation that assists communication between around 120 ecclesias (churches) across Australia. Contributors are Christadelphians with qualifications and experience in the areas accredited to them.

While the articles on this site aim to present Christadelphian perspectives, some reference non-Christadelphian sources. We respectfully acknowledge those writers' views without necessarily endorsing their general background or specific beliefs.

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Site contributions

Who writes for Adelphicare

Contributors to this site are men and women who make a significant contribution because of their qualifications and experience, and, above all, are committed and practising brothers and sisters of Christ.

Christadelphians generally do not place emphasis on professional qualifications in our service to God — ultimately it is our relationship with Him and His Son that is central to all we do. Nonetheless, to show a disciplined basis for our work, a number of our editorial team do have care and health-related qualifications, along with experience in the health-care sector.

Meet the team

Some contributors

Laurence Lepherd

PhD, MEd (Hons), BA, FACE

Laurence is a trained spiritual carer who has worked as a volunteer with Toowoomba Hospital and Cancer Council Queensland. He has specialised in research and caring in areas of men's health and aged care.

His research was carried out at the University of Southern Queensland, where, after retirement, he undertook research as an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Cathy Strachan

BOptom, BDementia Care, MNursing, Dip Pastoral Care

Cathy trained part-time as both a Pastoral Carer and a Dementia Carer. What she most wanted to do — quality, holistic end-of-life care for patients and their families — she was unable to provide because she didn't have sufficient medical qualifications. So, at 54 years of age, she went back to university as a full-time student and obtained a Masters of Nursing, loving every minute of it despite COVID lockdowns. Her goal has always been to specialise in palliative care.

Nursing isn't just a job for Cathy — it's a calling and a passion. She feels strongly that God has guided her to follow her heart into caring for the dying, so that she can be the hands of Jesus in showing His love to those who can give nothing in return.

Kylee Mingham

AIN Nurse, Dip Mental Health & Counselling, Cert IV Peer Worker Mental Health

Kylee is a Psychosocial Recovery Coach who has worked and studied for a number of years in the mental health and disability sector. She specialises in mental health disorders, behaviours, and drug and alcohol issues, helping individuals find and navigate mental health services in the community and in hospitals so they can reach their goals.

Her role also draws on lived experience — Kylee has herself experienced mental health difficulties, which she brings to her work as a Peer Worker alongside her clinical training.

Dr Tamara Johansen

BVSc, MBBS, CWH, FRACGP

Dr Tamara is a General Practitioner working in private practice. She trained and worked as a small animal veterinarian before changing careers to medicine, gaining a wealth of experience across many areas of medicine before finding her niche in family medicine.

She holds special interests in women's health, aged care, and palliative care, and also sits on the Board for the TAFEA Health Care Clinic in Vanuatu.

Dr Matthew Hocking

BSc (Med), MBBS, FRANZCP — Consultant on Mental Health matters

Dr Matthew has undertaken extensive additional training in Addiction Psychiatry and has more than 10 years' experience in the field, with a special interest in managing addiction disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.

He has also developed skills in diagnosing and managing ADHD, and in providing psychological interventions to manage chronic pain.

Carmel Hayden

Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care

Carmel is responsible for co-ordinating the day-to-day spiritual program to meet residents' needs at Maranatha Aged Care, Brisbane, in line with their preferences and government requirements.

Louise Buttsworth

BPsych, Dip Counselling

Louise trained as a pastoral carer in 2017 at Toowoomba Base Hospital, and has been a visitor both at the hospital and within the Toowoomba ecclesia ever since. She also holds a degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Counselling.

Two areas currently interest her in pastoral care: how important self-knowledge is in order to help others more effectively, and how our different personalities and talents can be used to advantage when visiting. She is currently the Pastoral Care Co-ordinator at Toowoomba Hospice.

Nerida O'Neill

Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care

Nerida leads a Wellbeing Team in Aged Care, coordinating spiritual and leisure activities and managing a team of Wellbeing Coordinators across two residential care sites. She has been working in aged care since 2015, and is most passionate about spending time individually with residents, hearing their stories and supporting them as they adjust to life in residential aged care.

“So much can be learnt from each person, their history and what remains important to them as memories and abilities fade — spiritual care is about our core self and what gives each of us meaning in our lives.”

Peter Collins

BMusEd, BA (Maths), Grad Dip (Computer Ed), Grad Dip (Teach Lib)

Peter has no formal qualifications in pastoral care but has completed the Understanding Dementia course at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre (University of Tasmania).

As of Sept 2026, Peter has taken on the role of site curator from founder Laurence Lepherd and will help coordinate updates to the site and its future direction. He can be contacted via the Contact Us page

God-centred caring

We'd like to share with everyone some Christadelphian perspectives on aspects of care. As our Home page indicates, we believe wholeheartedly in God-centred caring, and that our loving God will always help those who put their faith and trust in Him.

This site is devoted to helping people at various stages of life. Visit Articles to find or search every article on the site, or Contact Us to learn more about Christadelphians and the editorial team.

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