CHIEF’S MESSAGE » PAGE 3
LIVING OUR MISSION » PAGES 4 & 5
ARMY ARCHIVES » PAGE 7
AIMING TO END HOMELESSNESS IN WA » PAGES 8 & 9
SALVATION STORY » PAGE 16
SEPTEMBER 2021 CONNECTING SALVOS IN MISSION
How many times have you had someone say to you those all-too-familiar (and irritating) words: ‘when all else fails …'? Commissioner Janine Donaldson gives some words of encouragement on page 2 about resisting the urge to rush ahead in life, relying on our own limited resources.
When all else fails … God doesn’t!
others.org.au
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FROM OUR LEADERS
n o i t c u r t s n i
Read the
book
By Commissioner Janine Donaldson
How many times have you had someone say to you those all-too-familiar (and irritating) words: ‘when all else fails …’? It may be in the context of putting together a piece of furniture that has so conveniently arrived in a ‘flat pack’ and nothing seems to be fitting as it should; or trying to set up a new mobile phone, or even something ‘apparently’ as simple as entering a destination in your car navigation system! Of course, the inference is that we should read and follow the instructions provided rather than rushing ahead on our own, relying on our own limited resources. One important lesson I have learnt over time – and one I wish I had learned so much earlier – is that I do not have to know it all! I don’t have to have all the answers. There are always others willing to come alongside to assist, support and champion me. All I need to do is ask. I cannot tell you how freeing that is!
This we are doing together as we commit to our national prayer initiative, praying as a movement for 22 days, knowing that “God is seen when we are one” (John 17:13). We are so blessed and thank God for all who are joining us during this time. God hears both the spoken – and the silent – prayers of his people, and, as a result, he will honour those prayers and will show up in ways we could never have planned – or imagined because that is who God is. One thing I have proved time and time again is this: When all else fails – God doesn’t. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26). This specific season of prayer will conclude on 12 September, but let us keep praying and continually seeking the heart and wisdom of God for ourselves, The Salvation Army, and for those who are yet to come to experience Jesus for themselves.
As the Territorial Leaders of The Salvation Army in Australia, Robert and I are responsible for setting the spiritual tone and standard for the territory and ensuring that the decisions made and the direction set for us as a movement align with God’s plans and purposes for us. This is a huge and privileged responsibility, and one we do not take lightly, but we are so grateful that we do not need to rely totally on our own limited resources and that we are not in this alone. With that assurance, and knowing the task is so much bigger than any one of us, we asked The Salvation Army to join us in a season of significant, fervent, effectual, untiring prayer. God had placed on our hearts the importance and urgency of the need for his people to be one in heart and mind, one in purpose and mission and one in unity and reconciliation. We believe it is only as a unified movement, working in harmony with each other, and ensuring we remain deeply connected to the Father, that others will see God in us and, as a result, come to experience a personal relationship with him for themselves. ‘When all else fails’ – read the instruction book (the Word of God); ask others to come alongside – to get on their knees and seek the heart of God.
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September 2021
FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARY
Conversations over coffee often help build relationships. Stock photo
d e g n cha Lives
It needs more than a single corps or centre to ease hardship and challenge injustice in our community. It needs more than one conversation with a compassionate Salvo or one session at a dedicated Salvo program to bring about change. To live, love and fight alongside others is our vision, and it will take a whole Army – our Army – to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus. That’s why I find it so inspiring to see how our mission expressions, through our Local Mission Delivery model, work together to bring about transformation in people and communities across Australia. Every week, I hear encouraging stories of how lives are changed in an organic, loving way by connecting those in need with a network of Salvos who can help them. One of those inspirational stories is of two people’s lives transformed after connections made through a SalvoConnect group in Bega on the NSW South Coast. Mission expression leaders from across the region prioritise attending the SalvoConnect session each Thursday – this includes the volunteer team leader, Doorways case worker, Moneycare financial counsellor, and corps officers. others.org.au
Margaret* started going, met the team and began to build a relationship with them. After several conversations over coffee, she accepted an invitation to participate in the Positive Lifestyle Program (PLP). It was such a great experience for her that she brought her friend also to take part in the program. After the friend had been there a while, our case worker found out that she was being impacted by financial issues and introduced her to our Moneycare financial counsellor. During her sessions with the financial counsellor, she asked questions about spirituality and was connected with the corps officers. She is now a follower of Jesus, attending church when possible and part of a small group learning more about Jesus. I am inspired when I hear how Salvation Army mission expressions work together to meet people at their point of need and, in doing so, see people’s lives transformed with the love of Jesus. You can read more stories on mission in action on pages 4 and 5. I welcome feedback and reflection. You can write to me at askthechief@salvationarmy.org.au God bless you each,
Colonel Winsome Merrett Chief Secretary *Fictional name used.
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MISSION IN ACTION
n o i miss
Living our
The Salvation Army has hundreds of mission expressions across Australia that serve and connect with people. As part of our Local Mission Delivery model, they collaborate holistically in their care for people both physically and spiritually; social mission expressions and corps partnering in integrated, innovative ways. But, in a practical sense, what does all this mean? Below are three examples of what ‘Living Our Mission’ looks like to Salvos working in different parts of the country: Lieut-Colonel Laurie Robertson Area Officer Sydney Wide Collaboration is not just a word for the Greater Western Sydney Salvos (GW Salvos); it’s life in action. The everyday close mission interaction between The Salvation Army mission expressions – and other churches and agencies – is phenomenal. The combined churches youth group that GW Salvos organises is just one of the successful partnerships that bring life-changing outcomes. Up to 70 young people from some of the most marginalised suburbs in Australia attend. Over the past 12 months, more than 20 of them have accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Complementing this significant spiritual impact, the combined resources of The Salvation Army and other churches are also provided to the youths’ families, bringing body, mind and spiritual transformation. Additionally, The Salvation Army’s Youthlink service delivers a Drive for Life program that enables young people to gain their driver’s licence, a key factor in helping them gain a job, which dramatically transforms their life. Members of local churches are partnering with our Youth Services as driving tutors and instructors for the young people.
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Major Dean Clarke Area Officer Central and Southern, South Australia People travel to Marion, in south-west Adelaide, for its multi-option shopping complex. Opposite the complex is Marion Corps, with a similar multi-option offering. People come to the Marion Thrift Shop to donate or browse for recycled treasures and clothing. Some are hoping for practical assistance to meet the basic requirements of life, and our Doorways team stretches out a hand to help them up. Financial counselling goes a step further in helping to break cycles and assist with personal independence. The homeless, who are not always welcome across the road, find a place of sanctuary here, as do those seeking healing from addictions, hurts and hang-ups, with Celebrate Recovery providing a supportive environment, practical life lessons and spiritual direction. Age-relevant activities and worship gatherings provide additional connection spots. Community members come to the Salvos for one thing and find so much more. All of this is possible because we do our mission together. This is Local Mission Delivery at its best. September 2021
MISSION IN ACTION
Some of the Salvo leaders at Burnie who gathered to develop plans for working better together across mission expressions.
Captain Belinda Cassie Corps Officer – Burnie Salvos At Burnie Salvos, we really do believe that we are better together. That means across our site we are actively looking for ways to partner in mission, to journey with people from our community who come seeking support. There is no wrong door at Burnie Salvos. That might look like the person experiencing homelessness who spends a night at Burnie Safe Space, being introduced to Oakleigh House where they can be assisted into a transitional property. Or it might look more like the young mum who is working her way through a parenting course with the Doorways to Parenting team, being connected with the corps officer for some extra care and support. Ultimately, we want to see people come into a transformational space having met Jesus. One of the benefits of collaborating in mission across a collocated site is that we can take a holistic approach. We can endeavour to care for the whole person, body, mind and soul. To help achieve this, in late June, all Salvation Army mission expressions in Burnie including our Area Officer, Captain Kevin Lumb, gathered for two days of training. On the agenda was how we could better support our teams others.org.au
in their collaboration and co-creating transformational change focusing on prevention and early support. This approach equips us to build the fence at the top of the cliff instead of being the ambulance at the bottom. The training provided a framework of practice to collaborate, engage and empower communities to be more connected and better supported. This will help us to overcome the barriers that prevent people from building better lives. The same training is being conducted at Bayside Corps in Brisbane and Marion Corps in Adelaide.
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VIEWPOINT
g n i r Voluntee now a full-time fight By Phil Inglis What does it mean to be a volunteer in The Salvation Army? Historically, we know there has always been a certain resistance within The Salvation Army for its members to be known as volunteers. Perhaps this has its roots in the story of how The Christian Mission changed its name to The Salvation Army. There are several stories of how this took place, but the essential elements are the same. In May of 1878, William Booth and his mission secretary George Scott Railton were working on promotional material, either a letter or a report. As they worked, they described The Christian Mission as a ‘volunteer army’. Bramwell, William’s son, heard these words and objected. One version of the story says that he blurted out, “Volunteer! I’m no volunteer. I’m a regular!” As a result, William struck out the word ‘volunteer’ and in a moment of inspiration wrote ‘salvation’. From that headline on a letter or report, a growing enthusiasm for the idea swept through the movement until later that year the name of the organisation itself was changed, and The Christian Mission became The Salvation Army. In Bramwell’s day, a volunteer was the equivalent of a member of the Army Reserve. A volunteer spent time training and going to parades and so on but only fought when war was declared and they were called up. In contrast, a ‘regular’ in Bramwell’s day was a full-time member of the Armed Forces – always ready, always training and always fit. It is no wonder that Bramwell didn’t like the word ‘volunteer’; he was not temporary or transient, he was not part-time in this fight for God’s Kingdom. However, the meaning of a word can change. When the architect’s drawings for the rebuilding of St. Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire of London in 1666 were submitted, Sir Christopher Wren was told that his design had been chosen because it was “at the same time the most awful and the most artificial”. These words no longer mean ‘awe-inspiring’ and ‘artfully created’ as they once did. So, we would never use these words in this way today, but the truths behind those words are still true … it is a magnificent cathedral.
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Today, the word ‘volunteer’ has changed. When my father joined the military during the Vietnam War, he did not do so as a volunteer. His birthdate was drawn in a lottery, and he had to sign up. He was conscripted. In contrast, a volunteer or regular soldier was someone who willingly put their hand up to fight. Over the past decade or so in Australia, the mission and ministry context for all churches and other community organisations in Australia has changed significantly. Across The Salvation Army, thousands of people who have served faithfully in their corps as everything from timbrellists to treasurers are being asked to fill out forms, get a Working with Children Check (WWCC – in NSW), do training and get registered in The Salvation Army volunteer database system. For some, it can feel like there’s an implication that they need to justify their roles, a sense that perhaps they are being asked to take a back seat, or that their work is a parttime interest when this could not be further from the truth. As an Army, we have come to a battlefield where the terrain has changed. If we are to continue our fight, if we are to live and love in the name of Jesus in Australia, in these times, the landscape now requires us to do some hard work. Perhaps it can be likened to digging trenches – it’s hard work, it slows things down a bit, but in the end, it will mean that we can fight longer, harder and with greater success. As Salvationists, we stand in a tradition that is willing to fight. Nothing will hinder our sharing the love of Jesus in practical and real ways to communities around Australia. If we must adopt the legal definition of ‘volunteer’ and jump through a bunch of hoops to make sure we can do that in the most efficient, powerful way, I say let’s do it. Like Bramwell, I don’t see myself as a half-hearted, part-time participant, but it doesn’t matter how someone else registers me in a database. I know I am called by God, conscripted by Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. I’ll fight.
Scan QR code for more Viewpoints on Others.org.au. September 2021
ARMY ARCHIVES
On the trail of the
s r i a t S Golden By Garth R. Hentzschel I remember my grandfather, Envoy Bramwell Daniel Hoepper, telling me the story of The Salvation Army’s relationship to the Golden Stairs near Katoomba in the Blue Mountains of NSW. The stairs form part of a well-known bush track that runs from the Narrow Neck Plateau to the Federal Pass and on to an outcrop of large rocky boulders called the Ruined Castle. The scenic beauty – including the stairs and the steep gradient, the cliffs and the uneven, narrow path – is well documented. What is less documented is the story linking The Salvation Army with the name ‘Golden Stairs’. Researching the local history, such as the Golden Stairs, often exists in folklore, that is, local traditional beliefs, customs and stories, orally passed between generations. The stories or folk tales are often myths and only exist to give wisdom or support collective memory. Many of the stories linking The Salvation Army and the Golden Stairs appear in the form of a folk tale. Folk tales have their place in every culture and organisation. However, modern ideologies applied to history often attempt to dismantle Christian meaning in these stories. Dismantling folk tales takes three steps: turning historical events into folk tales, arguing the meaning has little relevance to modern culture and creating a new folk tale to replace the former. These ideologies believe truth and evidence do not matter. This is counter to a Christian worldview. Such ideologies have been applied to the history of the Golden Stairs, and there is a danger the story may be lost.
Track. Sometime before June 1893, the track became known as the Golden Stairs. The Salvation Army fits well into the time frame. The Army was established in Katoomba in March 1890, and by August 1891, Salvationists were visiting the shale miners in the valley to hold Christian services. There were several songs Salvationists may have sung that included the words ‘golden stairs’; and there is a strong suggestion that this term was applied to the pass. In March 1893, the Army held its first indoor meeting in the village. Soldiers and officers continued to travel the pass to hold services for the miners at least until 1895. One Salvationist, Captain David Southwell, was given the use of a miner’s bed when he conducted meetings. It may have been Captain Southwell who introduced Emma BoothTucker’s well-known song ‘Climbing up the Golden Stair’ to the miners in 1895. This was the song remembered by the narrators years later. When the Army closed the Katoomba Corps by 1897 [it reopened in 1914], Salvationists had left a legacy in the name of the Golden Stairs, which was officially gazetted in February 1970. The evidence presented in the research makes it clear that the narrative of the Golden Stairs contains many historical facts that link The Salvation Army to the name of the stairs. Therefore, the story cannot be set aside as merely a folk tale. For the full article, see Garth R. Hentzschel, “The Golden Stairs: Folklore or historical fact?”, The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Vol 6, Iss 2, 2021.
Captain David Southwell, shown years later with his wife Sarah and four children. David is the grandfather of Lieut-Colonel Ian Southwell.
Leaving a legacy Recent research has revealed evidence that the Golden Stairs are named in connection with The Salvation Army. The pass was built by a shale miner, Mr Parker, in May 1889 and named Parker’s
others.org.au
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FEATURE
On a mission to
endelessness hom
in the west
By Jessica Morris
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that it’s almost impossible to find housing in Western Australia in 2021. Between an economic boom, the closure of state and international borders, and a slew of first-home buyers and builders, vacancy rates are below one per cent. Because of this, many people have resorted to finding temporary accommodation by whatever means possible – even if it’s sleeping in a tent or a car, their only option when caravan parks and hostels are full, and the market is competitive. During this time, The Salvation Army has been doing what it does best – helping people find hope in a hopeless situation. The state’s rental moratorium [where landlords are banned from evicting tenants] ended in March and The Salvation Army Doorways emergency relief program has been busier than ever since. One of the ways it has assisted people in need is by paying car registrations – more than 340 of them in the three months since March. It’s a last-ditch solution for many people when public and more transient housing is full to the brim. “For some very vulnerable clients with no other housing option, paying car registration is a harm-minimisation approach to provide some level of safety and shelter within their car. This is far from an ideal solution and reflects the true extent of the crisis,” explains Kate Greenway, Manager of the Army’s Outreach Support Services in Western Australia. Jennifer Klarich, Team Leader for Doorways in northern Perth, agrees with Kate. “Caravan parks, hostels … they’re all
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full of working people who cannot get into the rental market because there’s just not enough stock. And so, of course, in any situation like that, the most vulnerable and the people with the lowest incomes are the most heavily impacted. “If you’re on a Centrelink payment and you’re putting a rental application in against a working couple, there’s no way that you’re going to get that.”
Changing face of homelessness It’s a complex situation for The Salvation Army in Western Australia when their normal pathways to housing are bottlenecked. But that doesn’t alter their determination to help transform people’s lives, no matter what or how long it takes. “Homelessness is a constantly evolving issue, and the ‘changing face’ of homelessness has been evident for some time,” says Kate. “Emerging cohorts experiencing homelessness have become evident … women over 55, veterans, youth and families.” For many Salvation Army corps, Doorways services, shelters and outreach teams across Western Australia, the simple act of providing someone with a tent is both a harmminimisation measure and an act of love. And in metropolitan Perth, it is a step towards short-term crisis accommodation, medium accommodation for up to 12 months and transitional accommodation between 12-24 months. The wait on this is long, and that’s when the outreach team members are the hands and feet of Christ, meeting people on the ground to get them through the night. This includes a family accommodation program, where between 1015 families a year receive accommodation and intensive support for up to two years. September 2021
FEATURE
The Assertive Outreach Team are on a mission to bring hope to people who are sleeping rough in Perth and its surrounding suburbs. (From left) Brent, Michael, Kate, Jess, Chairmay, Rana, Rodney and Stephen.
Complex task Meanwhile, the Army’s Street to Home team each year supports up to 70 clients experiencing homelessness to find stable and affordable accommodation and maintain their tenancy. The Independent Community Living Program is also a vital cog in the wheel, addressing one of the prime causes of homelessness by supporting up to 30 individuals every year who live with chronic mental illness. It’s a tough, complex job – but a necessary one, as increasingly more families and individuals ask for accommodation assistance. The Beacon Emergency Accommodation and Referral Support Service, near Perth’s CBD, has worked at the coalface of this, providing shelter and services to people who can’t access affordable rentals, are unemployed, those who would normally access boarding houses or hostels, and people unable to travel across state and country borders. And, over time, staff have seen the results of their supports. Even during a housing crisis, families are being reunified, people are entering into recovery for alcohol and other drugs (AOD) and mental health issues, and people are joining the workforce. “My team are motivated by their desire and intrinsic motivation to support and journey with others, with the belief that everyone deserves support to be able to transform from surviving to thriving,” says Kate. “Their roles are not without their challenges, and some days more so than others; however, they come back every day, ready to provide non-judgmental, respectful and dignified support.” The role of the Assertive Outreach Team is pivotal in extending this dignity to rough sleepers in Perth and its surrounds. Up to 1800 people every year are met by the smiling faces of these staff on Friday, Saturday and Sunday others.org.au
nights. They are provided with food, water, hygiene packs, information, accommodation referrals and transport to sober-up centres, hospitals or safe night spaces.
Ultimate goal It’s not a permanent or perfect solution by any means, but it is a tangible one as the WA Homelessness Services Stream works towards structural and systematic change in the housing system. Their Three-Year State Agenda – developed with both residential and outreach workers, and the national Salvation Army Homelessness team – gives them steps to systematically change the housing crisis. “We want to gain a greater understanding of our homelessness community, particularly emerging cohorts; families, veterans, women over 55, young people leaving care. And we want to engage individuals with lived experience in our service design, planning and delivery,” says Kate. Ultimately, the goal is to end homelessness for rough sleepers and those who experience chronic homelessness. “We realise this is a bold statement; however, we need to ensure that we are thinking big-picture and fighting for what our vulnerable community deserve,” says Kate. “There is not a reason why in Australia, or any other comparable nation in the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development], that homelessness should occur.” The battle to end homelessness in Western Australia is long and complex, but while people are sleeping in their cars or in a tent in the city, you can be sure that The Salvation Army will be there, fighting alongside the most vulnerable until everyone has a home.
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s e l a W h t New Soandu n a i l a r t s Au al Capit y r o i t r r e T DIVISIONAL NEWS
Fay Foster, NSW/ACT Adults Ministry Secretary
Every picture tells a story By Faye Michelson
What do you think about when you see a picture of a sky streaked with pink as the sun rises? What springs to mind if you come across a photograph of a child holding a Bible or a man fishing on a deserted beach? Images like these can spark powerful memories. A photo of a sleeping baby can remind us of our own children, while one of an old VW Beetle can prompt nostalgic recollections of our own first bomb of a car. Stirring memories is the concept behind the Mission Resources Picture Prompts – Discussion Cards. Fay Foster, NSW/ACT Adults Ministry Secretary, said the newlydeveloped resource aims to provide chaplains – and others – with a way to encourage meaningful conversations. “Last December, Claire Hill from the Mission Resources team contacted me. She’d been talking with Area Officer Major Beth Twivey and some aged care chaplains, who had identified limitations with the conversation resources they were using,” Fay said. “Something fresh and more appropriate to the experience of current residents was needed. The chaplains wanted resources that would spark authentic conversations, as well as promote laughter, fun, joy and care.” The Picture Prompts pack comprises 60 A4 cards, divided into 12 sets of five, according to a theme. Each card has an image on one side, with a number on the reverse side to indicate its category – animals, art and music, celebrations, childhood, food, home, nature and outdoors, pastimes, people, spiritual, structures and travel. Each pack also contains an instruction card for the facilitator. Images were carefully chosen to represent a wide range of subjects. They also had to be visually clear and images most people could relate to.
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“Finally, we wanted images that would help participants tap into their emotional or spiritual experiences, that would encourage them to think of and share the things that impacted their personal and faith development,” Fay said. “We took our images from websites that provide photographs that can be used for no cost. I had the pleasure of searching for suitable images; there were hundreds, but with the help of Claire and the chaplains, we came up with our top 60.” The resource is designed to be used with a facilitator, who chooses the cards and lays them out for participants to look at. “Then the facilitator might ask, ‘Choose a picture that reminds you of a happy time’, or ‘Which picture says something about how you think of God?’” Fay said. “The hope is that each participant will share why they chose their image, and this sharing will be the starting point for further conversation. The main value of the cards, I think, is that they tap into participants’ experiences, to their memories and the feelings associated with those memories. “Each person has something to tell and share. The cards are prompts to start conversations, and for people to find out what they have in common with others, as well as learn about different thoughts and experiences.” While the Picture Prompts pack was designed primarily with aged care residents in mind, Fay says it could be used in other discussion situations, such as conferences, recovery ministries and small groups. Professionally printed packs were given to aged care chaplains across the territory. They can also be downloaded at no cost from the MySalvos Toolkit for people to print themselves at my.salvos.org.au/toolkit/ picture-prompts-discussion-cards. September 2021
d n a l s n ee Qu
DIVISIONAL NEWS
Bike recycling program moves up a gear By Darryl Whitecross The Salvos Re Cycle Bikes program at Red Hill in Brisbane has gone high-tech – in a couple of different ways. Program coordinator Andy Steele said the bikes had only been available from the adjoining Salvos Stores outlet, but recently the more expensive and sought-after brands were being sold online. Although the workshop was working hard to keep up with demand, Andy said selling the better bikes online was a natural progression. He said this complemented the showroom sales where there was a continual turnover: “I try to keep a good selection in the shop.” The bikes also sold well at the quarterly market days in the Salvos Stores carpark. “We just sell and sell and sell,” said Andy, who sold the program’s first unicycle during this interview. The workshop not only restores bikes to sell in Salvos Stores but has begun a repair and maintenance service to the public. The program had also begun converting conventional bicycles to electric using conversion kits bought in Melbourne. Financial advisory and consulting company Deloitte Brisbane recently held an open day and auctioned off some of the bikes as a fundraiser for the program. Andy said Deloitte had facilitated discussions and workshops to help the program move to “the next level” with improved reporting systems, a framework for expansion and an increased social media presence.
Fixing lives Workshop mechanic Damien Saal has been employed part-time by the Army since the Salvos Re Cycle Bikes program began. He began a Certificate III at TAFE in Bicycle Workshop Operations in August. A former addict, Damien recently celebrated two years of sobriety. “Damo now picks up bikes from the police rather than police picking him up about bikes,” Andy said with a proud chuckle, adding that the workshop regularly received donations from retail outlets and Queensland Police Service. Andy said as well as giving bicycles a new lease on life, it was also about giving people that same second chance, such as Damien. Andy said a relationship with Brisbane Recovery Services Centre (Moonyah) had grown, with clients from the centre doing shifts at the bike recycling program. Several community members also volunteered their time, including cyclists from the Nanna Fitty’s Fruit Cake Cycle Club – a group based at Carindale Corps in Brisbane’s south. Andy said “word of mouth” continued to be the main way the community heard about the program, but several media interviews had also helped. A large banner is being prepared to be put on the fence at the front gate to the property to promote the workshop, which is open Tuesday to Saturday each week.
The Salvos Re Cycle Bikes program coordinator Andy Steele (right) and workshop mechanic Damien Saal check out one of their bikes for sale online.
others.org.au
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DIVISIONAL NEWS
V ictoria
Students get comfortable on The Couch By Jessica Morris Excitement was high when The Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614 launched their International Student Dropin Centre in March. Reopened five years after its first successful run, The Couch International Student DropIn Centre – or ‘The Couch’ as it is fondly known – has welcomed hundreds of students over the past six months. Between the hours of 6-8.30pm from Monday to Thursday when The Couch is open, you can guarantee there will be an extra buzz to the already bustling centre at 69 Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD. Run in partnership with Project 614, the City of Melbourne and Newcrest Mining, students come in looking for a place to belong – and they are never disappointed. “There is no such thing as ‘normal’ at The Couch, which is how we love it!” laughs Tameka Buckley, event coordinator at Project 614. “A hot dinner is served somewhere between Bollywood Dance lessons, camera club, salsa lessons, movie night, table tennis games, chess tournaments, health education, immigration information sessions, employment seminars, reptile exhibition nights, run club and conversational English classes!” There’s more to this organised chaos than just innovative activities – each night is designed to improve social confidence. In fact, students have indicated that this transcends the event, actively improving their quality of life in Melbourne. It means that the team that runs each night – one staff member and up to 12 volunteers – can be adaptable and give students what they need. “Most students come to Australia – a country very different from their home country – knowing no one. Navigating the
different social and cultural customs of a foreign country can be incredibly daunting, and The Couch provides emotional as well as practical supports to help students along this journey,” says Tameka. “The Couch, above all, is about community. We simply provide the space to facilitate this and allow it to blossom.” Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge international students have faced in the past year is lockdowns due to COVID-19. Not only has it limited their social life and ability to study on campus, but many have lost jobs as the hospitality sector suffers. That’s where The Couch also plays a vital role – not only checking in on students through their Facebook group but providing them with free frozen meals and groceries to young people already just getting by. “Lockdown means that isolation is even more acute and many of them have families in countries – India, for example – that are being hit incredibly hard by the virus, leaving them feeling anxious and fearful about what's going on at home without a support network to lean on,” says Tameka. Life is in constant flux for Melbourne’s international students, yet by providing a safe space to gather four nights a week, the team at Project 614 are giving these students tangible hope. So much so that many come back to volunteer. “COVID-19 has highlighted just how important connection and community are,” says Tameka. “Students arrive at The Couch alone and leave feeling as though they have family and community.” The Couch does not operate out of 614 during lockdowns under government regulations.
In the last six months, The Couch International Student Centre at The Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614 has become a home away from home for hundreds of international students in the city. Photo taken before mask regulations by Andrew Coulter.
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September 2021
a i n a m s a T
DIVISIONAL NEWS
Creating a ‘circle of security’ for Burnie families By Jessica Morris They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it’s more like a missional community for the team at Burnie Salvos. Since the Doorways to Parenting (DTP) team moved into the church hall, they’ve had even greater opportunities for holistic support across the church, thrift store, Doorways and E-Plus. “We are always looking for ways to work together at Burnie Salvos – we have a lot of people who seek assistance work through all our circles, so if we can create holistic wraparound, that’s much more helpful,” said Corps Officer Captain Belinda Cassie. Run by lead practitioner Marni McCulloch and case worker Madison Wilson, DTP is a family-focused program that provides early intervention, case involvement and family reunification support. It’s an essential service, albeit a vast one. Over the period of a year, DTP runs three groups in cycles to educate parents, and they also partner with Child Safety Services to run the 10-week psycho-educational Family Reunification program (SPARK). Their Circle of Security Group is one of the three parenting programs and plays an integral role in helping parents and guardians healthily connect with their kids. Not only does the course allow parents and children to start forming healthy relationships, but it invites the adults to work through their own childhood trauma and unhealthy attachments they’ve experienced. “Ultimately, the program wants to help parents repair where there are ruptures,” said Belinda. “We invite people to answer the question, ‘How do I, as a parent, do my best for my child so they have a safe and secure attachment, and what do I need to work on?”
Thriving communities Every eight-week course ends in a graduation ceremony, complete with an optional cap, gown and photos. And in one recent case, a young mum said it was the first time she had ever successfully graduated from anything. That, says Belinda, is what drives home the importance of Burnie Salvos’ holistic work. “We as a corps are so supportive of DTP and want to partner with them because their work speaks worth and value into someone. “That’s how families thrive and, therefore, communities thrive!” said Belinda. others.org.au
Stock image
It’s fair to say the DTP team already have their plate full, but after parents identified a gap in local services for parents of primary school children and especially teens, they are widening their net in term four. Burnie Corps is starting a Friday ‘Afternoon Club’ that will provide children from grades 3-6 with a place to hang out, do crafts, and play games. And seeing the value this has for families, DTP is partnering with them. DTP also just gained funding for a ‘Tuning In To Teens’ program through Communities for Children, so parents can hone their communication skills as they and their kids navigate the ups and downs of puberty. Case worker Madison also partners with a local school to facilitate a program called Drumbeat, helping students with their emotional efficacy. And the team still find time for family case work and advocates for families with other agencies like Centrelink, the court system, and Child Safety Tasmania.
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a i l a r t s u A hern Territory South and Nort
DIVISIONAL NEWS
Port Augusta music studio hits right note with youth By Darryl Whitecross The Salvation Army in Port Augusta is turning up the volume on its ministry to young people in the South Australian city. What began as a conversation in a supermarket aisle has turned into an opportunity for youth to turn their musical ideas into reality. Scott Cugley, who heads the Army’s homelessness stream in the Port Augusta Corps hub, said young people were being offered a relaxed program where they are given basic skills in audio recording. Scott said he and fellow program coordinator Apaiata Kaitu’u were working to establish connections in the music community to help improve the delivery of the program, which runs over 8-10 weeks. He said, although Apaiata had more of an appreciation for reggae and jazz, the hip-hop genre was more popular among the young people. So, the two have needed to focus on beat-making and rhyming lyrics as part of what they work on with their students. Some music students worked independently on projects, while some are working collaboratively to produce the music.
Engaging young people Apaiata, who also works as a youth outreach worker for the corps, said the ministry was more about engaging with the city’s young people rather than having specific objectives. Scott said the initiative began after meeting a friend in a supermarket whose hobby was as a songwriter/producer in his home studio. “He said to me one day, ‘I've got access to all this equipment; I've got all this experience, and I’d just love to share that with somebody’,” Scott said. He said the corps welcomed the idea and decided to introduce a music program for youth with “an interest or some emerging skills in songwriting or lyric writing or composing”. With the go-ahead from Port Augusta Corps Officers Majors Richard and Gaye Day, Scott said they promoted the plan
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On the left of the table are the territorial leaders, Commissioners Robert and Janine Donaldson. Seated at the head of the table are Scott Cugley and Apaiata Kaitu'u. On the right of the table are the SA/NT Divisional leaders, Majors Lance and Anne Jeffrey. Standing are Port Augusta Corps Officers Majors Richard and Gaye Day.
in the community, and two young people volunteered to be part of the pilot program, which was initially run in regular sessions over nine weeks. The corps then decided to allocate its own resources to the program and set up a more permanent space with its own equipment rather than relying on borrowed equipment. Scott said that what had developed was a dedicated creative environment in the corps’ Carlton Street facility where young people could “get a little bit of coaching” or, if they were confident in their skills, could spend time on their own on their work. “The goal is [for the young people] to work towards being able to finish some projects where [they] might be able to publish those or have them released or shared independently with the broader community,” Scott said.
Connection point The media room doubles as a podcast and video production hub where young people are also given skills in using the equipment associated with that technology. It is also used as a drop-in centre where young people relax at the console and play video games. Gaye said the media room was “a connection point” to reach youth in the community. September 2021
Westesrtnralia Au
Compassionate haircuts in true Trish style By Jessica Morris A haircut has become a luxury for many Aussies during lockdowns over the past year. But for people doing it tough in the Western Australian suburb of Merriwa, the nifty styling of hairdresser Trish Stoner has made a world of difference. Nearly every week for the past five years (pending lockdowns, of course), Trish has joined the Merriwa Doorways team and ministered to people through a simple haircut and chat.
DIVISIONAL NEWS
“You know, you always talk to your hairdresser – so [people] tell me everything. We have big discussions about how they’re going to survive. We have a little prayer sometimes, and I encourage them to come to church,” says Trish. “It’s a two-way thing. I listen to them, and they listen to me.” With 61 years of hairdressing experience, Trish is more than qualified for her role at Merriwa Salvos. Just like a regular salon, every appointment is pre-booked. And her life experience makes her the perfect person to wield the scissors and some compassion. “I was a single mum, and I’ve lived their lives as well, and I survived. I went out to work, and I wish I knew about The Salvation Army [then]. I know how to work with Centrelink because somebody sent me to them years ago,” she reflects. “When I first came here, I couldn’t relate to how people couldn’t [access help] because I did it. And, eventually, I realised that some people just don’t know how to do it. So, I’ve got more empathy. God sent me [here] to get a bit of patience and a bit of love for other people.” Trish started volunteering at Merriwa Salvos seven years ago. She would join Major Nikki Curtis and the team, prepping 60 meals for the Wednesday night ‘Community Meal’ program. And with a little encouragement, she eventually attended HOPE Church and then the Sunday meeting. That’s when Trish met Jesus. “I can’t say everything’s fantastic now, but I know I can get through anything [with Jesus],” she said. It’s that sort of hope that gives Trish the patience to style even the unruliest hairdos. She recalls how a single father of three once brought his little girl in for a haircut because he didn’t know how to brush or style her hair. After a lice treatment and some teamwork, the girl was glowing. “It took us two and a half hours to get the knots out. And two other girls [volunteers] came in to help, and it was beautiful when it was finished,” Trish recalls.
Trish Stoner has volunteered as a hairdresser with Merriwa Corps for the past five years, giving people a haircut as she hears their story and offers some encourgement.
In some cases, a haircut is a luxury, but ask Trish, and it is a necessity – restoring people’s dignity and giving them a safe place to heal.
Scan the QR code to read The Salvation Army Australia's inclusion statement.
others.org.au
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SALVATION STORY
Music my pathway to God
By Cal Barry Music has always been part of my life, but I never expected it to introduce me to God. I didn’t grow up in the Church. I think I had an awareness of God the creator, as something more than us, but not a formed Christian God. I have memories of my dad playing the guitar and singing to me when I was young. At about five or six, I started learning the flute and started playing in bands. I performed as a primary school student in some amazing places like Hamer Hall in Melbourne. Eventually, this passion for music led me to encounter the Salvos.
Adam Simmons (Editor of Dingo), Cal Barry (Co-editor and marketing) and Perri Winter Barry (Art director) at the launch of Dingo Magazine, the Australian Jazz Journal started by Cal and Perri in 2021.
September 2021 others.org.au General Brian Peddle Territorial Commander Commissioner Robert Donaldson
Staff writers Darryl Whitecross Jessica Morris
Contributors Phil Inglis Captain Belinda Cassie National Secretary for Lieut-Col Laurie Robertson Communications / Major Dean Clarke Editor-in-Chief Cal Barry Lieut-Colonel Neil Venables Garth R Hentzschel Publications Manager Cheryl Tinker
Graphic designer Eris Alar
Assistant Editor Faye Michelson Others is a quarterly publication of The Salvation Army in Australia. Others is printed by Focus Print Group, 25 Arctic Court, Keysborough, Vic 3173, Australia. Print post approved PP236902/00023 Member, Australasian Religious Press Association. All Bible references are quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise stated. General enquiries others@salvationarmy.org.au
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I was heavily involved in the music program at Blackburn High School [in Melbourne’s east] when a friend from the local Salvation Army asked if I was available to play in their concert band. I was happy to, and I’d occasionally help out. I was then asked to join the Box Hill Corps Big Band. Through this, I experienced church services, and the band would pray and say grace. They were small things I had never experience before. Then I was invited to fly to Korea with the band for the country’s centenary celebrations. I was about 20 at this stage, and it was amazing to see Salvationists from all over the world gather in a stadium to worship. I was still, however, not attending The Salvation Army, and I didn’t know God. This began to change when a member of the band, Perri (now my wife), invited me to a small group Bible study. Over the next year or two, I learnt more about Christianity and experienced God – it kind of just made sense. I concluded the Christian God was true. For a while, I bristled with the term ‘Christian’, but something that really attracted me to the small group was the authenticity and the living-out of faith that I witnessed among those there. There was the ability for nuanced discussion, for continued learning, for acceptance. Knowing God has changed my life. There are so many things that God has worked in me and continues to, and hopefully, those fruits will bear witness to him. However, it is the underlying peace and calm and the resultant freedom that this brings that I come back to.
Scan QR code for more transformation stories on Others.org.au. September 2021