The Salvation Army is a Christian organization founded in 1865 in London, England to help improve lives and share religious teachings. It began in Australia in 1880 and has grown to include over 1.7 million members worldwide. The Salvation Army operates like a military with officers, soldiers, uniforms and territories. In Australia, they provide many social services and assistance to hundreds of thousands of people each week through food programs, housing, counseling and other aid, funded by donations.

2. WHO ARE THE SALVATION ARMY?
• THE SALVATION ARMY IS A CHRISTIAN GROUP THAT WAS FOUNDED IN THE POOR PARTS
OF ENGLAND IN 1865 BY WILLIAM BOOTH. HIS PASSION FOR GOD AND HIS LOVE OF A
BETTER LIFE FOR PEOPLE INSPIRED AN “ARMY” OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO
SHARE THEIR MESSAGE AND HELP BUILD BETTER LIVES.
• APART FROM BEING A CHURCH WHOSE CORE VALUES ARE
BASED IN BIBLE TEACHINGS, THEY BELIEVE IN ASSISTING
WITH MANY SOCIAL AND MORAL ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN
OUR WORLD TODAY.

3. BEGINNINGS IN AUSTRALIA
• THE FIRST SALVATION ARMY MEETING WAS HELD IN AUSTRALIA ON SEPTEMBER
5TH, 1880 BY EDWARD SAUNDERS AND JOHN GORE. IT WAS HELD IN THE BACK OF A
FRUIT CART IN THE ADELAIDE BOTANIC GARDENS. BECAUSE THEY SPOKE TO THE
COMMUNITY AS NORMAL PEOPLE RATHER THAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS, THEY FOUND IT
MUCH EASIER TO GAIN MEMBERS IN A SOCIETY WHERE RELIGION WAS NOT VERY
POPULAR.
• THEY FORMED THEIR OWN “CORPS” BUT VERY SOON MADE AN APPEAL TO THE CHURCH
IN LONDON TO BE SENT SOME MORE “OFFICERS” TO ASSIST THEM.

4. THE GROUP STRUCTURE
A MILITARY LIKE STRUCTURE TOOK SHAPE AS THEY BELIEVED THEY
WERE WAGING THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY AND SIN. THE ARMY
CHURCH MEMBERS ARE KNOWN AS SOLDIERS AND THE PEOPLE IN
CHARGE ARE CALLED OFFICERS. THEY WEAR UNIFORMS TO
WORSHIP AND WHEN PERFORMING DUTIES WITH THE GROUP.
AUSTRALIA IS BROKEN UP INTO
2 TERRITORIES. THESE
TERRITORIES ARE BROKEN UP
INTO DIVISIONS.

5. NUMBERS INVOLVED
IN 2012 IN AUSTRALIA THERE WERE:
• OFFICERS & CADETS (MINISTERS):
1,997 INCLUDES BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED OFFICERS
• EMPLOYEES: 8,885
• SOLDIERS (MEMBERS): 24,188
• CORPS (CHURCHES): 330
• OUTPOSTS: 48
• INSTITUTIONS, STORES, PROGRAMS: 1,267
WORLDWIDE, THE SALVATION ARMY HAS:
• OFFICERS & CADETS (MINISTERS): 29,041
• EMPLOYEES: 104,248
• SOLDIERS (MEMBERS): 1,724,382
• CORPS (CHURCHES) & OUTPOSTS: 15,422

6. WHAT SERVICES DO THEY PROVIDE?
• COMMUNITY SERVICES SUCH AS PRACTICAL
EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR FAMILIES/INDIVIDUALS IN
FINANCIAL CRISIS AND BREAKFAST/HOMEWORK
PROGRAMS IN CERTAIN LOCAL CHURCHES
• CRISIS AND SUPPORTED HOUSING
• YOUTH SUPPORT – DROP-IN AND RECREATION
CENTRES, DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS, YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS ETC
• RECOVERY SERVICES
• EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
• EMERGENCY SERVICES
• RURAL AND OUTBACK SUPPORT
• COURT AND PRISON SERVICES
• FINANCIAL COUNSELLING
• TELEPHONE AND FACE TO FACE COUNSELLING

7. • AGED CARE
• FAMILY TRACING SERVICES
• COMMUNITY CARE MINISTRIES WHERE
VOLUNTEERS VISIT HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES
AND PEOPLE UNABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES
• CHAPLAINCY SERVICES
• RED SHIELD DEFENCE SERVICES
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE
HELP IN A WEEK?
•
•
•
•
100,000 MEALS FOR THE HUNGRY
•
•
REFUGE TO 500 VICTIMS OF ABUSE
•
•
•
SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH COUNSELLING
•
FAMILY TRACING SERVICES WHICH LOCATE 40 MISSING
FAMILY MEMBERS
2,000 BEDS FOR THE HOMELESS
5,000 TO 8,000 FOOD VOUCHERS
1,000 PEOPLE WITH ASSISTANCE IN FINDING
EMPLOYMENT
ASSISTANCE TO 500 PEOPLE ADDICTED TO
DRUGS, ALCOHOL OR GAMBLING
3,000 ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH AGED CARE SERVICES
40 PEOPLE IN THE COURT SYSTEM WITH CHAPLAINCY
SERVICES

8. HOW DO RAISE MONEY TO FUND THEIR
VALUABLE WORK?
• DOOR KNOCKING AND FACE TO FACE DURING OUR
•
SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS MOTORCYCLE RALLIES OR
FUNDRAISING CONCERTS
• GOVERNMENT FUNDING
• ONLINE VIA WEBSITE
• TELEPHONE VIA 13 SALVOS (13 72 58)
• WILLS AND BEQUESTS
• DIRECT MAIL SENT TO PEOPLE'S HOMES
• CORPORATE AND BUSINESS DONATIONS
•
•
SALVOS STORES
•
SALVOS CRISIS PARTNERS - A PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO
MAKE A MONTHLY DONATION
•
FOOD BANK - BOXED OR CANNED FOODS DONATED BY
STORES
ANNUAL RED SHIELD APPEAL
SPECIAL MARKETING PROMOTIONS, SUCH AS KMART
WISHING TREE OR THE MYER SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS CD

9. HOW IS THE MONEY SPENT?
WHERE IT COMES FROM….
WHERE IT GOES…

10. HOW ARE THEY A PART OF MY LOCAL
COMMUNITY?
• THE SALVATION ARMY HAS BEEN PRACTICING IN THE HURSTVILLE AREA FOR OVER 110 YEARS WITH ITS
CURRENT PLACE OF WORSHIP BEING “THE CITADEL” ON THE CORNER OF BOND AND DORA STREETS. THIS
BUILDING WAS OPENED IN 1919 AND HAS BEEN ON THE SITE EVER SINCE.
• THEY OFFER MANY SERVICES FROM REGULAR CHURCH EVENTS
TO CHILDRENS/YOUTH SERVICES WITH MUSIC CLASSES AND
MENS/WOMEN’S MINISTRIES. THEY ALSO HAVE A STAMP
COLLECTING GROUP.

11. PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT
• SINCE MY DAD IS IN THE DEFENCE FORCE, HE HAS WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH “THE SALLY MAN” AS
THEY CALL THEM. THEY ARE CHAPLAINS THAT PROVIDE ADVICE AND SUPPORT FOR ARMY MEMBERS AND
FAMILIES. MY DAD HAS ALSO COLLECTED MONEY SEVERAL TIMES IN THE RED SHIELD APPEAL DOOR
KNOCK.
• MY MUM IS VERY FOND OF SHOPPING AT SALVOS STORES. SHE LOVES A BARGAIN! SHE ALSO REGULARLY
DONATES GOODS BACK TO THE LOCAL STORES FOR FURTHER SALE.
• ONE OF OUR GOOD FAMILY FRIENDS GREW UP IN THE SALVATION ARMY CHURCH AND HER MUM AND DAD
ARE RECENTLY RETIRED OFFICERS. THEY WORKED AS NURSES IN HOSPITALS RUN BY THE ORGANIZATION.

12. • ALL INFORMATION SOURCED FROM THE SALVATION ARMY WEBSITE, WITH MOST OF THE FINANCIAL
INFORMATION COMING FROM AUSTRALIAN SOUTHERN TERRITORY PAGE. THE WEBSITE CONTAINS A
GOOD DOWNLOADABLE BOOKLET FOR STUDENTS AND GIVES PERMISSION TO USE THE IMAGERY FOR
SCHOOL BASED PROJECTS.