Melbourne Project 614 welcomes Governor-General
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- 4 min read
BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Patron-in-Chief of The Salvation Army, recently visited The Salvation Army’s Project 614 in Bourke Street, Melbourne.
During the visit on Tuesday 9 June, the Governor-General observed key programs that operate from the centre under the leadership of staff and volunteers. In a press release from the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, it was announced that Her Excellency was invited as Patron and guest of Commissioner Miriam Gluyas.
In reflecting on the visit, Miriam said the Governor-General was an amazing supporter of The Salvation Army who was “the kind of person who just loves people”.
“[The Governor-General] coming to 614 was absolutely delightful,” Miriam said. “What blew me away was she gave so much time to those folk who come to access services, but she was also genuinely interested in the stories of people and exactly what they were going through.
“There’s this mutual admiration from us to her and her to us, and any way she can help, she wants to help.”
Secretary for Communications Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Hateley said the event demonstrated the close, aligned relationship between the Governor-General and the work of The Salvation Army.
“Such a great morning at Project 614 Melbourne,” he said. “The Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn spent the morning with staff and participants, learning about the extraordinary ministry and collaboration that takes place at 69 Bourke Street. Her Excellency demonstrated how care, kindness and respect are at the centre of her role. We are blessed to have her as our Governor-General.”
One program that the Governor-General observed was a Salvos Schools initiative called the Homelessness City Tour.
This runs as a two-hour session in which school students are invited to attend a classroom component where stereotypes about homelessness are challenged, and students are encouraged to respond to the issue of homelessness with compassion and learn about the support The Salvation Army provides.
In the second hour, students are led on a walk around Melbourne CBD, visiting locations where people have slept rough in the past, and their stories are shared with consent.
National Schools Engagement Manager for TSA Grace Davidson said the visit was timely, as that day, Year 9 students were working on a project where they had to choose some of the social issues they could observe in the city and develop a written response to them.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for Her Excellency to see firsthand how students are engaging with community issues and developing compassion through the program,” Grace said.
Grace said when the Governor-General arrived, the students were working on a scenario-based activity.
“I think that was a really great activity for [Her Excellency] to come in [during] because it was about elevating student voices, and pushing past stereotypes and digging deeper to come to a place of compassion,” she said.
Grace said the following activity involved students having to guess how common each form of homelessness was in Australia. The key takeaway for students was that even though rough sleeping might be the most visible form of homelessness, it only accounts for roughly six per cent of the total of those experiencing homelessness across the country.
She said the program was a thoughtfully designed workshop that encouraged students to explore issues critically and bring their own perspectives into the classroom, rather than simply being presented with information.
“[Her Excellency] got to see us provide this really holistic engagement,” Grace said.
Grace said the Governor-General was also able to share a heartfelt message with the students as well, which included her focus on the importance of community.
“What stood out to me, was that the Governor-General really values community and the voices of young people, because when she asked for back and forth and contributions, she was so with them. It was so reciprocal. She heard what they had to say,” Grace said.
“For Salvos Schools, it was a really wonderful opportunity to share what we do, and to welcome her to observe how we are investing in the next generation and working to build compassionate, social justice-focused opportunities for young people to step into that space and to grow.
“The young people already have those skills and interests and talents, but we’re meeting them where they’re at.”
Project 614 staff shared in a Facebook post that the team were “incredibly honoured” to welcome the Governor-General of Australia to the site.
“It was a privilege to showcase the vital work being done across our community – supporting those experiencing hardship, providing hope, and creating pathways to a better future. The visit highlighted the importance of compassion, connection, and collaboration in strengthening our community,” the team wrote.
“We’re grateful for the recognition of our team, volunteers and partners, whose dedication makes a real difference every day. Together, we continue to stand with those in need and work towards lasting change.”
All images supplied.
