Research and advocacy teams take stock of shared ‘weight of knowledge’
- May 5
- 3 min read
BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
At a recent gathering, leaders across The Salvation Army’s Social and Community Mission services have highlighted the value of the work happening within the newly-formed Centre for Mission Impact (CMI), formerly known as Policy, Research and Social Justice (PRSJ).
Sonali Correia, a Senior Manager within the Family and Domestic Violence stream, spoke alongside General Manager for the Alcohol and Other Drugs services Kathryn Wright and Senior Homelessness Specialist Sophie Parsons about the ways in which CMI initiatives such as the Outcome Measurement Project driven by the Research team had helped refine and record the work of The Salvation Army, alongside community members experiencing disadvantage.
Sonali also spoke of how the team’s collaboration with Policy and Advocacy had enabled her team to better share their stories and build advocacy opportunities. She encouraged the team that despite how they might feel that projects were lengthy and breakthroughs rarer than for those working in frontline services, the work of CMI mattered greatly.
“Sometimes I put myself in your shoes and [I think] sometimes it might be harder when you’re not necessarily seeing the outcome or it takes years to actually happen, but I really want to assure you that every little bit that you contribute goes a really long way,” Sonali said.
“Being able to constantly be that voice for those people who haven’t found their voice yet is what means a lot to me in terms of advocacy and creating these opportunities.”
The comments came as part of ‘Mission in Action’, a gathering of the Policy and Advocacy, Research and Outcome Measurement, Contract Services, Government Relations, Operations and Specialists teams at the Adina Hotel, Pentridge in Coburg, Victoria. The teams gathered to hear about the ways in which their work is supporting teams across the Army to more effectively serve the community and to gain insights into greater collaborative opportunities and the future direction of The Salvation Army.
As well as the panel on the first day, on the second day, attendees heard summaries from members of each CMI team about what their work involved, and how it fit within the broader work of The Salvation Army. Major Matt Reeve also spoke on The Way, the national spiritual focus for 2026 and beyond, and each element of discipleship, evangelism, prayer, spiritual warfare and mission. Table groups engaged in discussion on how to best integrate the elements into the work of CMI.
Later that day, Reconciliation Action Plan and Projects Manager Sue Hodges led the group in an art activity, which helped highlight the importance of art in conveying the voices and journeys of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.
Following this session, the teams were led on a group excursion of the Pentridge Prison historical grounds, where the tour guides emphasised the early beginnings of The Salvation Army’s Prison Gate Brigade, which began in 1883 at the Pentridge complex, then known as Melbourne Gaol.
On the final day, teams heard from members of the Communications portfolio, with Head of Internal Communications Annemarie Watt and Media and Corporate Affairs Specialist Steve Speziale as well as Publications journalist Kirralee Nicolle speaking about the ways CMI could best communicate with strategy and impact.
Throughout the event, attendees were reminded of how their work informed and was driven by the work happening across all sectors of The Salvation Army, and the value of collaboration and learning about one another.
General Manager Contract Services Lyndel Sainsbury, General Manager Mission Operations Major Andrew Craib and Major Matt Reeve presenting at the CMI Gathering. Images: Kirralee Nicolle
At the outset of the conference, Head of CMI Dr Elli McGavin spoke of how the CMI team had originally formed as PRSJ, then was now reshaping as CMI. She referenced philosopher Thomas Kuhn’s concept of the paradigm shift, and how there was now a “weight of knowledge” leading to significant change.
“I think we’re in that position at the moment where the weight of the change is pushing up against the paradigm and we’re shifting into a completely new shape and idea, particularly because around us there’s been a lot of change as well in the mission portfolio itself,” Elli said. “We have to respond to that change, and we have to move ourselves into that new paradigm.”
