The Federal Budget handed down by the Albanese Labor Government last night was largely as expected with its focus on the cost of living, but it provided little new funding for addressing financial hardship, according to The Salvation Army’s General Manager of Policy and Advocacy. Jennifer Kirkaldy said she welcomed the efforts made to address cost-of-living pressures, such as the increase to Commonwealth Rental Assistance, energy concessions and funding for financial well-being and capability services, but she warned that it would not be enough to address the significant need in our community. Jennifer said the decision to leave JobSeeker and related payments well below the poverty line was “very disappointing” and against the overwhelming evidence from those who deliver services in the community sector, leading economists, and the government’s own expert panel*. “Charities do their best work when they are guardrails at the top of the cliff, but we are forced to be the ambulance at the bottom,” Jennifer said. “Every day, The Salvation Army is working with people who simply cannot make ends meet when relying on working-age payments. In every community in Australia, we are seeing people make impossible choices between food and rent, medication and warmth. “The fact is, no matter how careful they are, an individual cannot budget away poverty – but the government can.” The Salvation Army’s Secretary for Mission, Lieutenant-Colonel Gregory Morgan, focused on the Jobseeker payment in his response. “Since 1994, when JobSeeker was last close to adequate, The Salvation Army has had to step in over 32 million times to help people who are struggling. Between now and the next Federal Budget, there will be at least another two million added to that total,” he said. “It’s no surprise then that 94 per cent of those reaching out to the Salvos for help are struggling to afford essentials, such as housing, groceries, medical care and utilities.” Each year, through The Salvation Army’s nationwide network of over 400 centres and 2000 services in areas such as homelessness, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, youth support, family and domestic violence, financial hardship and much more, the Salvos provide**: • Assistance to one person every 17 seconds. • More than 1.67 million sessions of care to over 250,000 people in need. • Over 1.2 million bed nights to people who need accommodation. • More than 1.63 million meals to people who access our homelessness services. • Assistance to more than 10,000 women and their children at risk of experiencing family violence, including more than 123,000 nights of emergency accommodation for women and children impacted by violence. To view The Salvation Army’s brief on the 2024-25 Budget Measures, click here *Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee 2024 Report to Government **The Salvation Army Annual Report 2022-2

At the Bendigo Salvos Women’s Shed, empowerment and craftsmanship go hand in hand. Kylie has volunteered here for 18 years and says it’s a “good community” that looks after each other, making it a “safe place to be”. From letterboxes to elaborate dog beds, the women are free to be creative and learn new skills while being supported. This has built an environment of warmth and togetherness.

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE “The Salvos have a saying ‘believe in good’, and I want you to know that you have changed my life, my daughter’s life – through your goodness and generosity,” the testimonial speaker at the Melbourne Red Shield Appeal launch told the crowd. The launch was held at the Sofitel on Collins Street on Thursday 9 May, with a lunch hosted by Channel 9 presenters Christine Ahern and Clint Stanaway and featuring entertainment from musicians Julian Steel and Isadora Lauritz. Testimonial speaker Jasmine told how, after living in fear of violence with her young daughter, through the help of The Salvation Army, she managed to gain stable accommodation, financial and legal advice and special gifts and experiences for her daughter. “Watching my daughter be able to play and participate in normal kid activities really gave me hope that we had a brighter future away from violence,” Jasmine said. “Having people go out of their way to do this for us gave me hope there were still good people in the world that I could trust.” Jasmine told the crowd how, after receiving a scholarship from Transurban to study financial counselling, she was now working with those experiencing financial hardship, including other women and children fleeing violence. She was also working as a lived experience expert and was on a working group seeking to improve legal support for those going through the court system. “Please know that your care does change lives, and please continue to believe in good,” she said. “Light can overcome darkness. Together, let’s continue to shine that light of goodness for those in greatest need.” The butterfly effect The event, attended by 400 delegates, corporate sponsors, politicians and philanthropists, also featured a Q&A with radio and television personality Eddie McGuire and Project 614 Team Leader Major Brendan Nottle. The pair talked about their work in launching the Magpie Nest Housing Program through Eddie’s position as former president of the Collingwood Football Club. Eddie McGuire thanked the crowd for coming and giving their time despite “grey skies” both climactically and spiritually in the form of a looming Federal Budget and increasing numbers of women killed by domestic violence in Australia. “Particularly in the current climate … to have this amount of people here giving up their time, can I just ask you to give yourselves a round of applause,” Eddie said. Eddie told of his upbringing in a housing commission house in Broadmeadows as a child of migrants from Scotland and Ireland who “always felt like somebody from overseas”. He told of watching family violence occurring next door while feeling the contrasting love and support offered to him by his own parents. He spoke about building a partnership with Brendan Nottle to establish both the Magpie Nest and hosting yearly Christmas dinners at the AIA Centre for around 600 people from the local Collingwood community. Eddie told the crowd never to underestimate the power of what they could do and the “butterfly effect” of what would happen when they helped someone out. He told Brendan that the partnership between The Salvation Army and the Collingwood Football Club caused the club to develop a broader view of the community. “I have no doubt whatsoever that the success of the Collingwood Football Club in its current incarnation is directly associated with the goodwill and also the development of ideas in commonality of spirit that was manifest through our connection with you and The Salvation Army,” he said. Wurundjeri man Alex Kerr gave the Welcome to Country, thanking The Salvation Army for assisting his family after his father’s death at a young age. He told the crowd that if they were ever thinking about giving to the Salvation Army’s work, they could be reassured that the donations really did reach those who needed it most. “Without that support and guidance from The Salvation Army, I just wouldn't be able to be here today essentially,” he said. Salvos mandate The Divisional Commander for Victoria, Colonel Kelvin Merrett, gave the opening remarks, thanking those who gave to The Salvation Army and reassuring the crowd that their support was never taken for granted. He said that in a historical sense, the person of Jesus Christ was incredibly radical. “He challenged the status quo of society,” Kelvin said. “He challenged the establishments; he challenged the religion of the day. And those who have been cast out by society and by families he embraced and said actually, we need to care for these folk. We need to love and support them as family members.” “And that’s a mandate that The Salvation Army has.” Victorian Minister for Housing, Water and Equality, the Honourable Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria, confirmed in her address that the Victorian Government would donate $150,000 to the 2024 Red Shield Appeal. Harriet said she spent many years volunteering in Red Shield Appeals and carried what she had learned from that work into her current role. She also honoured those who gave their time to the work of The Salvation Army. “I’m determined to make sure that work I do in my position continues my tin-shaking efforts from the mid-90s, where I stood in traffic and begged people for money,” she said. “And then, when I participated in doorknocks over the years, one of the things that struck me was the generosity and the care provided by others, not just those who answered their doors. It’s about the volunteers. It’s about the people who give time and effort and energy and passion to make sure that in doing more we can help others to do better.” Eva Burrows Award Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas presented The Eva Burrows Award to Keith Fagg OAM, former Geelong Mayor and Salvation Army Geelong Advisory Board Chair since 2015. The Eva Burrows Award is a prestigious award that recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution and extraordinary service to The Salvation Army in the Australian community. “The stories we’ve heard today reflect the way The Salvation Army works at the very front line when many other organisations will stand back and not actually get their hands dirty with what needs to be done to support the most underprivileged people in our community,” Keith said. “So, I feel very honoured and humbled to receive this award.” Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett closed the event by thanking the crowd for their support during very challenging times when people’s experiences of hardship and injustice were increasing every day. “We want to assure you that we can not only provide a path out of crisis, but we are a way towards a new beginning, and we're in there for the long haul,” she said. Kirralee Nicolle covered the launch for Salvos Online to file this report, but it was an experience on the train home involving the desperate plight of a young family that brought her to tears. Read her reflections on this experience and how The Salvation Army, through the Red Shield Appeal campaign, can bring hope to people in need. Go to: https://www.salvosonline.org.au/post/this-red-shield-appeal-let-your-heartache-move-you-to-respond

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE It has become all but impossible for an Australian on a low income to find a rental property they can afford, according to new statistics from Anglicare Australia. The yearly Rental Affordability Snapshot released on 23 April shows that only 0.2 per cent of houses in Australia are affordable for retirees living on the aged pension, a figure which has halved since 2023. With the Federal Budget set to be delivered this week, housing is a hot-button issue for not only those struggling to cover rent or pay a mortgage but also those sleeping rough or facing unstable housing. Salvation Army Housing manages 1800 properties across Australia and houses approximately 3000 people every night. The Salvation Army recently opened six new dwellings in Ingle Farm, South Australia, as well as 10 crisis accommodation units for women and their children fleeing domestic violence in Palmerston, Northern Territory. For a single parent living on the minimum wage, Anglicare’s data shows 98 per cent of rentals are unaffordable. In its report, Anglicare Australia describes the reality of housing affordability in Australia as “horrifying”, “unfair and unjust”, “the worst it has ever been” and part of the “design” of successive governments that have continued offering tax incentives to housing investors. Salvation Army Housing Chief Executive Chris Karagiannis said between the cost of private rentals, the lack of rentals available and the shortage of social and public housing, there was a perfect storm leading to poverty and homelessness. “It’s very, very challenging for many people,” he said. “They’re spending up to 70 or 80 per cent of their income on rent, which means that they’re having to go without in terms of food, medication [and] day to day staples. There’s very minimal or no scope for any luxuries. And when we talk about luxuries, we’re talking about a cup of coffee or catching up with friends for breakfast or being able to go out.” Chris said many clients of Salvos Housing were couch surfing, living in their cars or worse. He said with rising domestic and family violence statistics, potential loss of employment or alcohol or drug abuse, being unable to access safe and secure accommodation could prevent someone from making other necessary life changes. “We strongly believe that housing is a human right,” Chris said. “Everyone should be entitled to safe and secure accommodation.” As of this article’s writing, 28 women had been killed across Australia due to violence in 2024, according to Counting Dead Women. Recent data from the Australian Institute of Criminology showed a 28 per cent increase in deaths of women due to intimate partner violence in the period between 2021 and 2023. Chris said one of the largest groups The Salvation Army was currently assisting was older women on a single pension. In 2021, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare identified the rate of homelessness among women over 55 as having grown 40 per cent in the 10-year period from 2011 to 2021. “It’s absolutely soul-crushing ... people are waiting 10 years plus to access housing. We’re nowhere near [having] enough.” The Salvation Army last year unveiled a new community housing complex in Moonah, Tasmania, to accommodate women over the age of 55 who were experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Chris said one of the women who now lives in the complex, Gayle, had been spending 80 per cent of her income on a private rental and had not turned on her heater in three years to save money. Now that her rent in The Salvation Army Moonah housing complex was costing less than 30 per cent of her pension, she could not only turn on the heater, but she could also go out with friends, buy books and new clothes. “Her friend has told her that the sparkle has come back in her eyes, and her doctor has actually taken her off some medications because her frame of mind and her mental health [have] improved so much,” Chris said. Chris said despite both state and national pushes to increase public housing stock, there were still approximately 180,000 people currently on housing waitlists across the country. “It’s absolutely soul-crushing,” he said. “People are waiting 10 years plus to access housing. We’re nowhere near [having] enough.” Chris said additional to the recently opened units in South Australia and the Northern Territory, there were active projects in Queensland and New South Wales. The Salvation Army has also made submissions to receive funding through the national Housing Australia Future Fund, has received funding from the Victorian Government through the Big Housing Build and has made submissions in most other states. Chris said they were currently exploring funding options in Western Australia. The 2024-25 Federal Budget is set to deliver $11.3 billion in funding for housing, according to preliminary data from Ernst & Young. The Salvation Army Australia assists someone in need every 17 seconds.

BY LAUREN MARTIN There may never have been a birthday party quite like it! Major Bryce Davies recently turned 60, and to mark the occasion he devised an ambitious plan: to run for 60 kilometres through Brisbane with 60 friends. He decided to link his regular running trails and local park-run course, but that’s not all – he invited all his buddies (runners and non-runners) along for the fun! Bryce is a keen runner and loves to join and create healthy communities as part of his role as a Salvation Army Faith Communities Development Coordinator in Queensland. “I was fearful that 60 kilometres was just too far for me, and so I knew I would need a lot of encouragement,” he said. So, months before the event, friends, family and people from the multiple running groups that Bryce attends received a message inviting them to ‘sign up’ for Bryce’s birthday. Upon clicking into this strange request, the invitee was taken to a spreadsheet where they could nominate which parts of the 60km route they would like to run (or walk), what checkpoints they could attend to cheer the runners on and enjoy cake and refreshments (there was even a Salvos coffee van involved!) and, of course, how they could purchase an event t-shirt. Participants were also encouraged to donate to The Salvation Army’s ‘Houses of Hope’ project in Brisbane. The day finally came, and it was an extravaganza like none other! Sixty people took part in the course from three different Brisbane running groups, as well as people from Streetlevel Salvos, Bayside Salvos, North Brisbane Salvos, the Salvos Recycled Bike Workshop and other groups Bryce is a part of, including Carindale Rotary Club, the Men’s Walk and Talk group and the Watson Street Community Garden. The youngest participant was nine, and the oldest was over 80! Bryce, who sported a pink tutu during his run, said there were many highlights from the day, including a surprise marching band at the Thompson Running Club oval that played the Rocky theme music as Bryce and his crew ran through. “The support from my daughters (Eliza and Georgia) and their partners (Alex and Tracie) was epic,” he said. “Best support crew and event organisation I could have hoped for!” The catering was also ‘next level’, with birthday cakes at every checkpoint, a sausage sizzle and an endless supply of chips and lollies! Participants experience One participant, Kristen, met Bryce at the Toohey Trotters running group and said it was really special to celebrate Bryce’s birthday with him. “This is amazing, and it’s such a reflection of Bryce to bring all of these people together – and the spirit of generosity ... there is so much food, there’s music, there is just a lot of joy, and it is a great honour to be here with Bryce. He is really inspiring. He inspired me to do a 50km run for my 50th birthday actually!” Another participant, Tara, says Bryce is an inspiration. She met him through the Toohey Trotters running group, and now they co-host a trail-running podcast together. “It’s something I had wanted to do for a while and then when Bryce and I were talking, we thought we should just do it together!” Participant Adrian met Bryce at TEEs running club and says he and his teenage daughter love running with Bryce. “Bryce is so easy to talk to and get along with … we just struck up a conversation and friendship from there.” Bryce says there is great power in community, and his 60th birthday showcased this. “My ministry as a Salvo officer includes a passion to help build community in existing groups and to help nurture the culture of love and support that reflects the unconditional love of Christ,” he said. “This event demonstrated to me that this strategy bears fruit and achieves the sorts of Kingdom outcomes that are plain to see and make an impact. It is my hope that my life is a witness to the way of Jesus and encourages people to live with the same sort of spirit and to be curious about how this might play out in their lives, too.” Fellow Salvation Army officer Major Brad McIver agrees, saying, “One of the reasons I wanted to come today was to meet all of these great people because wherever he goes, Bryce is a real connector of people, so that’s the thing I love the most.” The event raised more than $2500 for the ‘Houses of Hope’ project, a Salvation Army initiative to secure private rental accommodation for suitable applicants in need, with a commitment to assist that person for 12 months with a rental subsidy. “During that time, the person lives in a safe environment with wrap-around support from a Salvation Army case management team,” says Bryce, adding that he has personally met some of the recipients of the ‘Houses of Hope’ support and has been greatly encouraged by the ministry, which results in transformed lives.

Each week throughout this year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (13-19 May) we are praying for the Hong Kong and Macau Territory. There are four Australian officers in the territory. Colonels Deslea and Philip Maxwell are the territorial leaders. Majors Glenn and Julia Price also serve there – Glenn is Secretary for Business Administration, and Julia as Territorial Protection Coordinator - Children & Vulnerable Adults (Primary) and Territorial Spiritual Life Development Pray for Hong Kong and Macau Territory Praise God for: ·       The reactivation of our ministries across Hong Kong, Macau and China. Please pray for: ·       Increased stability and peace within the region ·       The strengthening and realigning of the Army’s ministries in the wake of the emigration of personnel to other countries ·       Candidates and ‘second career’ officers ·       The refining of the Territorial Strategic Plan 2025-2030. To find out more about the Hong Kong and Macau Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here.

The most southerly region of Brazil has declared a state of public calamity due to the torrential rains and flooding in the area, which have affected more than 873,000 people. Over 80 fatalities have been reported in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with the number expected to rise. Almost 150,000 people have been displaced from their homes. “Salvation Army teams from DHQ and Salvationists in the area have visited local surroundings to assess the devastation and need,” said Damaris Frick, International Emergency Services Director. “Clothes, water, hygiene kits, cleaning supplies and food are being distributed to families experiencing difficulties. “The Guaíba River has burst its banks in Porto Alegre, the state capital, flooding parts of the city and surrounding towns. The district in which the Salvation Army’s corps and thrift store are located is completely flooded. The corps’ outpost, in Eldorado do Sul, is practically underwater.” Major Alessandra Nunes, Divisional Director for Women’s Ministries, explained that the situation is very delicate. She said, “There have been landslides in communities near us and many people have lost everything. As most of the access is blocked in and out of the town, people are panic buying in supermarkets and stocking up on fuel.” Damaris explained that, with further rain predicted, “Salvation Army emergency volunteers will continue with their rapid response in flood-damaged areas, carrying out further needs assessments on the ground as they work, seeking to provide emotional and spiritual support to those affected. “As soon as the roads are clear, the Salvation Army’s canteen and donation truck will be heading to Porto Alegre from territorial headquarters in São Paulo, with water, non-perishable foods, and cleaning and personal hygiene items, which have been donated by the general public.” The Salvation Army has been working in the region for 90 years with the establishment of eight corps, two outposts, one social institution for children and adolescents and four thrift stores.

Some years ago, I was at a church conference that included teaching sessions, discussion groups, time for private prayer and some social events. One afternoon, we were told we were to reflect privately on the teaching material from the morning sessions. We were given a notebook and pen and told to find a space, indoors or out, where we could reflect and pray. I quite enjoy these times and took to it easily. Hours later, at dinner time, I sat at a table with others where we spoke about how we’d enjoyed the time and space to reflect. One of my colleagues said he’d jumped on his bike and done a 60km bike ride. We were a little surprised that he’d not done as the rest of us had, and sensing our reaction, he was quick to add, “I prayed the whole time.” His smile and a nervous laugh suggested that might not have been the case. It got me thinking: what constitutes a quiet time? When it comes to doing private devotions, I’m pretty happy having a Bible and pen handy and finding a quiet corner to read, reflect and pray. My wife is much more creative in prayer and will incorporate art, craft, different prayer styles, podcasts and other resources to keep her prayer life interesting and beneficial. Others will talk of going for long walks and sensing God in nature, or journalling their thoughts and prayers, or listening to music that helps them sense God’s presence. How far can you ‘push’ a quiet time and still be classed as such? For example, does doing three hours of exercise on a pushbike count? A friend of mine enjoys listening to Christian heavy metal and thrash music (yes, it’s a real thing) and so a ‘quiet’ time for him can be listening to Christian lyrics sung to crunching guitars, a full-on drum kit and a screaming vocalist. He puts his headphones on and plays music almost loud enough to make his ears bleed … and he senses God’s presence. Can I use my quiet time to pray as I wash my car? Can I reflect on God’s goodness and his love for me as I watch the football? Can I pray for members of my church while I’m having a shower? Can my quiet time include reading a Batman comic and praying for justice to be done across our community? Can my daily devotions include partaking of the blessed milk and Weet-Bix, or is that just breakfast? Perhaps quiet time can be doing anything that allows you to sense God’s presence more strongly. My grandfather loved gardening and said that God had been a gardener, too, when Eden was made. I’m sure my grandfather said many a prayer while working in the garden. So perhaps you can shake up your quiet time a bit and try something new. Watch some Formula 1 and pray for the safety of the drivers. Make a strong coffee and pray for the developing country where the beans originated from. Do some stretching or Pilates and thank God for our bodies which are ‘wonderfully made’. Tidy up your recycling for the bin and pray for the environment. Listen to The Beatles and reflect on ‘All You Need is Love’. Polish your black shoes and pray for people who can’t afford shoes. And, if all else fails, pray for your corps officer as you have a shower in the morning. That will get your day off to a great start, I’m sure. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

Something quite special is going on at Melbourne’s Sunshine Salvos that is making people’s hearts sing – and it involves lots of hairspray, hairdryers, hairbrushes and hair mists. When Captain Phuong Reynolds decided to put her hairdressing talents to great use and offer free haircuts to her beloved community, little did she know the simple gesture would profoundly uplift people’s lives, as Salvos Online writer LERISSE SMITH discovered. It was a day that Phuong will never forget. While she busily organised her treasured hair trolley full of sprays, combs, scissors and neck dusters for yet another salon session with her beloved community, a mum walked into the church with her son. She asked for a much-needed haircut. “I still remember the mum saying to me it had been seven years since she had a haircut!” Phuong recalled. “You can’t believe it at first, and then you can, because between providing food for her children, paying rent and then everything else, going to a hair salon and getting regular haircuts for herself and her children is something very, very expensive and often out of reach.” Not being able to afford a haircut is a common theme both Phuong and her husband, Captain Colin Reynolds, hear from their community each time they run the free haircut ministry alongside the church’s community meal on the last Friday of each month. But giving dignity to all those who walk through their church doors on Devonshire Road is top priority for Phuong, Colin and their dedicated teams of volunteers. “We see the holistic person for who they are,” Colin said. “Phuong is doing hair for people who haven’t had a haircut in two or three years because they just can’t afford it. So, it is super important for us here at Sunshine Salvos to make sure that we’re doing everything to treat the whole person with dignity, to honour them, and to ensure that not only are we giving food and material aid but also helping them feel lovely about themselves too. We want them to be healthy on the inside and feel beautiful on the outside.” Visit the Sunshine Salvos on their community meal day, and you’ll find two hair salon stations set up in the church foyer, one for Phuong and her hairdressing friend, Sharon, while free takeaway cooked meals along with an assortment of fresh food parcels welcome people as they walk through the front door. Phuong’s journey to making all people feel beautiful began as a young girl in her country of origin, Vietnam, where her parents owned a hair salon. They inspired her to take up the profession, and soon, she found a love for helping others by transforming them with a new hairdo. When Colin and Phuong became Corps Officers at Sunshine Salvation Army nine years ago, Phuong did not hesitate to use her gift and talent to help meet the needs of her community with something practical and what she knew best. Hence, her hair ministry was born. “People were coming for the food parcels and would comment about needing a haircut,” she said. “So, I just had a passion to provide free haircuts and asked a hairdressing friend to help out, too. I remember the first thing I did when I came to Sunshine was to buy a very big mirror. Then came the chair, then the table.” Since then, the free haircuts have taken off. There’s often a line of people patiently waiting to sit in an area allocated for those wanting a new hairdo. And her ministry has impacted countless people. One gentleman spoke of how Sunshine Salvation Army's practical and emotional support greatly assisted him in navigating complex life issues. “I have mental health issues and social anxiety,” he remarked. “It would just be too much for me to go into a hairdressing salon. But I feel comfortable here and so grateful for the service. Getting a haircut here has helped me feel better about myself. I feel bad constantly asking for help, but buying food has been so tough. I can’t handle being broke. When you go to the shops and see the bill at the end, it’s scary. A hundred dollars used to fill a trolley, now it only pays for a few things.’’ As The Salvation Army Australia’s only Vietnamese-speaking corps officer, Phuong also has the ability to communicate with the Vietnamese community in their native tongue, especially as Melbourne’s biggest Vietnamese population is located in the city’s west, her region. Two huge mirrors and tables accompany comfy chairs in the dedicated salon spaces along with the bevy of essential tools, including an assortment of big and small scissors, high-powered hairdryers, and the all-important neck duster to equip the two hairdressers. A friendly smile is also guaranteed. Fun, weird, and strange haircut requests have included creating striking mohawks and shaving one side of someone with long hair. And when it comes to the most requested cut, men who want their hair cut short and beards trimmed top the list. “Cutting a man’s hair and trimming a beard can give a fresh new look and make them look younger!” Phuong exclaimed. “I also went to a special accommodation home of a corps member as her electric wheelchair was broken, and she desperately needed a haircut for a wedding.” A listening ear has proved essential for the outreach ministry, with locals often letting down their defences. “People often share their life’s journey and tell you what’s going on with their life,” Phuong said. “They want someone to listen. It’s important I listen to make the connection. Sometimes, we refer people to other services to help them struggling with a range of personal life issues where they need more help. And we always welcome people to our church, too, plus our monthly women’s group.” Practical help with food parcels accompanies those who have their hair done. Trays of fresh vegetables and fruit welcome people, while about 300 to 400 takeaway meals are served. The favourite is most definitely the homemade Vietnamese fried rice made by the church volunteers. Assisting the corps with their food relief service is the Alex Makes Meals organisation, which donates 170 packaged healthy meals weekly, Oz Harvest and Brimbank Council. Pets of the Homeless also donate dog and cat food on a monthly basis. These essential products for many community members who struggle to cover the cost of pet food are also distributed on Fridays. As for the future of cutting people’s hair, Phuong plans to continue using her special pair of scissors for a long time to come along with her hairdressing colleagues who help out each month. They love serving their community and thrive on making people happy. “It’s so rewarding that people feel very happy after getting their hair done,” she said. “You see the smile on their face and can see the difference before and after they have their hair done. You know you are lifting their spirits and helping them feel confident, to feel good about themselves. And that makes me feel happy. There’s nothing better than making people feel good, to make them feel better. I’m so very blessed to do something to help people.” And when it comes to talking to locals about God, Phuong and her husband keep it simple. “We (Colin and I) are ministers and explain to the people what The Salvation Army is and what they do. To have a healthy community and to transform people inside and out is what Colin and I love to do,” she said. “We believe we are all created in the image of God – and ultimately, we want people to know that.”

Business, community and media leaders from multicultural audiences who spoke over 30 languages attended and celebrated the Red Shield Appeal Multicultural launch in Sydney on Monday (6 May). The Hon. Daniel Mookhey, MLC Member of the Legislative Council – NSW and NSW Treasurer launched the appeal alongside Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas. “Multicultural communities in Australia are an integral part of the economic and social fabric of our society,” Daniel said. “We are proud of our multicultural communities who contribute enormously in all facets of Australian life. It is my privilege to launch The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal in 2024 to multicultural communities across Australia. “The Salvos are a valuable and inclusive organisation, helping people in need without discrimination.” Miriam responded by saying: “The Salvation Army multicultural launch provides The Salvos with an amazing opportunity to connect with multicultural community leaders who are passionate about supporting people within multicultural communities. We are also extremely grateful to MultiConnexions, who have supported The Salvation Army and hosted this event for over 20 years.” The Salvation Army is aiming to raise $38 million nationally to fund vital work around the country, including the key work The Salvation Army does within multicultural communities. Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO of MultiConnexions and Eva Burrows Award recipient said: “Multicultural audiences in Australia are proud of their country of origin, and also proud to be able to contribute to their country of adoption – Australia. With unwavering support from multicultural communities over the years, The Salvation Army works tirelessly to provide inclusive support services and deepen community connections. MultiConnexions is honoured to support the Red Shield Appeal multicultural launch over the years.” Some information courtesy of madeinindiamagazine.com.au

For what is believed to be the first time in Australia, a Red Shield Appeal business launch has been held at a Salvos Store, with the local corps and store personnel working together for local mission. 2508 Salvos – a Community of Hope based in the small community of Helensburgh, just south of Sydney – operates many of its programs from its local Salvos Store. “We don’t have a building,” says Mission Leader Lauren Martin. “We are a relatively new missional community, so we operate on very little funding, only money that’s raised in our local community. The Salvos Store is a great place to do mission because everyone in town knows and loves our store, and the store manager, staff and volunteers are really supportive. “So, it made sense that when we were thinking about holding our very first Red Shield Appeal business launch, we would hold it at the store.” The Red Shield Appeal launch was a team effort. 2508 Salvos organised the invitations, testimonial speakers, a musician and volunteers. Salvos Stores area management offered to pay for the breakfast food items that were served (lots of volunteers were recruited to donate baked goods as well!) and reconfigured the store to provide enough space for the 50 people who attended the event. On the day, the store’s doors opened an hour early for the launch. Those who attended from local businesses, partner organisations and churches heard about the work of 2508 Salvos and from local residents whom The Salvation Army had supported. “Two years ago, I found myself at rock bottom … I had never endured such a difficult and lonely path,” one woman shared. “That’s when I started my journey with The Salvation Army and the journey to rebuilding my life. Although that’s still in progress, I know I will always be supported by The Salvation Army.” Another woman spoke about doing The Salvation Army’s ‘See Change’ course through 2508 Salvos: “The See Change course has been instrumental in my personal growth and changes within myself. My family, friends, doctor and even my psychologist have all noticed a huge change in me since completing it.” Salvos Stores Illawarra Area Manager Dale Cheetham said, “The event was a huge success bringing together businesses and personalities that make up the local community. It was a great opportunity for Salvos Stores to support local mission in Helensburgh so that we can continue building a healthy community.” The collaboration between Salvos Store and local mission in Helensburgh shows that when different expressions of The Salvation Army come together to focus on mission, good things happen!

General Lyndon Buckingham has announced the cadet sessional names for 2026-2032.   Each General is required to provide sessional names for five sessions of cadets. In recent decades, sessional names have focused on the members of the session and primarily what they do, such as Messengers of Peace and Witnesses for Christ. In earlier decades, they were often single-word descriptors, sometimes about qualities, such as Faithful and Courageous. “Sessional names need to say something about the needs of our times, and the way in which the gospel matches those needs,” explained the General. “In a time when people are concerned about ‘mission drift’ and our identity, my heart was drawn to five words that express the core of who we are as individuals and as The Salvation Army. This may be a departure from recent practice, but the more I have engaged with the task the more my spirit is at peace with this approach. “With that in mind, I take this opportunity to share with you the decision I have reached after much prayerful consideration and reflection.” The names and Scriptures to be given to future training sessions will be as follows: ·       The 2026-2028 session will be named Rescued ( Colossians 1:13 ). ·       The 2027-2029 session will be named Redeemed ( Galatians 3:13 ). ·       The 2028-2030 session will be named Reconciled ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ).  ·       The 2029-2031 session will be named Restored ( 1 Peter 5:10 ).  ·       The 2030-2032 session will be named Renewed ( Romans 12:2 ).   “May these names and Scriptures provide a focus for the cadets during their studies and have a shaping impact on their ministry as officers,” the General concluded.