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The annual Easter Dawn Service on Castle Hill overlooking Townsville attracts hundreds of worshippers each year.  BY LAUREN MARTIN   This year will mark the 60th anniversary of The Salvation Army’s Easter Dawn Service on Castle Hill, which overlooks the North Queensland city of Townsville. The Salvation Army has been part of the hilltop gathering to watch the sunrise and celebrate the risen Christ since 1966.   Townsville City Corps was under the leadership of Captains Earle and Wilma Maxwell when they commenced the first service.   The current Corps Officer/Team Member, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Katrina McIntosh, said that over the years, it gradually shifted from being solely a Salvation Army service to a more ecumenical one.   “All the corps in Townsville had come together each year as a combined service, but the service opened up to other churches over two decades ago when Norm and Isabel Beckett were the corps officers at Riverway Corps,” Katrina said.   “Some other denominational leaders started helping with readings or prayers, but the ecumenical planning group and broader involvement of other denominations came about particularly in the last five years.” Salvationists gather in a circle for the first Easter Dawn Service in Townsville in 1966. Katrina said the event is significant in bringing together different denominations to recognise and celebrate the unity of belief that Jesus is “the risen lord that saves us from our sin.”   “Many have commented that seeing the sun rising over the horizon is moving, as it would have done so on that first Easter morning, with a risen Lord. Like the journey of Easter, we start in the darkness, but as the sky lightens into the light of day, we too step out of a destiny of darkness and sin, into a new life filled with light,” she said.   Hundreds of Christians from Townsville’s different churches gather for the service on Castle Hill, a prominent 286-metre granite monolith in the centre of Townsville that offers views over the city and out to Magnetic Island.   At the end of the Easter Dawn Service, there is a joint proclamation of ‘Jesus is Lord’ shouted out by those in attendance.   “This is a declaration not only of faith, but of a cry for our city and a united prayer to see him Lord over our city,” Katrina said. The Salvation Army now joins with other denominations for the Easter Dawn Service on Castle Hill.

We extend our congratulations to the following officers who have recently completed awards with the University of Divinity. Their completion of these awards reflects both academic commitment and a deep investment in ongoing formation for ministry, and we commend their perseverance and dedication. Lieutenant Colette Albino – Diploma in Theology and Undergraduate Certificate in Divinity. Lieutenant Anthony Bezzina – Advanced Diploma in Theology and Ministry. Lieutenant Nicole Bezzina – Advanced Diploma in Theology and Ministry. Captain Kate Clifford – Master of Theological Studies. Lieutenant Beola Conteh – Diploma in Theology. Major Darren Elkington – Graduate Certificate in Research Methodology. Lieutenant Crystal Lee – Advanced Diploma in Theology and Ministry. Major Carolyn O’Brien – Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision. Auxiliary-Lieutenant Adam Purcell – Diploma in Theology. Major Angela Rawlings – Graduate Diploma in Divinity. Major Leanne Ruthven – Graduate Certificate in Research Methodologies. Captain Matt Ryan – Graduate Certificate in Divinity.   Lieutenant Vikki Song – Master of Theological Studies. Captain Alison Templar – Master of Theological Studies. Lieutenant Keven Williams – Advanced Diploma in Theology and Ministry.

Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas meets an enthusiastic volunteer while visiting Salvos Stores Lilydale in Victoria. BY LAUREN MARTIN   In the years following the COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia, Salvos Stores volunteer numbers – like those of all not-for-profits – plummeted. Now, they’re at record levels and continuing to climb.   “In March 2023, our lowest head count for volunteers within stores was 6900,” said The Salvation Army’s National Volunteer Business Partner, Tracey Marsh, from the Army’s People and Culture Department.   “Although we were at the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people were still concerned about it coming back.”   The Salvation Army has always valued its people, especially its army of volunteers, but in recent years, particularly at Salvos Stores, there has been a deliberate effort to rebuild the friendly and encouraging atmosphere that invites community members to join the team.   “Within stores, we’ve always strived to have a good sense of reward and recognition for our volunteers,” said Tracey. “We make sure that every year during National Volunteer Week, we have celebrations in every store, and we have a recognition program to celebrate our volunteers’ length of service with us.”   As volunteer numbers began to climb again, Salvos Stores and the People and Culture Department set an ambitious target: to reach 10,000 volunteers by the end of 2025.   A recent survey of why volunteers donate their time at Salvos Stores revealed the reason why numbers were steadily increasing: -              43% of respondents said they had a positive experience of community when volunteering -              18% knew they were making a difference -              16% said that volunteering improved their sense of wellbeing   One survey respondent said, “My manager, she is like medicine to my soul.” Another said, “I love my team, they make me laugh and share their lives with me. They feel like family.”   Volunteers play a vital role in all aspects of Salvos Stores’ operations, from helping on the register and sorting donations to styling the shop floor, supporting back-of-house tasks, and creating a friendly, welcoming environment for customers.   Tracey said reaching the 10,000 volunteer milestone is a significant achievement and one that everyone involved with the ministry of Salvos Stores should be proud of: “I give credit to my team but also the frontline managers at Salvos Stores who manage the volunteers day-in and day-out. They make them feel welcome, they make them feel valued.”   She said it’s easy for people in The Salvation Army to say, “we wouldn’t be here without our volunteers”, but to really acknowledge their contribution and value takes more effort and initiative.   “We really wouldn’t be here [operational] without our volunteers. Salvos Stores is the third largest financial contributor to The Salvation Army’s programs – if we don’t have volunteers, we can’t make that contribution.”   What a good reason to take some time to thank a Salvation Army volunteer today! The Seaford Meadows Salvos Stores team in South Australia recently celebrated Nola, who has served as part of the team for five years.

BY AMANDA BRUMMELL LENNESTAAL* There is a sofa in my living room that has seen better days. I bought it second-hand from a Salvos Store a few years ago, never particularly comfortable, never especially attractive, but all I could afford at the time. Over the years it has become the place where much of life with my teens has unfolded. It has held long days that didn't resolve neatly, conversations that circled without clear endings, bodies that were tired or restless or simply needing somewhere to land. It has also held unexpected laughter, and moments of connection that felt, at times, hard won. The fabric is worn, the frame uneven. By any reasonable standard, it should be replaced. And yet it remains. Not for its material value, but for what it has come to represent: a faithful presence that doesn't require life to be orderly first. In a culture that equates value with appearance and prefers replacement over endurance, there is something quietly countercultural about that kind of faithfulness. The Easter story has a similar disregard for what looks resolved or acceptable. At its centre is not simply the description of Jesus' death, but the reality that his death was the inevitable consequence of how he lived. Jesus moved persistently toward those pushed to the margins, touching those deemed unclean, speaking with those excluded, restoring dignity to people reduced to labels or problems to be managed. He disrupted systems that depended on separation and hierarchy, not through force but through proximity. And that kind of love exposes fault lines. It reveals who is excluded, who is burdened, and who benefits from things remaining as they are. That kind of disruption rarely goes unanswered. Jesus is executed, and the reason is inseparable from the life he lived. It is a pattern that is not confined to the past. Right now, decisions made in distant centres of power are reshaping the lives of people who had no seat at the table. Trade policies negotiated between governments are driving up costs for families already stretched thin. Military strategies drawn up far from the frontlines are being absorbed, body by body, by those with the least power to resist them. In Gaza, in Sudan, in Iran, where ordinary people navigate the consequences of geopolitical pressure they did not choose, the distance between those who decide and those who bear the cost has rarely felt wider. This is precisely what the life of Jesus interrupts. Rather than operating from a distance, he moved toward those most affected. Rather than insulating himself from complexity, he entered it. His authority was expressed not through control or detachment, but through presence and a willingness to absorb cost rather than deflect it. A love that refused to uphold exclusion, that exposed inequity, that reordered who belonged, is not easily accommodated by systems that depend on hierarchy and distance. Which raises an uncomfortable question: what might it mean to embody this kind of love now? In a world that rewards efficiency, clarity, and distance, choosing proximity is both impractical and costly. It may mean staying engaged in situations that don't resolve quickly, listening to experiences that unsettle our assumptions, recognising where human need resists easy categorisation, and resisting the pull toward what appears polished at the expense of what is real. The love we see in Jesus does not wait for resolution before drawing near, nor does it withdraw when the cost becomes apparent. It remains. Perhaps that is where the real challenge of Easter sits, not only in what we believe about the cross, but in what we are willing to risk in how we live. Because a love that moves toward the margins, that refuses distance, and that names what is broken will always carry consequence. Sometimes that looks less dramatic than we imagine. Sometimes it looks like returning, again and again, to the same worn spaces, holding what is in front of us without turning away. Sometimes it looks like a sofa that should have been replaced long ago, still faithfully holding the weight of life as it continues to unfold. Not because it is perfect. But because it remains. *Amanda Brummell Lennestaal is General Manager for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Salvation Army.

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I have concurrent appointments – Area Officer in North Queensland and Corps Officer/Team Member at Townsville Corps. I like the opportunity to see and support what my colleague officers are achieving with Christ and their teams for God’s Kingdom. It is also really great to be involved as a corps officer again and part of such a great team. I love the teaching and pastoral aspects of being a corps officer and consider it a privilege to serve Christ amongst brothers and sisters who love Him too.   2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I enjoy photography, astronomy (when it’s not cloudy!) and reading.   3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? ‘Transfiguration’ by Hillsong is one of them – I love the theology and music in it. It’s a beautiful song about the majesty and divinity of Christ.   4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be and what would you talk about? The Apostle Paul – what the heck did he mean by this and that, and where does the punctuation go?!   5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? I would absolutely recommend officership. While it has changed over the time I have served, I could not imagine doing anything else and would do it over again. There is a great joy and privilege in working for God’s Kingdom in this particular way and serving alongside other believers to strengthen His church and proclaim the gospel. If you feel God has called you to serve Him in this way, please speak with your corps officer. Officership is an incredibly rewarding vocation. More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here . *Meet the Officer interviews are conducted by Salvos Online journalist Lerisse Smith

Adrian Kistan (General Manager Ministry Resourcing and Support), Sherry Wanjiru ( Salvation Army Lived Experience Project Officer) and Sue Hodges (Salvation Army Reconciliation Action Plan and Projects Manager) at the Redfern event on Wednesday.   BY LAUREN MARTIN   Salvation Army national managers Adrian Kistan and Sue Hodges have shared personal family stories of slavery at a powerful gathering at Redfern Territorial Headquarters in Sydney that marked the UN International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.   Adrian, General Manager of Ministry Resourcing and Support, told those gathered on Wednesday that his family originated in India, but that his great-grandparents emigrated to South Africa when both countries were under British colonial rule.   “They were promised a good life, but it was far from the truth,” Adrian shared.   “When they arrived, they were sent to work as indentured workers in the sugar cane farms. The nickname they were given were ‘coolies’, which translated to being slaves … It was really poor conditions … far from the dream they were sold when they were in India.”   Adrian shares his story, which included slides of his great-grandparents’ experiences. Sue, who is The Salvation Army Reconciliation Action Plan and Projects Manager, told her story of growing up on an Aboriginal mission “in a house with dirt floors and flattened oil pans to make the shell of the humpy, and the potato sacks would help to keep out the wind and the cold”.   Her mother, who worked as a domestic servant, told Sue that she didn’t believe she was being paid correctly. “Sometimes she said [her pay was] substituted by the property owners with eggs, milk and sometimes beef. She never questioned them for fear of losing her own children.”   Slavery and slavery-like conditions were the subject of the Redfern ceremony, which was organised by The Salvation Army’s Modern Slavery stream.   Sherry Wanjiru, the Lived Experience Project Officer in the stream, told those gathered that slavery has not ended, it has just “adapted and become more complex”.   “Today, modern slavery can look like an opportunity that feels too good to be true; it can look like a debt that keeps growing no matter how hard someone works … underpaid or unpaid labour, isolation, the removal of choice … and often it exists in plain sight.” – Sherry Wanjiru   She urged people to recognise the signs of modern slavery and respond. Click here to read Sherry’s speech that she delivered at the event Sherry Wanjiru lights a candle for those impacted by modern slavery as Major Melanie Wren speaks. The Salvation Army provides a range of specialist services for people who are at risk of, experiencing or have experienced modern slavery in Australia. This includes the country’s first and only safehouse that accommodates survivors of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices. It also has Australia’s new national hotline and support service, the  Additional Referral Pathway   for confidential information and assistance (1800 000 277). Major Robyn Black, the NSW/ACT Divisional Commander, spoke about being proud of The Salvation Army’s longstanding commitment to responding to modern slavery, since establishing the safehouse in 2008. “ There is a need in Australia and in our own small way we have been able to play our part,” she said. “The Salvation Army’s response is guided by the international Fight for Freedom strategic plan, aiming for all personnel to be able to identify and respond appropriately to people experiencing modern slavery.”   Major Robyn Black, Divisional Commander for NSW/ACT, speaks at the ceremony to mark the UN International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. At the end of the ceremony, Major Melanie Wren led those gathered in a time of reflection that culminated in the lighting of three candles in memory of those affected in the past and the present.   “As colleagues and friends who work in The Salvation Army, may we each do our best to embody justice in action, working with compassion and humility to end modern slavery together,” she said. TSA personnel can learn more about how to identify and respond to modern slavery by completing the 40-minute modern slavery LEARN module.   To get in touch with the modern slavery specialist team to ask questions or seek support, you can contact 1800 000 277 or email arp@salvationarmy.org.au Major Melanie Wren, Sherry Wanjiru, Adrian Kistan, Major Robyn Black, Sue Hodges and Claudia Cummins (National Family Violence and Modern Slavery Specialist) at the Redfern event.

General Lyndon Buckingham gives the keynote address at the opening of the International Conference of Leaders. Commissioner Miriam Gluyas is among the delegates to this week’s Salvation Army International Conference of Leaders (ICL), currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya. To listen to General Lyndon Buckingham speak about the ICL, click here . The International Conference of Leaders is a periodic gathering of senior Salvation Army leaders from around the world. Convened by The General and the Chief of Staff, it provides space to reflect, pray and discern the movement’s direction within a dynamic global context.  The conference offers a private forum for the territorial commanders and other senior officers to share insights from their regions and to consider the challenges and opportunities facing the Army. Grounded in a shared sense of mission and calling, and held in the presence of God, the ICL fosters unity, strengthens fellowship across cultures and contexts and helps shape strategy while discerning priorities for the years ahead.   Earlier this week, a few delegates shared their hopes for the conference. To hear their reflections, click on the arrow below.   READ MORE: A rmy’s senior leaders gather in Kenya for international conference.

Thousands of people were part of the vibrant welcome meeting to ICL delegates in Nairobi, Kenya. BY SIMONE WORTHING “Worship with 10,000 Kenyans – and that’s just from one division!” said Australia’s Territorial Commander, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, who is attending the International Conference of Leaders (ICL) in Nairobi, Kenya. “The stadium was full. Stunning! The children, the singing, the music, the praise, the Word. Wow, wow, wow! ‘Thank you Lord. Revive us again across the world.’ “Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed.” Where’s Commissioner Miriam Gluyas? She’s in there somewhere with other delegates at the International Conference of Leaders. The 120 ICL delegates – The Salvation Army’s most senior leaders from around the world – were greeted by more than 9000 Kenyan Salvationists praising God,  a 400-voice youth choir, and a 200-strong timbrel brigade as they arrived at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi last Sunday for the welcome worship service . This event featured high-energy dance, cheering, singing and music as the outdoor arena came alive with praise and thanksgiving to God. “As I greet you this morning in the beautiful and powerful name of Jesus,” General Buckingham said, “I thank you for your commitment to Christ. I thank you for your commitment to holy living. I thank you for your commitment to sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus. “And in greeting you this morning, I’m praying God’s blessing on you – on all of you, on all of us!” General Lyndon Buckingham greets the congregation that packed a stadium in Nairobi. (Right) A timbrel brigade in full display during the service. Later in his message, the General challenged the crowd: “We live under the umbrella of God’s love, compassion and faithfulness. In so doing, we shine like stars in the universe. As a people of hope, we dispense hope to others. “As recipients of God’s love towards us, we become dispensers of God’s love to each other, and to others. As we have received compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness, so we demonstrate these virtues to others.” As delegates arrived back at the conference venue, some of the delegates shared freely about their experience. (See video reel below) The ICL is a periodic gathering convened by the General and the Chief of Staff – a space for territorial commanders and senior officers to pray, share insights from their regions, and discern the movement’s direction together. This is where global strategy and priorities take shape. For the first time in the conference’s history, the ICL is being held on African soil. Nearly half of all Salvation Army soldiers worldwide are in Africa, as well as a third of all officers. The movement is thriving. The conference runs from 21-28 March. READ MORE:   New, schedules, photos and more from the 2026 ICL

As a Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant at Hamilton Salvos, Mark Thomas, also a sheep farmer, knows firsthand how tough it is to live through a drought.​​ BY LERISSE SMITH   Every few weeks, Mark Thomas drives up to the one hill on his sheep farm in regional Victoria, switches off the engine, and has a bit of a chat with God.   There’s no script, no ritual, no polished prayer for this farmer, Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant at Hamilton Salvos. Just an important, much-needed chat.   On the agenda?   “It can be anything,” he reflects. “I ask for rain, but I also ask for the ability to get through this dry period.”   The special prayer time isn’t a symbolic gesture. It’s survival.   Across his beloved South Grampians community and Western Victoria, many farmers are in crisis, caught in a perfect storm of drought, skyrocketing costs, critical water shortages, and an inability to pay their workers. Some are hanging on. Others are barely holding on by a thread.   “It’s hand to mouth, week to week,” says Mark. “It’s just about trying to get through.”   And in the midst of it all, the Salvos have become a vital lifeline.   Providing practical, emotional and spiritual support, Mark and his team work tirelessly to help their community do more than just survive.   Meet Mark, and it’s immediately apparent he’s totally dedicated to helping and supporting his deeply valued rural community. When they hurt, he hurts. Living out the Salvos’ core values, including compassion and respect, is a top priority.   Support for farmers comes in whatever form is needed – from food to furniture.   “We deliver food to workers on farms because the farmers can’t give them enough money,” he says.   “They will still work the hours, but the farms are not paying their workers because they just can’t afford to – and the workers want to work, they want to keep their jobs. But they’re not being paid because there’s just no money to do that. So, we support them with anything from furniture through to food – anything they need. We try and find it and give it to them.” Every few weeks, Mark Thomas drives up to the one hill on his sheep farm in regional Victoria, switches off the engine - and has a bit of a chat with God. “I ask for rain, but I also ask for the ability to get through this dry period,” he says. Farmers doing it tough who may not have workers because they’re smaller farms need support too. The Salvos help with food, clothing and bedding, whatever items are needed. Celebrating the Christmas season and presents for children are not forgotten either.   “When we find a need, we try to help them with that need,” says Mark. “They may even need advice because I’ve been a farmer for 40 years. I’ve got experience and if they’re unsure about something, I try to give them some assistance if I can.”   The stories he shares across the farming and local community are sobering.   One farming worker has gone from five days a week to two, and he doesn’t even get paid for those two. Instead, he might receive meat when livestock is processed, or the occasional cash when animals are sold.   Some rely on government support. Others refuse. Pride, independence, identity – these run deep in farming communities.   Then there’s what stays hidden.   “I have had farmers’ wives come in, who do the books for their farm, and have asked me not to tell their husbands (whom I don’t know) that they don’t have enough money to feed their family that week and asked if I could help,” Mark explains. “They are afraid their husbands would not handle it well.”   It’s a hardship he understands firsthand.   He has been running his sheep farm for four decades. His largest dam is at its lowest level since it was built 80 years ago. A kind of low not just measured in water, but in worry.   The pressures facing many farmers are being shaped by forces far beyond the farm gate. Global events such as fuel price spikes and conflict overseas are being felt more sharply than in most places.   “I hope and pray that this fuel price hike will be short-lived,” he emphasises.   “With no other options to send or receive goods to and from rural areas, it will make it incredibly difficult for those trying to survive with all costs rising: insurance, living expenses, equipment, motor vehicles, farming parts, oil, chemicals, school fees, labour and more.”   It may seem insurmountable.   “For many farmers, spending has been cut, and there is nothing else to cut,” he adds.   “It is leading to many sleepless nights and looking for other options that can lead to environmental degradation and long-term damage … When it comes down to it, if primary producers are doing it tough, it means we will all do it tough because we all have to eat!”   Mark is a fifth-generation farmer. Wool is their main income. His son is the sixth, carrying the load with four other jobs just to keep things afloat. Together, they keep the farm alive, running about 1200 sheep – less than half the property’s carrying capacity.   “Because of the drought, we’ve had to sell off a lot of our stock so we can keep the ones we can breed from,” he says. “It is very hard to see a future for the next generations.” Not only does Mark work for the Salvos, but he’s a fifth-generation farmer. Due to the drought, they have had to sell off a lot of their stock so they can keep the ones they can breed from.  (Image supplied of the sheep)   And the tough fact is that legacy doesn’t pay rising bills. The numbers tell the story – his insurance has doubled from $10,000 to $20,000.   When farms struggle, entire communities feel it. Workers lose hours, then wages, then certainty. Local businesses empty out.   Even the small industrial estates tell the story.   A recent visit to a factory block revealed not one of the doors open: “I’d been to the factory before and you couldn’t even get a car park,” Mark remarked. “This time, there was only one other car in the six factories ... it just shows you how much things have gone down.”   Underground water levels are also dropping dramatically. To put a bore down costs a farmer $30,000 to $40,000.   While helplines are offered as another formal support to farmers, they are rarely used. Instead, they rely on families. There’s the pub culture too, though fewer people are turning up these days.   The end result? The strain is often absorbed quietly, internally, often invisibly. Nothing replaces rain. Nothing beats green grass in a paddock.   Yet farmers keep going, doing what they’ve always done: they hope. In his role as Hamilton Salvos Community Engagement Worker and Ministry Assistant, Mark (left) has worked tirelessly with good friend, Anthony Bolden, who initiated the Tins in the Bin project, to save lives across Victoria’s Southern Grampians district through the provision of essential food relief and material aid. “They’re just hoping that they will be good around the corner,” Mark emphasises. “That things will change. They know the weather won’t stay like this forever.”   And faith, too, surfaces in unexpected ways.   “God and the Salvos do come up in conversation,” he says. “They will say: “I don’t know why God has put us in this position,” or “Why doesn’t he send rain?’ They don’t talk about it overly, but they do open the door occasionally.”   But Mark doesn’t pretend to have answers.   “Normally, when somebody brings that up, I say, “Well, I don’t know God’s plans, but I know that, in the end, it will be for good.” They don’t blame God – but they just want to know when he is going to help?”   Faith is also less about explanation and more about endurance.   “In my prayers every night, I ask for wisdom in all of this,” he says. “I believe there is a purpose in everything.”   So, what keeps him going?   “God,” he says simply, “It’s really only through his strength I can do any of it. I don’t think I’m qualified to do any of it. But he strengthens me and guides me in everything I do. I rely on him for everything.”    Across Mark’s beloved South Grampians community and Western Victoria, many farmers are in crisis, caught in a perfect storm of drought, skyrocketing costs, critical water shortages, and an inability to pay their workers. Some are hanging on. Others are barely holding on by a thread. Mark’s property is not immune (pictured) to the drought. He’s praying for rain – and the ability to get through the dry period.

This beautiful animation is an invitation to come and experience God’s Unshakeable Love this Easter. His love reaches beyond pain and failure; it is limitless, personal and unbreakable. This Easter, come and experience this love revealed to us in Jesus – the Saviour of the world!

Attending the launch of the new partnership were Major Brendan Nottle (Project 614 Team Leader), Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten (The University of Canberra’s Vice-Chancellor and President), Professor Rachel Gibson (Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health at UC), Professor Tanya Lawlis (University of Canberra) and Major Sandra Nottle (Corps Officer Project 614).  BY LERISSE SMITH   Frontline workers supporting some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable community members are set to benefit from a groundbreaking partnership between The Salvation Army’s Melbourne Project 614 and the University of Canberra.   The pioneering alliance will transform community training and support for frontline workers and volunteers, launching a tailored educational pathway in May designed to strengthen and sustain the Project 614 workforce as it continues to recruit and train new staff and volunteers.   Through the partnership, Project 614 employees and volunteers – who work with people experiencing homelessness, isolation, poor health, and complex social barriers – will now have the opportunity to upskill with a Professional Certificate in Foundations for Working and Volunteering in Community Organisations . It is designed to equip workers with the knowledge, skills and confidence required for effective frontline community work.   “We are very excited about the partnership,” said Project 614 Team Leader Major Brendan Nottle, as he reflected on the pilot initiative.   “It is a fairly unique partnership that’s happening. It has been an exciting journey during the past 12 months where the academics that we have been working with, Professor Rachel Gibson and Professor Tanya Lawlis, have been genuinely excited to learn about The Salvation Army’s history, culture and values.   “I think their excitement has actually made our team excited again about our history and our culture, which we should be really proud of as Salvos.” Bill Shorten (left) officially launched the innovative project, which Major Brendan Nottle said was quite a unique concept. The University of Canberra’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten, officially launched the innovative project on 10 March at ‘The Temple’ at The Salvation Army’s premises in Bourke St, Melbourne.   Optimism filled the room as a large crowd celebrated the new venture with the University of Canberra’s (UC) Faculty of Health and Salvation Army employees co-designing the course to ensure the units blend academic expertise with lived practice directly drawn from the work undertaken at Project 614.   The Salvos team involved Brendan, his wife (Corps Officer Major Sandra Nottle), Project 614 Senior Operations Manager Richard Parker and Project 614 Café Supervisor Matthew Daniels.   Major Brendan Nottle with Project 614 Café Supervisor Matthew Daniels. “Project 614 and UC are strengthening the capacity of the sector, supporting emerging service hubs across Victoria, and creating a pathway that will prepare community workers for the next decade of service,” said Professor Shorten.   “This partnership is more than an educational initiative – it is an investment in people, in community, and in the future of compassionate care.”   And the demand for services is rising.   Brendan said the co-designed Professional Certificate would give Project 614 staff and volunteers the tools they needed to act swiftly, confidently and with compassion.   “This tailored course means our team can respond faster, more safely, and with greater care, so no one slips through the cracks,” he said.   “Training that mirrors real conditions leads to tangible results: earlier identification of health issues, smoother referrals and better continuity of care. That’s how a course becomes a catalyst for community-level change.”   For more than a decade, Melbourne Project 614 has been at the frontline of community support. A large crowd gathered to celebrate an exciting new partnership between The Salvation Army's Project 614 and the University of Canberra at the Salvo's premises in Bourke St, Melbourne.   Since 2011, the Magpie Nest Café at 69 Bourke Street has been offering free meals, creating a safe space where individuals can find dignity, connection and practical assistance.   The café has evolved into a unique integrated services hub, bringing multiple organisations together under one roof to meet people where they are and remove barriers to essential health and disability supports.   As demand for these services grows, the opening of a new café in Footscray and increasing interest from local councils to establish similar cafes in their own areas highlight the need for a strong, skilled workforce more than ever.   And Professor Shorten has long championed the work of Project 614.   “Project 614 has been doing great work in the community,” he said.   “They have extensive knowledge and understanding of the needs of the communities, so a partnership to deliver an education pathway solution was a logical next step to meet their workforce needs.   “This partnership will build a sustainable, skilled workforce that can support individuals with dignity and professionalism. The one-stop-shop model is guiding similar initiatives across Victoria, and I’m hopeful that with a solid training pathway, it can act as a blueprint for frontline community work across the country.”   Brendan praised the University of Canberra leadership for turning “an idea into a living, breathing pathway for change”.   “The passion of the University of Canberra team has been extraordinary,” he said. “Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Professor Rachel Gibson, and Professor Tanya Lawlis have brought rigour and heart in equal measure, and Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten has championed this work from the top.” Click through the slideshow below for more photos from the event:     ​​ ​​

Each week through 2026, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for the same territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week ( 23-29 March ) we pray for The Salvation Army in the Italy and Greece Territory.   The Italy and Greece Territory has 33 officers (21 active, 12 retired); 7 Envoys; 14 corps; 217 senior soldiers; 89 adherents; 23 junior soldiers; 32 employees.   Lieut-Colonels Andrew and Darlene Morgan lead the territory. The work of the region includes: ·      Homelessness services ·      Modern slavery and human trafficking response.   The leaders of this territory have shared the following points to guide us as we pray: Specifically for Greece We give thanks for the dedication of officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers. Please pray for the ongoing ministry of the Green Light Projec t in Athens, as The Salvation Army’s presence continues in Greece. Pray for all aspects of the closures of the corps in Athens and Thessaloniki over the coming months: for spiritual and practical care for those who frequent the corps, the transition of officers to new appointments, property logistics, and legal matters. Pray for the Lord’s guidance for any re-pioneering in the future. Specifically for Italy We give thanks for a successful Angel Tree initiative during the end of last year. Many nationwide businesses partnered with corps, centres, and Salvationists to bring gifts to nearly 400 children in need across nine communities. Pray that relationships with families will be nurtured and will bear life-changing and spiritual fruit. Pray that community support for the vulnerable, and that The Salvation Army, will continue to develop. Please pray for the Men’s Rallies that will be held in the north and south of Italy on 11 and 18 April which are designed to encourage reflection, discussion, and personal growth. Pray that men will be encouraged to be visible and vocal pillars of faith in their families and communities. Please pray for final preparations for the Women’s Retreat being held 30 May – 02 June. Pray that God will prepare a way for the women he desires to be present. Pray that families and communities of Italy will be transformed through the Spirit’s work in the lives of women. Pray for those whom God is calling to full time ministry. We also pray for the wellbeing of officers and leaders, many of whom have multiple roles and appointments. Pray for wisdom, Jesus-centred and mission-centred priorities, and joy! Pray for the ongoing transformation of the territory’s largest social centre in Rome, as buildings receive certification, vulnerable individuals are once again received, and qualified staff are hired for this ministry of compassion and care. And pray that the ongoing implementation of the territorial strategic plan will sharpen ministry priorities and bear the fruit of more individuals, families and communities being transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To find out more about the Italty and Greece Territory, click here . To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here . To download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here .