Having fun at the official cutting of the ribbon (from left), Josh Burns (Federal Member for Macnamara),  Joel Frederick (Regional Operations Manager, Mirvac), Commissioner Miriam Gluyas,  Stuart Penklis (Mirvac’s CEO of Development, Residential and Commercial Mixed-Use), Rachel Westaway (Member of Prahan, State Parliament of Victoria), Justin Halliday (Alma Ward, City of Port Phillip) and Major Narelle Jacobsen. BY LERISSE SMITH   A dynamic fusion of passion, vision and an unshakeable community spirit shone brightly at the official unveiling of the newly renovated facilities at The Well at St Kilda Chapel.   More than 70 guests, including Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Colonel Kelvin Merrett, Colonel Winsome Merrett, MP Josh Burns and Rachel Westaway MP, gathered to celebrate the opening of the stunning transformation at The Salvation Army’s well-known Community of Hope in Melbourne on 13 June.   Photo books chronicling The Well’s journey were gifted to Mirvac and The Salvation Army. But the special celebration went beyond just speeches and ribbon-cutting.   Claude, a beloved community member, shared her powerful testimony and gifted the gathering with her voice over lunch in the garden – a reminder of what The Well offers: hope, healing and connection.   Claude shares her story at The Well. Major Narelle Jacobsen, Community Development Officer for St Kilda Chapel, said the space now stood as a testament to faith, perseverance and the generosity of many hands.   “Commissioner Mirriam summed it up,” she said. “Be The Hope . Mirvac – you are the hope.”    The Mirvac team delivered a new fully equipped kitchen for weekly meals and future cooking classes; added storage solutions and a community pantry supporting Doorways; upgraded the chapel with elegant cupboards; refreshed the paint and carpet; and created an outdoor room in the garden – now a sacred space for healing, prayer, and case work.   Stuart Penklis, Mirvac’s CEO of Development, Residential and Commercial Mixed-Use, said the company was passionate about the project.   “It is with great pride that we supported the renovation of The Well at St Kilda Chapel – a project that truly reflects Mirvac’s commitment to community, compassion, and craftsmanship,” he said.   “The Well is more than just a building; it’s a sanctuary where people from all walks of life can find connection and a sense of belonging.”   The journey began in August 2024, with Mirvac collaborating closely with Narelle and The Salvation Army team to determine the best way Mirvac could contribute.   They listened, they dreamed – and then they built.   “From there, our teams rallied together, contributing over 500 worker hours to complete the renovation in just five weeks,” Stuart said.   “An incredible effort made possible by the dedication of our project teams, trades, and generous partners. This project was never just about construction – it was about enhancing a place that will continue to serve and uplift the St Kilda community for years to come. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our subcontractors, suppliers and, of course, our very talented and passionate Mirvac Construction team.”  Pictured in the garden of The Well to celebrate the official opening of the renovations (from left), Stuart Penklis, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Major Narelle Jacobsen, Colonel Kelvin Merrett, Josh Burns, Colonel Winsome Merrett, Rachel Westaway and Justin Halliday.  The roots of The Well run deep.   Seven years ago, Narelle was appointed Community Development Officer for St Kilda Chapel. The chapel doors closed to begin something new – a place called The Well.   “With a small team and a lot of prayer, a vision was born: to create a warm, welcoming space for the isolated and hurting – a home away from home,” she reflected.   “Out of this vision came Harvest of Love @ The Well, where people could connect over nourishing meals, learn to grow food, and find healing for body and soul. What began with a tiny, unequipped kitchen soon grew into a dream for something more. After COVID delayed building plans, hope remained. ‘God will provide,’ one team member said – and God did.”   Major Narelle Jacobsen addresses the guests at the official opening. In August 2023, during a visit from The Salvation Army national board, Miriam heard about the kitchen’s need and reached out to Stuart. He visited The Well in July 2024 and was deeply moved by the vision.   The wheels then started turning.   Soon after Stuart’s visit, Mirvac’s ‘A Team’, consisting of Joel Frederick, Leigh, Ben and Chris, brought the dream to life.   Narelle said the team had delivered a fully functional, beautiful kitchen where community meals were lovingly prepared each week, with cooking classes soon to begin.     “Joel and Leigh didn’t stop there,” she remarked. They asked, “What else can we do to help?” The inside of the newly renovated outdoor room. From much-needed storage solutions came new storage cupboards and a community pantry used by our Doorways (emergency relief) program. Then, with a fresh coat of paint and carpet, they helped bring our Community Hub back to life!”   In the chapel, elegant new cupboards were installed to store chairs, freeing up valuable space, and in the peaceful garden, a new outdoor room was created.   “This outdoor nook has become a sacred and intimate space where people can receive support, healing, and hope,” Narelle explained. “It will also accommodate our new case worker and continues to be a space where prayer requests are received and faithfully lifted up.”   As part of the official opening celebration, Narelle also said an extra special thank you to all their volunteers, whose heart and time continued to nourish their community of hope: “You are the heartbeat of The Well!” she told the attendees. Salvation Army staff and official guests gathered inside to admire the new renovations at The Well including (from left), Ben Field (Senior Site Manager, LIV Albert), Leigh Gianopoulos (Senior Project Manager, LIV Albert), Colonel Winsome Merrett, Major Narelle Jacobsen, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Colonel Kelvin Merrett (all Salvation Army), Jonathan Tuer (Regional Operations Manager, Mirvac), Chris Nixon, (Senior Project Engineer, LIV Albert), Joel Frederick (Regional Operations Manager, Mirvac) and Stuart Penklis (Mirvac’s CEO of Development, Residential and Commercial Mixed-Use).

New research from The Australia Institute revealed this year that 600,000 Australian children, some as young as 12, are gambling, spending more than $18 million a year – nearly one-third of all 12 to 17-year-olds across the country. It is taking hold across Australia – from bedrooms and bus stops to backyards and basketball courts. Gambling is invading young lives, luring hundreds of thousands of children with flashy games and the illusion of easy money. But the Salvos’ Gambling Support Service is sounding the alarm and cutting through the hype to reveal the true cost. In Part 2 of her series on gambling harms, Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH spoke with the team to discover its mission to protect young lives – and the growing, silent epidemic. READ MORE: Part 1 – Gambling Support Service – new name, same committed service It was a shocking statistic that could not be ignored.  Hitting headlines for all the wrong reasons, new research from The Australia Institute revealed in April this year that 600,000 Australian children, some as young as 12, are gambling, spending more than $18 million a year – nearly one-third of all 12 to 17-year-olds across the country. And primary school-aged children are not immune, with increasing exposure via social media, video games, phone gambling apps and sometimes, their own families.    Still, there is reason to hope.  Leading the charge is the Salvos’ Gambling Support Service team, which works actively in Melbourne’s City and Inner North areas to tackle the issue with schools, families, and the wider community.  “Children are involved in gambling and are often starting at a young age,” said Kirrily Mitchell, Community Engagement Practitioner with the Salvos’ Gambling Support Service. “So much so that teens are now more likely to bet on sport, rather than play it, according to The Australia Institute study. There is a real linkage in people gambling at quite a young age, even though they are under 18, and having been exposed to gambling-like aspects in many online games … and that is always a real worry for people being able to access gambling, even when they are legally not meant to.” Kirrily Mitchell, Community Engagement Practitioner with the Salvos’ Gambling Support Service, says children who feel good about themselves are far less likely to turn to excessive gambling, drugs or alcohol for a boost.  Gambling influences are now common on YouTube and other social media platforms, with extensive exposure for kids and adolescents to the whole gambling world through many different avenues.  The introduction to it occurs very early on.  The whole gaming scene can really contribute to gambling harm later on, Kirrily commented, let alone the relentless gambling ads that are everywhere on socials, on free-to-air TV and around game stadiums.  The Community Engagement Practitioner spends part of her role visiting secondary schools, as well as community and industry groups, to raise awareness about gambling and its harms, with primary school-aged children in her sights too.  With gambling advertising saturated in Australia’s media landscape, Kirrily says talking with children about online games is also critical, especially because so many are laced with elements that mimic gambling.  ‘Loot boxes’ in many online games are a key example – deceptively innocent reward systems that are, in essence, gambling in disguise.  “They are a really stark example of what it is like,” she remarked. “This is early-onset, saturation in getting kids exposed to gambling through things like that.”  And it doesn’t stop at loot boxes. Some popular online games have let players walk into virtual casinos to play games such as blackjack – complete with the thrills and promise of winning money – but without any of the warnings.   It all adds up to children often making countless microtransactions, with the line between gaming and gambling never more dangerously blurred.  That is why the free, Department of Health-funded program titled ‘Be Ahead of the Game’, teaches children to think critically about the intertwined world of gaming and gambling – and how to recognise the traps, the relentless advertising impacts, and the subtle incentives pushing them to spend.   The mission is clear: to show students they don’t have to gamble if they don’t want to.  The main message is that if someone chooses to gamble when over 18, including adults, maybe buying a Tatts ticket for fun once or twice a year, that is fine. But it must be within their means, without chasing losses. Feeling in control is key, whether it’s gaming or gambling, and not to be controlled by addiction.  Children are involved in gambling and are often starting at a young age says the Salvos Gambling Support Service. The program also champions good mental health and normalises early help-seeking behaviours.  Kirrily noted that everyone has ups and downs, and while people seek to feel good in different ways, it is vital that they don’t feel ashamed to ask for help. Encouraging young people to reach out early to services such as Headspace or Beyond Blue can prevent greater struggles later on.  One key message is driven home to students, simple yet striking.  “Because we have so much unregulated gambling advertising and the fact that children have got a casino in their pocket now, with their mobile phone, they are encouraged to and have access to gambling content,” she emphasised.  “They can access sports betting anytime online. They can often get around the whole age thing. So, we tell them – look, there is this whole world of promotion, and of showing people winning, through gambling influencers online sites and the like ... It’s all highly glamorised and shown to be fun. We are just saying, hey, be aware that, in general, you will always lose more than you win.”  The program tackles myths head-on, highlighting the real financial, emotional and social costs of gambling.  Ultimately, the goal is not prohibition – it is awareness. Informed choices. And helping the students feel like they are in control.  Guest speakers with lived experience of gambling harm are also often part of these immersive school sessions. Students are encouraged to think about the ripple effects – relationship breakdowns, mental and physical health issues, falling behind at school, or losing sight of balance in their lives.  “We really try and help them be aware of the warning signs,” emphasised Kirrily. “Not only for themselves, but for others that they might know.” Parents and teachers also play a crucial role. Kirrily’s advice is to stay engaged, ask questions, and be curious, while remaining non-judgmental and supportive when kids share their feelings. She encourages parents to understand what’s going on and learn how they can help, including talking openly with their children and showing interest in what they’re doing or playing, making it easier for kids to open up. One confronting fact she shares with kids and adults is just how much Australians lose to gambling: a staggering $32 billion a year.  “People don’t realise it can be a very silent harm,” she explained. “Because people don’t say, ‘Oh, I just lost $100,000.’ They might tell you, ‘Oh, I’ve won $50,’ but they don’t usually tell you about their losses, generally. And so, it’s hidden. People don’t realise that we lose the most in the world to gambling, per capita.”  A core message also delivered is the protective power of self-esteem.  Gambling influences are now common on YouTube and other social media platforms, with extensive exposure for kids and adolescents to the whole gambling world through many different avenues. Children who feel good about themselves are far less likely to turn to excessive gambling, drugs or alcohol for a boost.  “We are really trying to instil grassroots good mental health habits around – let’s feel good about what we are doing,” Kirrily said. “Let’s feel in control. And if we are not, let’s talk about it, or let’s ask someone, or let’s figure out what we can do so that we don’t feel compelled to buy these loot boxes or make excessive micro transactions, or to go to overseas gambling sites.”  Safety is front and centre too.  Many parents don’t realise the average online gamer in Australia is a 34-year-old male. Children often believe they are playing with peers – but that’s not always the case. Salvos Gambler’s Help Therapeutic Counsellor, Andy Brydon, echoed Kirrily’s concerns, warning that children as young as 12 are being introduced to gambling at an alarming rate. He said it often begins in school WhatsApp groups, where sports betting is normalised, sometimes with access to parents’ credit cards or through bypassing age restrictions altogether.  Gambling ads are designed to appeal to young minds – fast-paced, colourful, gamified, and backed by celebrities. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch amplify the appeal, with influencers live-streaming gambling sessions, often sponsored by betting companies and curated to look like big wins are the norm.  Video games, especially those containing loot boxes, are a key part of the problem.   Link: New mandatory minimum classifications for gambling-like games content | Australian Classification Andy also noted how vulnerable adolescent brains are: their reward systems develop before their ability to assess risk. That imbalance makes teens especially susceptible to addictions. And early exposure can lead to lifelong struggles – with substance use, anxiety, depression and poor concentration among the risks.   Yet, despite the dangers, both Andy and Kirrily see hope.  Just as society shifted attitudes toward tobacco and alcohol, gambling can be tackled, too. Reduced advertising, increased education, and breaking down stigma and help-seeking shame are all crucial steps. Parents have a vital role too: monitoring online influences, staying educated and having these conversations with their kids in a non-judgmental, encouraging way. Similarly, schools and governments promote awareness campaigns, regulation, and support services.   And there is a growing openness among younger generations, especially in the wake of COVID, to talk about mental health and seek help, Andy commented.  Kirrily agreed, adding that one of the most effective safeguards was to help kids find joy in their everyday lives – and feel comfortable in their own skin.  “I know it sounds really simple, but feeling happier in their day-to-day life, so they don’t need it (excessive gaming or gambling) so much,” she explained. “They do want to do more things with their friends and get out and about – they inherently want that balance in life – they don’t want to just sit in their room on their own all day and game excessively or gamble, to get that thrill they are not getting in other ways.”  Looking ahead, she hopes the primary school uptake of the Department of Health’s ‘Be Ahead of the Game’ program,  The Bridge,  designed for younger children, will bring these crucial conversations into primary schools.  “The earlier, the better, with anything to do with setting up good mental health habits,” Kirrily says. “It’s so much easier to get to kids when they are younger, and they haven’t formed all these strong views or habits … with the aim of helping them feel they are in control of what they are doing – so they can start and stop when they want and not feel at the mercy of excessive gaming, gambling or all the gambling ads.”  While gambling may be woven into the fabric of Australian life, momentum for change is building – from tighter restrictions on advertising and gaming classifications to public awareness.  “It is one step at a time,” she commented. “And little by little, more people will hopefully start to feel more in control of their gambling – doing it occasionally for a bit of fun if they wish to, but always feeling able to slow down, or stop, when it stops becoming fun and starts becoming a miserable obsession.”

To read the Promoted to Glory notice for Tom, click here

Beyond the Wire is a holistic case management program that supports men and women in pre- and post-release incarceration. “The true underlying purpose of the program is to change lives. Helping people reconnect with society, acknowledging them as human beings with the right to walk the street and have a happy life, the same as everyone else” (John Stubley). In this short documentary, John Stubley (State Development Manager, Salvation Army Homelessness Tasmania), Ian Wilkinson (Case Manager for The Salvation Army) and Alesha share their unique perspectives on what the program looks like, how it is journeying with people in real and honest ways and how it is providing a safe and permanent address for people to call home.

Major Darren Kingston tries out his new Australia green and gold basketball singlets before heading off to the world championships.  BY LAUREN MARTIN   If you know Salvation Army officer Major Darren Kingston, you’ll know he loves basketball. And Jesus! And people!   So, he sees it as a huge blessing to have those three loves combined in an opportunity to represent Australia at the World Maxibasketball Championships this month in Switzerland.   Maxibasketball, also known as ‘Masters’ basketball, is  a competitive form of basketball specifically designed for older players, typically those aged 35 and over.   “Green and gold – it’s going to be so exciting!” says Darren, who is the Team Leader at the Salvos’ Macquarie Fields Mission in western Sydney. “There will be a village and an opening ceremony where you get to walk in with your Australian team, it will be so amazing to be part of that.”   Darren is flying out today to the Ticino region of Switzerland as part of the Australian team competing in the FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship (over 50s category).   He has been playing basketball since childhood, and his passion for the game has never wavered, even passing it on to his two sons, Josh and Ben. Darren and his two sons (far right) and the Salvo Slammers basketball team in Sydney that played before a Sydney Kings NBL game last year. “I have two boys, and, not surprisingly, I’ve raised them to love basketball as well,” Darren says. “I’ve had the privilege of playing on the same team with them, and it was a fantastic moment when we won a championship together. “Also, while I was serving in an appointment in Newcastle (NSW), I got invited to be a chaplain for the Hunter Pirates team in the Australian National Basketball League. That was a great experience.”   Age hasn’t held Darren back from competing, and he now plays in Australian Masters tournaments. Last year, he heard that a national team was being assembled for the world championships, and he was invited to try out. “And I got in!” he laughs.    Wherever Darren goes, he asks Jesus to show him opportunities for ministry. Those in his basketball circles are aware that he is a chaplain and Salvation Army officer, and he has had unique opportunities to pray and come alongside people.  Darren says he will also be representing The Salvation Army and Jesus in Switzerland.  “We had a situation on the Gold Coast once where there was a player in his 80s who had a heart attack on court, and he was lying there for a long time. I went over and just started praying for him, and he ended up coming back to life.   “A lot of times people get hurt, they might hurt a particular muscle, and I will go over and say, ‘Can I pray for you about your injury?’”   Darren has bought a number of small Bibles and has had his testimony printed and placed inside. He looks forward to meeting new people from around the world in Switzerland and sharing God’s word with them.   And, of course, he’s looking forward to getting on court to represent his country in green and gold. Keep Darren in your prayers as he competes from 27 June to 6 July.   Darren departing Sydney today, bound for the World Maxibasketball Championships in Switzerland.

Rebecca Wilson (left) with colleagues Mitch and Neena. The Salvation Army Family Violence Team in Gippsland, Victoria, runs the Integrated Men’s Group, which focuses on supporting men who choose to engage in violence within intimate-partner relationships. Salvos Online journalist ANTHONY CASTLE spoke to Rebecca Wilson, the Integrated Men’s Services Team Leader, about the group’s vital work in helping men unpack shame while safeguarding victim-survivors.   The men’s group sounds like a unique program with a lot at stake. How does it operate?   The men’s group comprises 10 to 14 men, meeting face-to-face during the day or as an online group in the evening. Our group work is facilitated by a male and female to role model healthy, respectful relationships. Our focus is to keep victim-survivors safe and mitigate the use of violence, whilst providing support and family violence education to the men and Family Safety Contact (FSC) to the partner or ex-partner(s).   We have contact with victim-survivors and current partners through an FSC worker. This is mandatory and ensures family members and partners are aware of what is occurring in the group space in relation to content, and to offer support for them as family violence victim-survivors. Having FSC also ensures that we have a clear lens on the family and the experience of all victim-survivors. The men who are participating are often living with their families, including children or extended families.   The group is the only one of its kind delivered by the Salvos in Australia. What models and methods does it employ?   The group space encourages peer discussion and provides psychoeducation about family violence and the impacts of family violence on victim-survivors, both adults and children. We adapt the delivery of content to what the men’s life experiences have been with consideration of mental health, incarceration, AOD, education levels and cognitive ability. The content is reviewed before each group session to ensure that it is delivered in a way that addresses what the men are bringing into the space and their use of violence within their relationships, historic or current.   The Duluth model underpins our work, and we apply an intersectional lens to our modes of delivering content. We consider trauma history and life experiences. These experiences by no means excuse any use of violence in relationships. Many people have life experiences that have been traumatic and don’t use violence.    Men referred may have criminal histories coupled with family violence, unsupported mental health complexities, along with alcohol and other drug use. We are working with families that may have experienced intergenerational violence and unhealthy role modelling. Families are often intact and residing together, unlike other specialist family violence programs such as Family Violence Case Management. What’s at stake is the safety and lives of the victim-survivors.   What types of men do you see coming to the group?   The cohort is quite varied. They can be men who are interested in making a change and are motivated to make different decisions about their behaviour. We have men who are corrections clients, professionals, and men who have been incarcerated. Not all of the men are motivated. Even if they’re mandated to be in the group by an order from Corrections or Child Protection, there is often resistance. We discuss what’s happened within their families, the use of violence, and assess their capacity to take on the information and reflection in the group setting. It can be quite confronting for some of our men, as they have often never had these types of direct conversations.   Hearing how they have hurt those close to them must be confronting. How do they process that?   We often get a minimisation of the behaviour and the use of violence. We give them the opportunity to tell their story, we listen, and we ensure we’re not colluding with them. We will put a boundary in place around language or behaviour. We are very transparent about expectations. We will challenge a client and push back on victim blaming or a skewed version of events. We need to gauge how they respond and be able to manage this in a safe manner for all involved in the group space.   What’s the risk of delving into such hard conversations? What can it bring up for the men, for their families?   Our men can be very vulnerable, as the reflection and understanding of the violence used in their relationships develops. This can increase risk to themselves, including self-harm, and the risk to families. The men are having first-time conversations about the impact of their behaviour. We often hear the phrase “not wanting to be like my old man”. The realisation that the use of violent behaviours is like what they experienced as a child from their own “old man” has a huge impact, bringing shame and guilt.   We are very aware of the impacts this can bring to the men and ensure they are supported, with referrals to ongoing appropriate services if needed and safety planning is completed with clients. We are constantly assessing risk to the families whilst working with the men in group to ensure we are aware of and mitigating risk.   What’s the key to managing that shame and guilt? How do you bring someone who has been violent through that journey, safely to the other side?   Guilt is going to keep you repeating a behaviour. Shame can be paralysing and inhibit change. We have a safety plan about the men’s behaviour, the new emotions that group work may bring, and any thoughts or feelings that may come from these discussions. We discuss body signs, the impact of emotions on your body. What to do if things become overwhelming and having the ability to make a different decision about behaviour in the moment, such as removing yourself or having a plan in place and agreed to with a partner, before things blow up.   The men are offered a space in group to reflect on their violent behaviour used, and the tools to make change. This is done in a respectful, non-judgmental and supportive manner to strive for safe and positive outcomes for the families we work with.

Each week throughout 2025, Salvationists worldwide are uniting in prayer for a specific territory or region of The Salvation Army.   The focus territory/region shares prayer requests to help us pray with precision and power for one another.   This week (23-29 June) we are praying for the Sweden and Latvia Territory.   Australia’s Captain Kathleen Johansson at the recent Academy on the Integration of Migrants and Refugees in the Baltic Countries 2025-26. Australian officer (now part of the Sweden and Latvia Territory), Captain Kathleen Johansson, currently serves in Riga, Latvia’s capital .   The Sweden and Latvia Territory has 278 officers (135 active, 143 retired); cadets 2; employees 1140; corps 78; outposts and societies 7; senior soldiers 2759; adherents 2385; junior soldiers 167.   Colonels Bo and Christina Jeppsson lead the territory.   Praise and prayers for the Sweden and Latvia Territory.   Sweden Praise: ·       Praise God that we have seen a reversal of the trend and an increase of newly saved people, as well as increasing numbers of members and Salvation Army soldiers. We see that this positive trend is continuing. ·       Praise God for well-attended camps for children and young people. ·       Praise God for our training college for officers where we will welcome a new session of seven cadets in August. Pray for the school, which is fully occupied, and staff. Pray: ·       Pray for our conference week at Torp (a conference we have together with another church community in June). ·       Pray for the politicians' week Almedalen (Gotland, in June), where we participate with many seminars and lectures. ·       Pray for our National Scout Camp in July. ·       Pray for this summer's transfers of officers. ·       Pray for the governance board in their important strategy work for the territory. Latvia Praise: ·       Praise God for new commitments. Three senior soldiers and 13 junior soldiers enrolled so far this year with more to come! Eight new sergeants (local officers) recognised so far this year. Pray: ·       Pray for people to be saved and become disciples of Jesus. ·       Pray for young people to step up and become soldiers. ·       Pray for more officers. ·       Pray for the leaders and volunteers of our corps and centres as they provide a safe space for the vulnerable in their communities. ·       Pray for our young people who will attend the European Youth Event (EYE) in The Netherlands in August – that they will grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus and experience The Salvation Army outside of Latvia. To find out more about the Sweden and Latvia Territory, click here . To download the 2025 International Prayer Focus schedule, click here .

Photo courtesy Niu Niu on Unsplash BY ANTHONY CASTLE   I thought about my wrists recently. I had been asleep while travelling and was woken suddenly as the bus I was on came to a stop. Cars were parked alongside. Two figures boarded and walked a teenager from the bus. The vehicles outside were police. A parent began crying behind me, the boy under arrest. I watched him step off and noticed his wrists behind his back. They had put him in handcuffs.   I was travelling interstate to visit a friend last year. The teenager was repeatedly caught vaping during the long journey. After several warnings from the driver, the bus was met by police and the teenager was arrested. I had never seen a boy wearing handcuffs. I put my fingers to my wrist out of instinct, realising how it might feel. It felt vulnerable.   The criminalisation of young people has increasingly been a topic of late. Inquiries have considered the age at which it is appropriate to hold children and young people criminally responsible, to arrest them, to incarcerate them. States and territories have seen ‘law and order’ election campaigns, which promised to target “young offenders” in harsher ways. Australia finds itself again asking the question ‘ When does the justice system treat a child who offends like an adult?”   While the minimum age of criminal responsibility differs across the world and across different Australian jurisdictions, the standard set by the United Nations is 14. This is based on the rationale that children under 14 years do not have the cognitive capacity to commit an offence that arises to a criminal level. The minimum age of criminal responsibility is currently 12 in the Australian Capital Territory, but most states and territories retain 10 years of age, with 845 young people aged 10 and over incarcerated last year.   Locking up young people risks future offending, says Mieke Waters. “Young people who encounter the justice system are, more often than not, those who experience disadvantage,” explains Mieke Waters, Policy and Advocacy Advisor with The Salvation Army. “Locking up children and young people does not free communities from crime, and it does not make communities safer. In fact, our experience and evidence show that locking up young people risks future offending.”   The United Nations states that the incarceration of children increases the risk of crime and disadvantage, particularly for those who are most at risk. The Salvation Army supports a model where the minimum age of criminal responsibility is increased to a minimum of 14 years, without exception. Despite the evidence, children have been targeted in recent elections and ‘tough on crime’ campaigns in Australia, with leaders using slogans such as ‘adult crime, adult time’ .   “The current debates and increasingly punishment-oriented legislative amendments are both counterproductive and traumatic for young people,” Mieke says . “When young people are incarcerated, it drives them into further disadvantage. Our frontline services report that young people lose important elements of their life during and post-incarceration, which promote stability, leaving them with no money, no food, no stable accommodation and no supportive adult.”   A shift in governments across Australia is seeing increasingly hardline approaches to young people in the name of community safety, such as reintroducing spit hoods, or removing the use of detention as a last resort. Of the young people incarcerated in Australia, most are male, aged between 14 and 17 and are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. In treating children like criminals, these laws target those most at-risk, subjecting them to greater disadvantage, and increasing the likelihood of offending in adulthood.   I think again about that boy, the handcuffs on his wrists. That part of the joint is sometimes known as the ‘handcuff groove’, the indentation where the steel binders come together. Handcuffs are designed to target this joint, restricting reach and applying pressure to the nerves and bones. The wrist can move in almost any direction, but it is one of the most vulnerable joints in the body. What does it mean to target that vulnerable part of a child’s hands? What does it say about the law if we restrict their reach, if society locks them into place?   “Society often views young people as victims in need of protection, or villains that must be controlled,” says John Marion, Youth Specialist with The Salvation Army. “Which category you fall into often depends on your race and class to a large degree, and we treat them as either dangerous or vulnerable. They are the only class of people who have little choice or control over so many aspects of their lives.”   Growing up and experiencing disadvantage can present a range of risks. With the Government recently passing a social media ban for young people , it seems society is more comfortable with young people in prisons than on Facebook. We remain unsure of whether young people should be protected or punished. We want to see greater focus on supporting young people and families, says John Marion.  “People’s views on what to do with young people can be contradictory, but what do Christians believe is the transforming factor for young people?” says John. “We don’t think it’s punishment. We think it’s love. We’re not saying crime is ok, but if you want to see these lives transformed, then we need to offer loving community, not isolate and reject them as punishment.”   The Salvation Army’s Policy and Advocacy Team has engaged in consistent advocacy with governments across Australia to raise the age of criminal responsibility. The Salvation Army recommends implementing prevention, early intervention, and diversionary models to address the drivers of offending, with safeguarding children being a central component.   “We want to see greater focus on supporting young people and families with wraparound and collaborative responses,” says Mieke. “Engage them early and address the root causes of offending, rather than opting for invasive punishment-oriented responses. Diversionary models offer opportunities for flexible responses for those who engage in harmful behaviour from a younger age, whilst upholding the rights, dignity and acknowledging the unique experiences and cognitive capabilities of children and young people.   As United Nations representatives urge state parliaments to abandon ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws , these debates look set to continue, to continue targeting the most at-risk, locking them in place, in our own systems of disadvantage and detention.   The challenge remains not to protect young people as victims or punish them as criminals, but to drop the handcuffs altogether, support and love them as people in their own right.

Captain Paul Farthing is the Corps Officer at Shellharbour in NSW. An avid reader, Salvos Online asked Paul three book-related questions:   Besides the gospels and Psalms, which is your favourite book in the Bible and why? The book of Jude is not a comfortable read. Jude is brutal. Jude takes you by the shoulders and screams in your face. Jude is furious. Jude is out to get false teachers, those who try to sell us ideas that drag us away from the good news of Jesus Christ. He believes their teaching is empty; they are clouds with no rain; they are like the autumn tree; they bear no fruit. At this point, Jude gets really worked up; he says that not only do they not bear fruit, they have been pulled up by the root and are therefore “twice dead”. This is perhaps the sickest burn in the Bible.   It is likely that you have never read the book of Jude, you have probably never heard a sermon on the book of Jude, and this is understandable. Nobody wants to be told they are twice dead. But Jude is worthwhile. The trick is to accept the offence. Jude is kind of like Gordon Ramsay when he storms into a kitchen and criticises the soufflé, he is not gentle, but he knows what he is on about. A wise chef listens to Gordon even as he blusters at them – a wise Christian listens to Jude. I try to listen to Jude, he is brutal but helpful, and I really don’t want to end up twice dead.   Besides the Bible, what is a Christian book that has strongly influenced your faith? The Booth family wrote a lot of books on a lot of topics. I have read a bunch of them, and my favourite is Evangeline Booth’s Toward a Better World . I think it is a collection of sermons, but they don’t read like sermons. These are lyrical things. Evangeline doesn’t just preach on a topic; she makes poetry of it. Take this opening sentence to her sermon on the nativity (read it slow): “Out of the deepening darkness of the firmament, over a chill Eastern night, brilliant stars of diamond-like sparkling shot their lustre as the two weary travellers waited at the door of a village khan for an answer to their humble request for a night's shelter.” Wonderful.   One does learn things when reading Evangeline’s sermons, but most of all you behold things. Her long and loping ponderings lull you into prayerful meditation, and within that meditation you meet Jesus. She puts him in front of you, 10,000 feet high, glorious and glittering.   She says that Christ “has forged an inseverable link between man and God”, she calls heaven “the bright land without a hearse”, she says that Jesus’ love will “banish from our faces the gloom that sin has cast”, and when Evangeline says something is so, you cannot help but believe her.   What is a secular book that has revealed to you a Christian message or theme? Sally Rooney is a celebrated Irish novelist. At first, she wrote about love, but more recently, she has written about love and Jesus. My favourite was 2021’s Beautiful World Where Are? where two young women exchange letters on the two aforementioned topics. Neither identifies as Christian, but when Alice goes to mass – purely so she can spend time with her handsome love interest – she is struck by the depth and beauty of it all. She sees ordinary people lifting their hearts to the divine, she notices how Jesus is so unusually eager to forgive and wonders if she, too, could be forgiven. Later on, her friend Eileen says of Jesus, “I do love him, and I can’t even pretend that it’s only the same love I feel for Prince Myshkin, or for Charles Swann, or for Isabel ­Archer, (characters in her favourite novels). It is actually something different, a different feeling.” Rooney is often called “the voice of the millennials”, and here she depicts a generation who were raised outside the church but holds a yearning for what goes on within it. An article in The Critic notes that almost all reviewers ignored this part of Rooney’s writing, and the author wonders if the critics would rather pretend that the religious aspect of Rooney’s writing doesn’t exist.   We live in a world that tries to tell us nobody is interested in God anymore. But rest assured, dear Salvationist, people are more than interested in God. Beautiful World Where Are? tells us that we have a soul, and for him our soul yearns.   Some bonus Evangeline Booth ... Evangeline Booth, daughter of Catherine and William Booth, and the fourth General of The Salvation Army. “My calendar tells me that Spring is now already well on the way, and although heavy snow still covers the ground, as I look through my window I catch something of a cunningness in the sunshine that does not belong to Winter, and observe a fascinating, gauzelike sheen veiling the nakedness of tree branches, great tears falling from suspended icicles as though Jack Frost himself were crying over his departure being delayed. And, if you will believe me, on the crest of a bank of snow there is a little robin carrying an infinitesimal wisp of straw, while from the eaves his mate chirps soft murmurings, looking down upon him with mysterious and wistful glance.”

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I am currently serving as the Corps Officer at Bega Valley Salvation Army, alongside my husband, Henry. We live and minister here with our two children, Kaspar and Barbara-Jean. We are based on the stunning South Coast of NSW, where we wake up to the sound of the ocean, kangaroos in the yard, and, much to my dismay, some very large lizards! What I find most satisfying about this appointment is the variety. No two days look the same. We cover a wide area across the valley, and each place has its own unique needs. It’s a real privilege to meet people where they are and be present with them in those different spaces. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I love getting out in nature. We are surrounded by beautiful walks, views and natural wonders here, and it’s a great way to unwind. As a family, we also enjoy lawn bowls together, and at home, we have built up a pretty big board-game collection. There is always something to keep us entertained. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it?  One of my favourite Christian songs is ‘I Speak Jesus’. There is something powerful about declaring the name of Jesus over the things we face, our families, communities and struggles. One line that really stands out to me is ‘Your name is power, Your name is healing, Your name is life’ . It is a reminder of the hope and authority we have in Christ, and I often find myself coming back to it in both ministry and personal prayer. 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? I think I would choose Thomas – often remembered as ‘Doubting Thomas’. I really appreciate how honest he is in his questions. He didn’t just go along with what everyone else was saying; he wanted to see and understand for himself. That feels very human to me. I’d love to talk with him about how it felt to be in that space between doubt and faith, and what it was like when Jesus met him right in the middle of it. I think so many of us have moments like that where we want to believe but still have questions. Thomas reminds me that faith and doubt can sometimes sit side by side, and that Jesus doesn’t shame us for that. He shows up anyway.   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 probably say that it’s less about recommending officership itself and more about encouraging people to walk closely with God and follow where he leads. For some, that will be officership, and that is great. For others, it won’t be, and that’s great too. There is no one path to serving or living out your calling; God works through all kinds of roles and people in powerful ways.   Officership can open doors and place you in spaces where you get to walk closely with people in their hardest and most hope-filled moments. It’s a privilege, but it’s also not easy. You are working with people whose lives are constantly shifting, who are searching for hope and just want to be heard. That can be heavy at times, but it’s also deeply meaningful. It is not a decision to take lightly. But if God’s calling you there, he’ll walk with you through it.

A photo taken in 1894 of a group of ‘young larrikins’, known as the Bayswater Boys. It was groups of boys like this that often disrupted early Salvation Army meetings. BY BARRY GITTINS The Salvation Army was born out of a love for the poor, the marginalised and the brutalised people of the nations; that ‘preferential option for the poor’ lasted well into the 1960s. In his sermon on the mount, Jesus Christ taught that heaven belonged to the poor in spirit, that those who mourn would be comforted, and that the meek would inherit the earth. Those qualities are often found in crisis-ridden tenements and villages on the brink of socio-economic collapse. Some 107 years ago, in The Salvation Army’s Orders and Regulations for Field Officers , our officers were urged to reach out to “roughs, larrikins and hoodlums or toughs”, in “low public-houses or saloons and brothels and gambling dens”. An early Orders and Regulations book. These targets of the early Salvos’ evangelical efforts “have grown up largely ignorant of religion, and if not actually antagonistic to it, they are perfectly indifferent”. In passionate, surprisingly satirical tones, the book sets out ‘how not to’ reach larrikins: “Keep away from them ... leave them to harden in sin, sink lower in vice and crime, and go to Hell without being disturbed. Have doorkeepers who will keep them out of the Hall, because they do not act like ladies and gentlemen ... “Talk to them in language they do not understand ... look down upon them as an inferior class of people ... Scold them [and] treat them like people who are never likely to become religious ...“Be impatient [and] threaten them a great deal ... always be running for the police getting out summonses, making them pay fines, or sending them to prison ...” Thankfully, the Regulations followed up with positive instructions on ‘how to’ appeal to the rowdy, rough and ready. These included going to them. Being friendly and making events interesting to them. Talking to them in the meetings, and while out and about on the streets. Visiting them when they are ill and feeding them. Officers were instructed “not to be too particular” about how they acted, or get in a stink if they wanted to clap their hands or shuffle their feet. If the ringleaders mucked up and interfered with the meetings, they were to be banned for a week and then re-admitted “on the promise of their good behaviour”. Salvationists used to be told to “run risks, and suffer any reasonable amount of inconvenience, rather than lose them … They are a difficult class to deal with [but] make all possible sacrifices [as] numbers of them have been converted and have become soldiers in the Army, some of whom are now highly valued and useful officers. “Once saved, they [are] full of spirit and daring, ready to face any danger, and endure any hardship.” The chapter outlining orders and regulations in dealing with ‘roughs, toughs and larrikins’.

This Refugee Week, Sara shares her powerful story of leaving Iran in search of religious freedom in Australia. She encountered Christianity for the first time at The Salvation Army Farsi Corps in Brunswick. She was amazed at what she heard and wanted to know more about Jesus. Today, Sara serves as the children's ministry leader. She has found belonging, purpose and new life in Christ. Sara says that "The Salvation Army is God's hands working in the community and nothing can change that."