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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

The Salvation Army supports the Voice as a social justice response and recognises the need for respectful and inclusive conversations

In line with our Commitment to reconciliation, and in response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, The Salvation Army supports the call for the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice as a social justice response. 

The Salvation Army sees first-hand the social injustices experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Throughout our network of more than 2000 services across the country, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are over-represented in almost all of the services we operate.

For instance, in 2022: 

  • Nearly one in five people (18.6 per cent) accessing The Salvation Army’s homelessness services identified as First Nations — this is nearly six times higher than the total proportion of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ population in Australia (3.2 per cent) 
  • Nearly one in four people (23.5 per cent) accessing The Salvation Army’s Doorways emergency relief services identified as First Nations — this is seven times higher than the total proportion of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ population in Australia (3.2 per cent) 

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, June 2021. Canberra: ABS www.abs.gov.au/articles/australia-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-population-summary

A constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice is an important first step in bringing about positive change to one of the most disadvantaged sections of our community. We believe an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice will lead to better laws, better policies and better outcomes.

Support is available if you are experiencing trauma, hardship or discrimination due to the national debate.

Find out more

If you or someone you know needs urgent support, you can contact these services: 

The Salvation Army has a long history of social justice

The Salvation Army has been involved in working for justice since the beginning. From when we were known as the Christian Mission through to today, we have publicly advocated on matters that were of concern and where greater impact could be made in the community, especially around issues of hardship and injustice.  In Australia, our public advocacy has spanned well over a century and includes actively supporting the Federation of Australia in the 1890s right through work we are doing now to push for an end to poverty. 
 
Today, we are committed to our vision of: “Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight, alongside others, to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus.” 
 
Learn more about our public advocacy  

The Salvation Army encourages respectful discussion about the Voice

The Salvation Army supports:

  • Enshrining the Voice in the Constitution 
  • The Voice having power to make representations to both the Parliament and the Executive 
  • The Parliament having power to make laws with respect to the Voice 

 
There will be many different views on the Voice, and we are not all going to agree — that is completely okay. The important thing is that we all engage in respectful, inclusive discussion and remain focused on how we can fight against the hardship and injustice experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

We encourage all Australians to seek information from trusted sources to make an informed decision, based on fact. 

Commitment to reconciliation

The Salvation Army recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Australia. Our vision for reconciliation is to be a faith movement committed to equity, freedom and the righting of injustice. 

We respect, value and acknowledge the traditions, spiritualities and languages of the oldest living cultural history in the world. We’re intentional about engaging in unified and positive relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities. 

Find out more about our commitment to respectful relationships and the mutual flourishing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in our Reconciliation Action Plan. 

Read about our commitment to reconciliation 

Read more from The Salvation Army about the Voice

YES: The Salvation Army supports the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

19 June 2023Read more

 

Charities unite to support Voice to Parliament

27 March 2023Read more

 

Voice to Parliament: powerfully symbolic, deeply practical

17 March 2023Read more

 

The Salvation Army's response to the Prime Minister's speech at the Garma Festival

1 August 2022Read more

 

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The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.

We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.

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The Salvation Army is an international movement. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name with love and without discrimination.

uat.salvos.org.au

13 SALVOS (13 72 58)

Gifts of $2 or more to the social work of The Salvation Army in Australia are tax deductible.Details and ABNs

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