Supporting your journey to restoration

Our senior leaders are ready and willing to meet with you to hear your experience and respond, if you wish them to do so. It is not a requirement.

Wherever possible, The Salvation Army seeks to consider claims of abuse in a restorative justice framework. We feel it is the most responsive way to help a survivor of child abuse find healing and a satisfactory resolution to their claim.

This process includes a “Restorative Justice Meeting” as the central point. It allows the survivor to have acknowledgement and understanding of their pain and to work co-operatively with The Salvation Army to find a suitable outcome. While most survivors find this meeting very helpful, it is not a requirement.

A Restorative Justice Meeting is an informal meeting between yourself (with your chosen support person, if desired) and a representative from The Salvation Army. These meetings are usually facilitated by The Salvation Army but, if you would prefer an independent facilitator, we can arrange this. 

This is an opportunity for you to share your story, as much as you feel able to. The Salvation Army will listen to your experience of abuse and the impact it has had on your life. We will recognise the incident and express a sincere apology for all that you suffered while in our care.

This meeting is not about money. The Personal Injuries Complaints Committee considers financial redress separate to this meeting.

The Restorative Justice Meeting provides an opportunity for you to express your desires for how The Salvation Army may be able to assist you with obtaining some closure from the pain of the past. It is also a way for you to move forward in your journey of healing and peace.

A Restorative Justice Meeting will be set in a safe, informal and non-legalistic environment. You are welcome to choose the date and location of this meeting.

Before the meeting we will call you or your support person to ask what format will be most meaningful for you. We can explain how to expect the meeting to run and answer any questions you may have, just so you feel more prepared.

If you feel a counselling session (with a counsellor of your choice) either before and/or afterward would be helpful for you, the Centre for Restoration will pay for this.

What to expect at a Restorative Justice Meeting:

1. Direct contact between the survivor and a representative of The Salvation Army
2. An opportunity for the survivor and The Salvation Army representative to openly express their feelings
3. Acknowledgement by The Salvation Army representative as to what happened and the acceptance of responsibility for those actions
4. An opportunity for the survivor to hear The Salvation Army representative express shame and deep remorse for what happened
5. A verbal (face-to-face) apology, followed by a written apology after the meeting
6. An assurance that what happened was not fair nor deserved
7. An opportunity for the survivor and The Salvation Army representative to seek answers to any questions they might have regarding the offending behaviour or other relevant matters
8. An assurance that the failures of the past will not be repeated

The Salvation Army is deeply sorry for every abuse suffered by those in our care.

We recognise that an apology is a very personal matter. For some people, a verbal apology delivered by a senior representative of The Salvation Army will prove more meaningful than a written apology. You may wish to receive both an in-person and a written apology from The Salvation Army. Be assured that every apology is sincerely given, and all written apologies are personally signed by the leader of The Salvation Army in Australia.

The Centre for Restoration is committed to providing the best possible support for every person who has suffered abuse within The Salvation Army.

We realise the value of professional psychological support and we have sought expert advice in order to develop an approach to counselling that has been shown to make a significant and effective difference in the lives of individual survivors. We also believe that survivors deserve to be able to access the best qualified people available, to ensure that the help they receive will enable them to move forward in life.

Substantial research shows that regular counselling sessions for a period of up to two consecutive years – with a qualified, registered counsellor or psychologist – provides the most therapeutic benefit. 

Based on this evidence, in addition to any offer of financial redress you may receive, the Centre for Restoration will fund the cost of counselling sessions with a registered counsellor or psychologist of your choice, for a period of up to two consecutive years.

There is no limit to the number of sessions within that timeframe (though not to exceed one hourly session per week, apart from the initial consultation). It is your choice when you would like to begin having counselling.

So that you won’t be “out of pocket”, the Centre for Restoration will pay your chosen counsellor directly. On occasion we may ask for a general report on progress from your counsellor, simply to ensure that you are receiving the most appropriate assistance. Your counsellor will always discuss this with you first.

The Centre for Restoration understands survivors may need support with education, job seeking or day-to-day financial hardship. While we are unable to provide that ourselves, we can refer you to other parts of The Salvation Army or to external agencies.

There are also agencies that provide support to survivors of abuse. The following services may be able to provide information or help.

1800 Respect
1800 737 732
1800respect.org.au

Blue Knot Foundation
1300 657 380
blueknot.org.au

Bravehearts
1800 272 831
bravehearts.org.au

Care Leavers Australia Network
1800 008 774
clan.org.au

Elm Place (SA), Find and Connect Support Services
1800 16 11 09
elmplace.org.au

Knowmore
1800 605 762
knowmore.org.au

Lifeline
13 11 14
lifeline.org.au

Lotus Place, Find and Connect (QLD)
1800 16 11 09
Historical Abuse Network
(07) 3055 8500
lotusplace.org.au

Micah Projects
(07) 3036 4990
micahprojects.org.au

Open Place (VIC)
1800 779 379
openplace.org.au

Relationships Australia
1300 364 277
relationships.org.au

Tuart Place (WA)
1800 619 795
tuartplace.org

Wattle Place (NSW)
1800 663 844
wattleplace.org.au

It is your choice whether you report a crime to police or not. Some people choose not to report straight away for reasons important to them.

There are several actions a survivor can take. These include:

• Engaging the police and having the matter formally investigated.
• Completing a less formal, alternative reporting method. It is important to note that this option is not a formal complaint for police to initiate a criminal investigation.

If you choose to report the matter to the police, we can support you by attending the police station with you, whenever you feel ready to do so. Please be aware that the nature of the allegations you disclose to us may require us to report the matter to the police as part of our mandatory reporting obligations.