Safe From The Start Project

The Safe from the Start project is an Australian first, developed by The Salvation Army in Tasmania and has won the top national Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Award in 2011. It is an innovative initiative based on recommendations from a research study 'States of Mind’ conducted by Dr Erica Bell-UTAS, to consider the specific needs of children aged 0-5 who have witnessed domestic or family violence. The Safe from the Start action research project was developed in partnership with UTAS and later Swinburne University (Vic) by Dr Angela Spinney who has subsequently conducted the Safe from the Train the Trainer training to over 1000 family violence and child protection workers, teachers, social workers, child carers, nurses, counsellors including workers from Aboriginal and CALD services throughout Australia. The research showed exposure to violence in the early years can have severe effects on a child’s brain development. This informed the evidence base for a training program and Safe from the Start resource kit providing therapeutic ways of working with young children aged 0-5 who have been affected by family violence, trauma or abuse. The statement: "A child that lives with violence is forever changed, but not forever 'damaged' - and there is a lot we can do to improve their future prospects." (Barker/Cunningham, 2007) became the basis for an innovative and early intervention approach when working with young children. The Safe from the Start project has been showcased at national and asia-pacific conferences by Safe from the Start project manager Nell Kuilenburg and will be presented at a New Zealand and US conference in 2012. The Salvation Army (Tas) is currently developing a Safe from the Start Tasmanian Aboriginal and CALD project and a counselling DVD. The Train the Trainer one-day program is conducted by experienced trainers/facilitators and is available nationally in 2012.For information: email: nell.kuilenburg@aus.salvationarmy.org or phone: 03 6228 8405 mobile: 0418 369 050

Sleeping Out for the Salvos 2011

Sleeping Out for the Salvos is an annual fundraising event conducted by the Salvation Army to raise awareness of homelessness in Tasmania. Read More...

Safe From The Start - Resource Kit

Safe From The Start - Resource Kit

Communities for Children aims to improve the development, health and well-being of children aged 0-12 and their families through innovative early intervention and prevention programs. The Salvation Army has been engaged as a Facilitating Partner in S.E. Tasmania to develop and implement a strategic and sustainable community approach to early childhood development, in consultation with local stakeholders known as “Community Partners”. These Community Partners are located in Brighton, Derwent Valley, Southern Midlands and Central Highlands and focus on four priorities: Healthy young families, learning and care Supporting families and parents Child friendly communities and reducing disadvantage through social inclusion Assisting Family and Children’s Services to work effectively as a system Download SFTS 2011 flyer

Sleeping Out for the Salvos 2011

Sleeping Out 2011

The evening of the 4th of August saw the third annual Sleeping Out for the Salvos held in Hobart. 40 community, business and political leaders and a sprinkling of other keen fundraisers and Salvo Staff braved the chill of a Hobart winter's night to raise money for, and awareness of homelessness. Amongst the sleepers was Premier Lara Giddings, Human Services Minister Cassie O'Connor, Liberal MP Jaqui Petrusma, Hydro Tasmania chief Roy Adair, Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, Mercury chief executive Rex Gardner, and CEO of Metro Heather Haselgrove. The evening included entertainment by the Choir of High Hopes, an update on the work being partnered by The Salvation Army and Common Ground from Stuart Foster, and a challenging talk by Major Robbin Moulds from the Oasis Youth Homelessness Network in Sydney. She also showed some video stories of some of the homeless youth that Oasis has been helping. What started out as a relatively 'balmy' August night, turned into a cold and wet experience for some as the rain started setting in at around 4 am. On top of this, sleepers had to cope with noisy trucks and the usual snorers! Can you imagine what that would be like every night? The current amount raised is $125,030 and this will be used to fund the work of The Salvation Army's Street Outreach Worker in Hobart, in linking these into accommodation and other support services.