News

The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory has today welcomed the report of the Victorian ‘Parliamentary Inquiry Into The Handling of Child Abuse By Religious And Other Non-Government Organisations’. 

Together with the current Royal Commission into Institutional Responses To Child Sexual Abuse, it has revealed the disturbing extent of child abuse throughout the community. 

Between 1893 and 1995, The Salvation Army operated a large number of children’s homes around Australia. The Salvation Army is ashamed of the abuse suffered by many children placed in our care during that time. 

These offences should never have happened. It was a breach of the trust placed in us and we are deeply sorry. We sincerely apologise to the victims and their families. 

While we cannot right the wrongs of the past we will continue to compassionately assist victims by means of support, counselling and compensation. 

We wish to assure the Victorian and Australian communities that The Salvation Army has taken action to ensure that any abuse by Salvation Army employees or volunteers will never happen again. 

We have put in place a range of checks and balances where interactions between Salvation Army personnel and children are concerned, to ensure a safe environment for children and other vulnerable people within our care.  

The Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry will be of great benefit to Victorians. We hope that as a result of the announced reforms, cases of child abuse will significantly decrease.
 
For further information or media comment please contact:
Dr Bruce Redman – Media Relations Director
The Salvation Army – Australia Southern Territory (Vic., SA, Tas., WA & NT 
T. 03 8878 2448 
M. 0417 537 950 
E. bruce.redman@aus.salvationarmy.org