Mobilising an army of care
Mobilising an army of care
20 June 2017
Sporting programs, such as cricket, have made an enormous difference to refugees and their families at the Bundamba Corps in Queensland.
Major Sandy Crowden says it will take a “salvation army” to help the number of people experiencing the need for asylum and refuge in Australia. “And our history shows us that we have the capacity to be that army,” she adds. “All we need is the will to do it.”
Around Australia, there are clear signs that The Salvation Army is showing that will, according to Major Crowden, who is the Territorial Social Justice Secretary in Melbourne.
“The Salvation Army has a proud history of engaging with people in need,” she says.
In the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, the Army operates a migrant and refugee assistance program.
Client bases differ, depending on location. Victoria, for example, is a “hot spot” for many refugees and those seeking asylum, with many corps focusing on meeting these needs.
Refugees have also become a part of Tasmanian corps. The demand on services is increasing every year.
In Queensland and NSW, corps and centres run programs for refugees. These include English language classes, sporting teams, assistance with visa, housing and employment applications, material aid, legal assistance, and mentoring programs.
Some examples of Salvation Army corps and centres working with refugees include:
The Salvation Army Asylum Seeker and Refugee Service (Victoria)
Based in Brunswick, Melbourne, this service specialises in emergency relief and material aid.
Asylum seekers from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria are the most frequent clients. Many of the service’s 30 volunteers are themselves asylum seekers and refugees.
This voluntary work helps them integrate into their communities. The community development arm of the service includes English language classes – in partnership with Preston and Whittlesea corps – excursions, information sessions and mentoring programs.
There is also a chaplaincy program that has seen many people come to faith. As a result, the chaplain, Major Colin Elkington (pictured far right), has started a Farsi (Persian) speaking congregation at Brunswick Corps.
“Just about every Sunday there’s a new person coming who says, ‘I want to become a Christian’,” says Major Karen Elkington, manager of the service.
“We’ve enrolled a lot of soldiers. They proudly wear their uniforms and there’s quite a number of adherents and junior soldiers as well.”
Berwick Corps (Victoria)
Berwick Corps works primarily with South Sudanese refugees.
Under the direction of Corps Officer, Captain Troy Pittaway, staff and volunteers facilitate youth programs, sport groups, meals, a drop-in centre, after-school program, children’s programs, legal services, and drug and alcohol services.
Volunteers also provide English conversation classes through Dandenong Community Support Centre. “[The primary need of] young people and children is to go to school and engage with the community,” says Captain Pittaway. “A lot of times there’s cultural misunderstanding about the law, so some education around that and what our expectations are in Australia [is also needed].”
Bundamba Corps (Qld)
Bundamba Corps has been running several programs, and offering a variety of support, to refugees and asylum seekers for four years. These programs have included a nursery where plants are grown and sold and horticulture is taught, English language classes, assistance with visa applications, housing support, and emotional and spiritual support through the corps.
Sporting programs – basketball and cricket – have also made an enormous difference in the lives of many refugees and their families. “Participation in these programs helps reduce people’s social isolation and the challenges they face in approaching and getting into community groups,” says Captain Emma Johnson, Bundamba Corps Officer.
“More than 20 young people participating in the basketball teams have now become Christians and attend the corps and youth Bible studies, families are being supported, and refugees are volunteering at the Family Store and nursery. There are consistently good outcomes for everyone.”
Cranbourne Corps (Victoria)
Cranbourne Corps has experienced an influx of asylum seekers and refugees over the past few years, due to government housing in the area. Between 30-40 people participate in free Englishlanguage classes, with staff and volunteers also working with migration agent Visa Assist to help asylum seekers through the immigration process.
“We’ve had a couple of our church members become like surrogate grandparents, or surrogate aunties and uncles to the children,” says Major Vanessa Evans, Cranbourne Corps Officer.
Darwin Corps (Northern Territory)
Darwin Corps doesn’t have a specific ministry to refugees and asylum seekers but, rather, includes those who come to them for assistance in all the programs and services on offer.
“We integrate all our ministries so, when refugees or asylum seekers are referred to us, we connect them to the service or program that will best meet their needs,” says Corps Officer, Lieutenant Kris Halliday.
Fairfield Corps (New South Wales)
Last year, more than 3000 refugees, mainly from Iraq and Syria, were settled in Fairfield, western Sydney.
The area is also likely to take in almost half of Australia’s special intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees, granted asylum under the Federal Government’s special humanitarian intake.
The corps offers conversational English classes, for both adults and children. “People want to be able to speak English to become citizens, get jobs and become part of the community,” says Corps Officer, Major Peter Spindler. “If we can facilitate that, and help them have a better life in Australia, we’re doing our job in a multicultural ministry.”
Moonah Corps (Tasmania)
When Nabeel Bhatti, from Pakistan, came to Australia with his wife, Farah, and young son, he had trouble finding accommodation.
Struggling to find employment, real estate agents were refusing his application because he didn’t have any proof of income. “My friends recommended me to The Salvation Army for help,” says Nabeel.
The family soon connected with Moonah Corps. “I made friends and they helped me a lot in my journey,” says Nabeel. “It was a very good thing to find out The Salvation Army is working on the social side of it as well rather than [just] being a church.”
Nabeel began working at The Salvation Army’s Barrington Lodge aged care facility a year ago, and Farah recently took up a position there as well.
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