Mission Conference to build deeper connections
Mission Conference to build deeper connections
27 November 2018
Associate Professor Cameron Parsell, whose primary areas of research includes social services aimed at addressing social disadvantage, is a guest speaker for the conference.
Examining the value of good social work practice within The Salvation Army as a faith-based organisation will be the focus of the Mission Conference at Still Others.
The conference, being held from today until 29 November with the sub-theme “Exploring social service delivery”, is designed for social service employees and personnel.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to bring together everyone who works in social services around Australia, so we are hoping it will be the start of building deeper connections and relationships and an even better response for our clients,” said Major Jenny Begent, National Head of Social Mission and facilitator for the conference.
“Social services make up over 70 per cent of The Salvation Army’s footprint in Australia so it’s important that this conference is a part of Still Others and we include them in an overall national approach to The Salvation Army in Australia.
“We will be looking at practice in faith-based communities and increasing attendees’ understanding of what constitutes good practice in a faith-based construct.
“We hope to see broader thinking, more integrated services and enhanced practices as a result of this conference.
Salvation Army contribution
Throughout the history of social and community welfare, faith-based organisations, including The Salvation Army, have been significant providers of social services.
In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the importance of spirituality within a social work practice framework, but much of this has focused on the spirituality and religion of individual practitioners and service users.
The Salvation Army has maintained that both its social work and church work are one and the same, however, due to the professionalisation of social services there has been a drifting apart.
This conference is aimed at examining the value of good social work practice within a faith-based organisation, that may see some practice frameworks as being in direct opposition to faith engagement.
Plenary sessions at the conference include: Faith-based agencies working in the government and non-government sector, Valuing the practice of faith-based organisations, and Witnessing, serving, saving: a relational approach to community development in the suburbs of a global city.
Area officers and national heads of mission departments will also lead panel sessions during the conference.
Workshop options will also be offered, with options including: The importance of spirituality in an AOD framework; An overview of The Salvation Army’s outcome measurement programs; and The value of chaplaincy in faith-based organisations.
Guest speakers include Associate Professor Cameron Parsell, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, University of Queensland; Justine Toh, Senior Research Fellow, The Centre for Public Christianity; Marcus Hutchins, The Salvation Army Australia’s Social Liaison Officer; and Dr Elli McGavin, Head of Policy, Research and Social Justice, The Salvation Army Australia.
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