The Salvation Army

Between 1890 to the late 1990s, The Salvation Army provided institutional care for thousands of children and young people in Australia. The Salvation Army no longer runs children’s homes in Australia, but it continues to provide social welfare services to children which include out-of-home care or accommodation arrangements. The Salvation Army has been involved in numerous allegations and cases dealing with historical child sexual abuse. It was heavily scrutinised by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in the following case studies:

  • Case Study 5: Response of The Salvation Army to child sexual abuse at its boys’ homes in New South Wales and Queensland (The Salvation Army boys’ homes, Australia Eastern Territory), published in January 2015;

  • Case Study 10: The Salvation Army’s handling of claims of child sexual abuse 1989 to 2014 (The Salvation Army claims handling, Australia Eastern Territory), published in June 2015; and

  • Case Study 49: Institutional review of The Salvation Army, Australia Eastern Territory and Australia Southern Territory (Institutional review of The Salvation Army), published in December 2016.

The case studies involved hearing submissions from 294 victims of child sexual abuse by perpetrators who were members of the Salvation Army. The Royal Commission concluded in the end the following:

  • Vulnerable children were preyed upon by those responsible for their care, as well as by other abused and traumatised children. Such abuse was not inevitable, but resulted from the failures of individuals, including many who were in positions of authority and leadership;

  • The failure of Salvation Army personnel and leaders to respond appropriately and with compassion when victims had the courage to disclose their experience of abuse was appalling;

  • Failed in many instances to follow its own protocols in assisting victims of child sexual abuse;

  • Failed in relation to the protection of children, including failing to adequately implement policy, practices and procedures to protect children from child sexual abuse;

  • To identify situations where children were at risk;

  • To fully investigate claims of child sexual abuse;

  • To appropriately respond to claims of child sexual abuse;

  • The organisation ‘inadvertently’ facilitated the concealment of child sexual abuse;

  • The Salvation Army left some alleged perpetrators in positions where they had access to children, despite multiple complaints that they had sexually abused children in their care;

  • Many others were dismissed only to be readmitted to the organisation and to continue re-offending;

  • Victims of child sexual abuse in Salvation Army homes who disclosed that they had been abused were frequently punished, disbelieved or accused of lying, or no action was taken in response to their disclosures;

  • In some cases, victims who disclosed sexual abuse were physically punished or further abused as a result;

  • Many survivors who later sought redress, including apologies, from The Salvation Army were disappointed or further traumatised by the manner in which their claims were handled;

  • The Salvation Army also suffered from inadequate staff levels and training;

  • Complaint handling policies were inadequate or non-existent; and

  • Finally, as was common across many religious institutions in Australia, The Salvation Army’s was more concerned for the reputation of the organisation rather than probably treating or responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.

Moody Law has represented and is currently representing victims of child sexual abuse by members of the Salvation Army.

We invite former victims, employees and members to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.