volume 6 number 45 29 November 2025
salvosonline.org.au print post approved PP100001474
MORE THAN A JOB Salvos agency turning lives around
6 Christmas on a budget
10 The power of the pause
12 A force for good
Tips for a less stressful celebration
Waiting for God in the age of instant everything
45-plus years of yarns in the pub for Harrison
Kind words and good deeds are eternal. You never know where their influence will end. – H Jackson Brown Jr
PHOTO BY RYAN KWOK ON UNSPLASH
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Editorial What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Vision Statement Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus. Mission Statement The Salvation Army is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus by: • Caring for people • Creating faith pathways • Building healthy communities • Working for justice The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders, past, present, and future. We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
Hope for all Losing a job can be one of life’s most stressful events, often leading to financial difficulties, loss of identity, decreased self-confidence and relationship struggles. Since launching in 1998 to help people find work, The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus recruitment agency has placed more than 740,000 people into work. In our feature this week, Lerisse Smith speaks with Graeme White, the National Director of the agency, about its powerful mission to transform lives and communities and celebrate ‘life turnarounds’ – all through the power of employment. As Christmas approaches, we also share some tips on budgeting for the day, enabling everyone to decrease the stress of the celebration by not breaking the bank!
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Founders: William and Catherine Booth Salvation Army World Leaders: General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial Leader: Commissioner Miriam Gluyas Secretary for Communications and Editor-In-Chief: Colonel Rodney Walters Publications Manager: Cheryl Tinker Editor: Simone Worthing Graphic Designer: Ryan Harrison Cover Image: Photo by Vicko Mozara on Unsplash Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58 Press date: 7 November 2025 Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
And speaking of less stress – in our busy world, we can often get frustrated when our plans come up against time-consuming delays. In Faith Talk this week, James Burns writes about waiting for God in our instant age, relaxing in his presence and letting him recharge our physical, emotional and spiritual batteries. Sounds like a great idea, and Christmas is the perfect time! Simone Worthing Editor 3
Feature
Salvos Magazine
More than a job Salvos agency turning lives around
Dr Graeme White is a man on a mission as National Director of The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus agency. Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH spoke with Graeme about the agency’s powerful mission to transform lives and communities and celebrate ‘life turnarounds’ - all through the power of employment. It took something special to lure Graeme White out of retirement. When the chance came in 2019 to lead The Salvation Army Employment Plus service on a six-month posting, he didn’t hesitate. The role immediately reignited Graeme’s passion for helping others and giving back to the community – and when the opportunity arose to lead the agency permanently, he didn’t hesitate to say yes again. Employment Plus is Australia’s most experienced recruitment agency, working with job seekers, employers, industry groups, governments and community organisations to champion employment for all Australians. The agency’s work is guided by its vision of ‘Work for All. Hope for All’ and by its values of integrity, compassion, respect, diversity and collaboration. It has a wide network of partners to support job seekers and employers all over Australia, including counselling services. With 40,000 job seekers on its caseload, the agency’s reach is substantial. It also hits impressive milestones with 10,000 people securing work in the past year. 4
Dr Graeme White, National Director of Employment Plus.
Diverse clients Employment Plus operates under three major Federal Government contracts. The largest, Workforce Australia, is the mainstream program helping job seekers to find work. The second-largest contract, Inclusive Employment Australia, is focused on helping people living with a disability. Then there is Parent Pathways, designed to help parents re-entering the workforce when their youngest child turns six, to get trained, build skills and rebuild confidence.
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Feature The mission of Employment Plus may be straightforward, but its approach is what truly sets it apart. Great pride is taken in providing a caring and compassionate service. When job seekers were asked if they felt more supported at Employment Plus than with other providers they had liaised with, an overwhelming 82 per cent said yes. “We support some of the most vulnerable people in Australia,” Graeme emphasises. “Many of our job seekers are experiencing multiple barriers including mental health issues, poor literacy, addiction, domestic violence and homelessness, and many of them are single parents, culturally and linguistically diverse, ex-offenders, First Nations people or refugees. This means our staff are not just placing people in jobs, they are working with them to address these challenges and to ensure they have the skills, confidence and encouragement they need to succeed in the workplace.” Supporting staff There is also a harsh reality to the agency’s work – assaults on staff. “We get those almost weekly,” says Graeme. “What our people have to endure is really quite extreme, and it’s from people who are frustrated, upset, drugged up or just angry. We understand the pressures on job seekers, but being the punching bag for their frustration is a tough gig for our people. “We have to look after our own team, our own staff,” he says. “Our frontline staff are mistreated by job seekers, so a lot of them don’t last. Last year, the industry turnover increased to 47 per cent. Ours is down to 25 per cent.”
PHOTO BY UK BLACK TECH ON UNSPLASH
For Graeme and his team, the greatest reward for their work is seeing lives transformed. “One example,” he shares, “is an Indigenous man with one child and a second on the way, who had not worked for over seven years. We worked with him, built his skills and confidence, helped with training, and eventually he got a job and is now financially independent. “When I hear these stories, especially the life turnarounds, that is the thing that gives me the biggest buzz – and that is why I am here.” Scan here for more information and contact details. 5
Feature
Christmas on a budget
Salvos Magazine
Tips for a low-stress and meaningful celebration Goodness, it’s almost Christmas! Again! Let’s explore a few tips to help navigate the Christmas season without busting the budget.
Tip 1: Give thoughtfully Christmas is all about giving, but it doesn’t have to be about extravagant spending. Create personalised cards, craft homemade gifts like bookmarks, bake delicious treats, or create a voucher to do some odd jobs around the house. Tip 2: Give with a plan Start your Christmas shopping early and compare prices to avoid last-minute, panic-induced overspending. You can also consider including back-to-school necessities like pencils, drink bottles or backpacks as part of children’s Christmas gifts. Tip 3: Limit spending If you’re buying gifts, set a dollar limit to ensure you stay within your budget. For groups, consider a ‘Kris Kringle’ approach, where each person buys one thoughtful gift within a set budget, or put your small amount of money together 6
with others to buy one more expensive gift.
Tip 4: Make Christmas memories through experiences • Go to church to celebrate the birth of Jesus with others. •
Plan a family walk around the neighbourhood to see the local Christmas lights, followed by homemade snacks.
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Invite your family and friends to a community carols event.
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Give the family an annual pool pass as part of their Christmas gift/s, as this can also help reduce the costs of fun activities throughout the year.
Tip 5: Give your time Spend quality time with your loved ones by preparing your house with homemade decorations or baking Christmas treats together. You can also consider volunteering individually or as a family to help those who are struggling during the Christmas season.
Tip 6: Remember to give yourself a break The Christmas season can be stressful! Schedule some self-care time to read a book, pray or take a long walk. Tip 7: Budget-friendly feasts Look for free or low-cost community events and Christmas meals. Plan filling, budget-friendly meals like pasta bakes or salads, rice dishes, or a potato salad for your Christmas spread. Who doesn’t love an inexpensive, colourful, giant bowl of jelly? And do say ‘yes’ when other family members or friends offer to bring food to your celebration. Tip 8: New year and school holiday planning When navigating the post-Christmas season, consider alternative ways to connect with friends and family, such as a walk, coffee at home or a potluck dinner. Also, identify affordable school holiday activities at the local library or through local churches for your family to enjoy together.
Feature
29 November 2025
Look out for second-hand school uniforms and books at the end of the year, too! Tip 9: Plan for next Christmas Get a head start by planning early. Lay-by rather than using a credit card or buy-now pay-later loan. Paying off gifts in advance eliminates the risk of interest payments that may haunt you well into the future. If possible, put a few dollars away each week in a separate account or even a jar. It will make Christmas 2026, or even 2027, so much easier! Tip 10: Be intentional with your money all year round! Set clear financial goals and allocate funds for different occasions like Christmas, birthdays and back-to-school expenses. Use envelopes or dedicated online accounts to separate these funds. For tips and activities to help you formulate a money plan and plan for Christmas and other celebrations, The Salvation Army Moneycare’s free eBook, You’re the Boss: Money Wisdom for Life, is packed with advice.
Help is available If you find yourself struggling financially, reach out to The Salvation Army’s Moneycare services, where you can receive guidance and support tailored to your unique circumstances – 1800 722 363.
Scan here to access Moneycare resources, including You’re the Boss free ebook. 7
News
Salvos Magazine
Technology-facilitated abuse: recognising and responding to harm online From 25 November to 10 December 2025, the United Nations 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign is focusing on the theme: ‘UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls’. Digital violence against women and girls is one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse. It’s important to be able to recognise its signs and challenge the myths that minimise this form of violence. As technology becomes more embedded in our lives, it’s become another way perpetrators of violence can exercise power and control, manipulate and harm. This abuse involves using digital tools or platforms to harass, monitor, threaten, or control another person and includes cyberbullying, image-based abuse, online harassment, and the misuse of AI technologies to harm women and girls. For many victim-survivors, technology isn’t neutral – it can become an extension of abuse that continues, even after leaving a relationship. Understanding this form of violence helps us provide safer, more informed responses to those affected. Myth busters “It’s not real abuse if it happens online.”
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Digital abuse causes real harm, emotional, psychological and physical. It often occurs alongside other forms of violence.
🚫 “They should just block or delete their account.”
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Victim-survivors often rely on digital platforms for work, connection and safety. Leaving online spaces isn’t always possible or fair, and responding this way places the responsibility on the victim-survivor, rather than holding the perpetrator accountable.
🚫 “Technology is the problem.”
Technology itself isn’t the issue; it’s how people misuse it to exert control. The solution lies in accountability, education and designing safer systems. Together, we can #Unite to Stop Digital Abuse and help make online spaces safer for everyone. Contacts eSafety Commission Tech Safety Hub esafety.gov.au/key-topics/ tech-based-abuse Wesnet Tech Safety Tools and Resources techsafety.org.au/resources/ resources-survivors/
News
29 November 2025
A haven for international students Four nights a week, The Couch at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne, is filled with international students talking, laughing, eating, learning and finding company and support. The team at the Salvos Melbourne Project 614 started The Couch in 2010 to create a safe, fun place for students to gather, get practical support and make new friends. Major Brendan Nottle, Team Leader at 614, explains: “We initially had a meeting with the City of Melbourne and Victoria Police. And we said, we are really concerned about international students that are vulnerable, isolated, I think being targeted in some ways … and we wanted to work with those parties, but also other agencies, to say, collaboratively, what can we do to just help their experience here in Melbourne be a really good one.” At that time, there were around 131,000 international students in Victoria. In 2025, that number has risen to nearly 224,000. Connection and learning “The Couch is a really fun place for students to meet each evening,” said Phoebe, Senior Operations Manager at 614. “But it is also a really important place for them to access important information, whether it’s Surf Lifesaving Australia teaching students to swim between the flags, the ATO showing students how to apply for a tax file number, or our really popular salsa dancing classes.” The Couch also provides an opportunity to connect with support services and information on a range of issues including
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, (centre, bottom image) who oversees The Salvation Army Australia, recently dropped into The Couch where students celebrated a Thaithemed night.
housing, employment, counselling, student services and legal support. A meal is provided, and social activities help with making friends and cultural exchanges. Each month, an event celebrating one of the countries represented by the students is held. They have even sent a billycart team to contest the Queensberry Cup! – Fay Foster For more information on The Couch, check out the The Couch International Student Centre Facebook page, phone 0444 111 222, or email thecouch614@gmail.com. 9
Faith Talk
Salvos Magazine
The power of the pause Waiting for God in the age of instant everything by James Burns
You can always tell someone is getting old when they start a sentence with “In my day …”. So, in my day as a teenager in the 1960s, there were only three TV channels. Words like binge-watching, streaming, boxsets and on demand were not part of everyday language. How different life is now, with hundreds of channels to choose from. Back then, you would have to wait until the next week to watch the next instalment of your favourite TV program. Each episode would probably end with the words, “To be continued”, and the 10
start of the next one may remind you of what happened before, in case you couldn’t remember from the previous week. How old-fashioned that seems now, when we are not good at waiting and want everything today, if not sooner. Patience now! How cross we get when what we want to buy isn’t immediately available in the shop, or we have to wait a few days for an item to be delivered after we’ve ordered it online. No wonder that suppliers have cottoned onto this and are having to promise delivery of goods, including fresh produce,
Faith Talk
in as little as 20 minutes. It reminds me of the old joke about asking God for patience, but for it to happen right now! Sadly, that’s too much like the truth to be funny. Whatever happened to taking a break to stop and relax from the rat race, or, as the poet William Henry Davies put it, “What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?” Life can wear us down and leave us feeling weak and struggling, whether physically, mentally or spiritually. Good to know then, that the Bible has good
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advice: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah chapter 40, verse 31, New King James Version). It doesn’t tell us to work harder or take on more pressure, but simply to wait. Kick off our shoes if you will, relax in God’s presence and let him recharge our batteries. Simple. Is God saying to you, “To be continued”, but just not right away? 11
My Story
Salvos Magazine
A quiet force for good Harrison’s 45-plus years of yarns in the pub by Lerisse Smith
Harrison Mcilroy loves nothing better than a good old yarn. And, for more than four decades, this self-confessed ‘people person’ has turned his gift for conversation into a quiet force for good, bringing warmth, humility and kindness to Victorian puband club-goers through his work with The Salvation Army’s hotel ministry. Offering comfort, connection and conversation where it’s often needed most, Harrison became a familiar and welcome face in places others might overlook. But now, at 86, he has called time on his extraordinary 45-year-plus chapter with the ministry. “I have loved it,” he reflected. “I think it’s just the contact with people. Sometimes they will have quite a conversation. Other times it is helping them sort out something, or they want to tell me about something good that has happened. I am always open for conversation. Everyone is different; their circumstances are different. The conversations are too.” Fresh start In late 1978, Harrison arrived from New Zealand with his wife and connected with The Salvation Army in Altona. It was at a Salvos Congress in Melbourne in 1979 that everything changed for Harrison – he became a Christian. 12
Harrison with the Salvos Magazine he gives out at the pub, and a handmade donations bag.
“I asked Jesus to be my Saviour and Lord – and my life changed,” he said. “My desire for alcohol went.” In 1988, he began a position in Warrnambool with The Salvation Army to work with those experiencing homelessness, a position he held for 17 years. Harrison had told the corps officer (pastor) at the time, Ian Callandar, that he used to go to the pub and stand at the bar. Ian immediately told Harrison he was the right
My Story
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Jesus went where the people who needed his love were.
Major Brett Allchin presents Harrison with a service award for his commitment to hotel ministry.
person for hotel ministry as he “spoke the language” and knew the hotel scene. Over the years, his quiet presence has touched countless lives – often in ways he may never fully know. He was not there to judge or convert. He was there to simply connect with others and provide a listening ear whenever needed. The power of a conversation He still recalls the time a woman approached him unexpectedly as he placed an order at a pizza shop. He had met her previously in a hotel and at his work, where she sought help to deal with several life issues. The woman informed him that she wanted to have a chat. “She said, ‘I want to thank you.’” The woman then shared with Harrison how, thanks to him, she had dealt with some challenging life situations and had changed the way she was doing things in life, commenting that “life was great.” Special moments like that reminded Harrison just how powerful a single conversation could be.
Special recognition In recognition of Harrison’s hotel ministry service, the Warrnambool Salvos recently awarded him a special certificate for his commitment and devotion. Warrnambool Corps Officer (pastor), Major Brett Allchin, also publicly thanked Harrison for his leadership and how he had made a difference in the lives of others. “I love the fact that Jesus went to where people were, I love that he didn’t wait until others felt worthy enough or clean enough to come to a place of worship,” Brett said. “Jesus went where the people who needed his love were. He took the initiative and, in many cases, made the first move. I recognise this spirit in Harrison. He has shown this over the past 45-plus years, as he quietly moved amongst people in his hotel ministry. “Listening to their stories, speaking words that made a difference to their lives, sharing how Jesus has made a difference to his life. Showing by example that Jesus is real. Harrison just lived out his values in the presence of others, and this was a testimony of the difference that Jesus makes when we trust him.” 13
Taste of Life
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Apple brownies
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Salvos Magazine
Quiz
PHOTO BY TORY ON UNSPLASH
Ingredients 1 cup sugar, ½ cup melted butter, 1 egg, 3 apples – peeled, cored and chopped, ½ cup chopped walnuts, 1 cup self-raising flour, ½ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, ice cream Method Preheat oven to 175°C. Grease 23cm baking tin. Beat sugar, butter and egg in large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy. Add in apples and walnuts. Sift in flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix until blended. Spread batter in baking tin and bake for 35 minutes. Cut into squares and serve hot with ice cream.
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Believe in Good: Tips
1. Who wrote The Man from Snowy River? 2. Who wrote the hilarious Treehouse book series? 3. Which animals are on the Australian coat of arms? 4. Which bird is known for laughing loudly? 5. Which is Australia’s highest mountain?
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Tum-Tum
5 December – International Volunteer Day “Even if you just change one life, you’ve changed the world forever.” – Mike Satterfield To volunteer, simply offer to help a neighbour with gardening, meals or errands. 14
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
Take Five
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Did you know?
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Puzzle #1
Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
PHOTO BY MANISH TULASKAR ON UNSPLASH
3 7
4
4
8
9 Australia is wider than the moon.
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1
2
5
Dolphins use individual whistles to name each other.
8 4
3
4 7
6
The strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue.
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3
2
It’s impossible to hum while holding your breath.
4
1
7
😆
6
9
Have a laugh
What do you call a cat who sits on you while you are working? Why was the computer late to work?
It had a hard drive.
Did you hear about the broken computer that needed a place to stay?
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It had nowhere to crash.
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Answers
5
A laptop.
Human skin sheds 30,000 to 40,000 cells each day.
Bible byte
“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 7 Contemporary English Version
Tum-Tum: is hiding behind the flag on page 9.
Quiz: 1. Banjo Paterson 2. Andy Griffiths 3. Emu and Kangaroo 4. Kookaburra 5. Mount Kosciuszko 8 7 9 6 2 1 4 3 5
6 5 1 4 3 9 7 8 2
3 4 2 7 5 8 1 9 6
Puzzle #1
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4 9 8 1 7 2 5 6 3
5 1 3 8 6 4 9 2 7
7 2 6 5 9 3 8 4 1
9 6 7 2 8 5 3 1 4
2 3 4 9 1 7 6 5 8
1 8 5 3 4 6 2 7 9
BE THE HOPE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED THIS CHRISTMAS As Christmas approaches, the housing and costof-living crisis continues to push more families to the edge than we’ve seen in years. The Salvation Army is committed to walking alongside those in need, providing vital support to help people rebuild their lives - not just for Christmas, but into the New Year and beyond. Your kind support means you are the hope families need this Christmas.
DONATE TODAY salvationarmy.org.au/christmas25
“I’ll never forget when I walked into the Salvos Centre. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like everything was going to be okay.” – Amy* *Name changed to protect privacy