Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
The Salvation Army supports the Voice as a social justice response and recognises the need for respectful and inclusive conversations
In line with our Commitment to reconciliation, and in response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, The Salvation Army supports the call for the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice as a social justice response.
The Salvation Army sees first-hand the social injustices experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Throughout our network of more than 2000 services across the country, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are over-represented in almost all of the services we operate.
For instance, in 2022:
- Nearly one in five people (18.6 per cent) accessing The Salvation Army’s homelessness services identified as First Nations — this is nearly six times higher than the total proportion of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ population in Australia (3.2 per cent)
- Nearly one in four people (23.5 per cent) accessing The Salvation Army’s Doorways emergency relief services identified as First Nations — this is seven times higher than the total proportion of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ population in Australia (3.2 per cent)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, June 2021. Canberra: ABS www.abs.gov.au/articles/australia-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-population-summary
A constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice is an important first step in bringing about positive change to one of the most disadvantaged sections of our community. We believe an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice will lead to better laws, better policies and better outcomes.
Support is available if you are experiencing trauma, hardship or discrimination due to the national debate.
If you or someone you know needs urgent support, you can contact these services:
- In an emergency call triple zero 000
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- 13YARN 13 92 76
- 1800 Respect 1800 737 732
The Salvation Army has a long history of social justice
The Salvation Army has been involved in working for justice since the beginning. From when we were known as the Christian Mission through to today, we have publicly advocated on matters that were of concern and where greater impact could be made in the community, especially around issues of hardship and injustice. In Australia, our public advocacy has spanned well over a century and includes actively supporting the Federation of Australia in the 1890s right through work we are doing now to push for an end to poverty.
Today, we are committed to our vision of: “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.”
The Salvation Army encourages respectful discussion about the Voice
The Salvation Army believes that the 2023 Referendum presents an opportunity for a powerfully symbolic and deeply practical change which will enrich the experience of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians together.
Our 140-year history of helping Australians has taught us that it is hard to listen to people if you do not let them have a voice.
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice will provide an opportunity to correct existing structural issues and ensure that future policy and legislation does not create or perpetuate disadvantage and injustice.
The Salvation Army supports:
- Enshrining the Voice in the Constitution
- The Voice having power to make representations to both the Parliament and the Executive
- The Parliament having power to make laws with respect to the Voice
There will be many different views on the Voice, and we are not all going to agree — that is completely okay. The important thing is that we all engage in respectful, inclusive discussion and remain focused on how we can fight against the hardship and injustice experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We encourage all Australians to seek information from trusted sources to make an informed decision, based on fact.
Commitment to reconciliation
The Salvation Army recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Australia. Our vision for reconciliation is to be a faith movement committed to equity, freedom and the righting of injustice.
We respect, value and acknowledge the traditions, spiritualities and languages of the oldest living cultural history in the world. We’re intentional about engaging in unified and positive relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities.
Find out more about our commitment to respectful relationships and the mutual flourishing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in our Reconciliation Action Plan.
