General News
3 April, 2023
Salvos introduces new model to provide better opportunities for support
Significant changes have been introduced in how The Salvation Army’s Emergency Relief Service operates, with the Maryborough branch reassuring residents that support is always available. Salvation Army branches across the country have been...
Significant changes have been introduced in how The Salvation Army’s Emergency Relief Service operates, with
the Maryborough branch reassuring residents that support is always available.
Salvation Army branches across the country have been introducing the changes since last year, with Maryborough implementing the new welfare service model yesterday.
Under the new model, assessments for financial relief are no longer conducted at Salvation Army centre’s and are instead completed over the phone through the Salvos Phone Assistance Line (PAL) — a standardised system to promote fair and equitable access to support.
Maryborough Salvation Army Captain Ronald Stobie said the driving force behind the change to The Salvo’s relief model was to create an unbiased and moderated system.
“The national change came in September last year and we made the decision to defer making that transition until we were ready and we were sure the changes would best support our community,” he said.
“One of the biggest parts of this change is that everyone will now be assessed in the same way so there’s no bias or prejudice and the other thing is the same tool is used to assess everyone so the program is more equitable and fair.”
Captain Stobie reassured residents that the local centre would continue to provide aid and support to the community.
“Previously we would do assessments for financial relief here at the centre and while those assessments are now done over the phone, we can sit with community members and help them through,” he said.
“While we don’t look after financial assistance at the centre anymore, we are continuing to provide material aid and food assistance as we always have done.
“People are still able to come in and access that support here — they don’t need to call the PAL line for that, we are still here.”
From this week, the Maryborough Salvos centre is also introducing a new drop in centre complete with games and a safe, social space, which Captain Stobie said is designed to help build community.
“The drop in centre will be open between 9.30 am and 1 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week,” he said.
“This isn’t necessarily for people who are in need of assistance or aid, we wanted to provide a space for people to be able to socialise in a safe environment.
“This is separate to anything else we do — it’s for everyone in the community to access and all we ask is people are fair with that.
“This is a space people can come and build community and get to know others.”
Captain Stobie said the changes at the local centre would not make a difference to the support The Salvos provide to the community.
“We’re here to help our community so if it’s too much of a hurdle to contact the PAL line, we have phones here and can sit with you and support you through it,” he said.
“We don’t want people missing out because they’re not sure how to navigate the system. We have staff and volunteers here as well as our case worker on-site to support the community.
“If anyone is using our phone assessment line and are having issues, please bring them up with me so we can work to support you.
“If there are issues we want to know everything so we can make sure our community are being looked after.”
If you require financial assistance to support you through a crisis, The Salvos’ PAL line is available on 03 8873 5288 between 9 am and 4 pm Monday to Friday.