Meeting with a representative of The Salvation Army
Our senior leaders are ready and willing to meet with you to hear your experience and respond, if you wish them to do so.
Wherever possible, The Salvation Army seeks to consider claims of abuse in a restorative justice framework. We feel it is the most responsive way to help a survivor of child abuse find healing and a satisfactory resolution to their claim.
This process includes a 'Restorative Justice Meeting' as the central point. It allows the survivor to have acknowledgement and understanding of their pain and to work co-operatively with The Salvation Army to find a suitable outcome. While most survivors find this meeting very helpful, it is not a requirement.
A Restorative Justice Meeting is an informal meeting between yourself (with your chosen support person, if desired) and a representative from The Salvation Army. These meetings are usually facilitated by The Salvation Army but, if you would prefer an independent facilitator, we can arrange this.
This is an opportunity for you to share your story, as much as you feel able to. The Salvation Army will listen to your experience of abuse and the impact it has had on your life. We will recognise the incident and express a sincere apology for all that you suffered while in our care.
This meeting is not about money. The Personal Injuries Complaints Committee considers financial redress separate to this meeting.
The Restorative Justice Meeting provides an opportunity for you to express your desires for how The Salvation Army may be able to assist you with obtaining some closure from the pain of the past. It is also a way for you to move forward in your journey of healing and peace.
A Restorative Justice Meeting will be set in a safe, informal and non-legalistic environment. You are welcome to choose the date and location of this meeting.
Before the meeting we will call you or your support person to ask what format will be most meaningful for you. We can explain how to expect the meeting to run and answer any questions you may have, just so you feel more prepared.
If you feel a counselling session (with a counsellor of your choice) either before or after would be helpful for you, the Centre for Restoration will pay for this.
What to expect at a Restorative Justice Meeting:
- Direct contact between the survivor and a representative of The Salvation Army
- An opportunity for the survivor and The Salvation Army representative to openly express their feelings
- Acknowledgement by The Salvation Army representative as to what happened and the acceptance of responsibility for those actions
- An opportunity for the survivor to hear The Salvation Army representative express shame and deep remorse for what happened
- A verbal (face-to-face) apology, followed by a written apology after the meeting
- An assurance that what happened was not fair nor deserved
- An opportunity for the survivor and The Salvation Army representative to seek answers to any questions they might have regarding the offending behaviour or other relevant matters
- An assurance that the failures of the past will not be repeated