The Salvation Army Drought Appeal

The Salvation Army has a long-term strategy to provide practical and emotional support for families in rural Australia

The Salvation Army has increased its social programme spend today by an initial two million dollars in support of families living in the worst drought-affected areas in Australia. This increase in funding is coupled with a long-term strategy, which will enhance the organisation's reach into rural townships, and it's provision of practical and emotional assistance. The Salvation Army is calling on Australian communities and businesses to generously support to the Drought Appeal.

The new Drought Appeal will focus on strengthening the capacity of families to survive, specifically helping to make the lives of the children as 'normal' as possible. The initiative will concentrate on those who are most at risk, providing them with:

drinking water supplies

counsel/pastoral care and emotional support

financial assistance with household bills

social activities in townships that bring the community together.

Major Lyn Cochrane, The Salvation Army's Drought Relief Coordinator, says, "We are taking a strategic approach to a major problem that's affecting thousands of people every day. While we've provided rural communities with drought relief for several years, the Drought Appeal initiative will formalise this part of our community service. It will allow us to help more people, and provide more appropriate and targeted relief."

"The complexity of working with rural communities is underestimated. The needs of the dairy farmer's family are very different to the dry land farmer, or the local store owner. You need to have highly informed and skilled workers out there helping people with specific problems. This forms a big part of our initiative; getting the right solutions to the people who need it most."

The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Commander, Commissioner James Knaggs, is passionate about the need for the Salvos to journey with rural families for the long-term. "Our regional workers see on a daily basis how the drought is impacting the family unit. Many people are tired and despondent and while we're doing a lot already, we still see a huge need and we're willing to do all we can to help."

"The impact of drought will be felt for years, regardless of how soon it may be broken by rain. Therefore, we ask people across Australia to dig deep and make a contribution. We'd like to see our initial two million dollar allocation doubled by public donations because there's a lot of suffering out there."

The Salvation Army will launch its Drought Appeal today at the Melbourne Showgrounds (details below), which involves rural community members from some of the worst hit areas in Victoria. Media will have the opportunity to speak directly with a farmer's wife and her children and a rural school nurse. A Salvation Army officer already working with families in rural areas will also be available. The Minister for Agriculture will present at the launch and singer/songwriter Paul Dillon will perform. He is the 'voice' behind the Salvos' Drought Appeal advertising campaign. He will sing his original song 'Tears from the sky' on the day, which was inspired by the strength of farming families and surrounding communities.

Westpac Banking Corporation will today kick off the Drought Appeal, handing over a cheque for $100,000. John Cashmore, Westpac's Head of Agribusiness said: "Westpac has been a partner of The Salvation Army for over 40 years, and it gives us great pleasure to contribute to a vital initiative like this. We recognise the need for assistance to those in drought affected areas, and have developed a comprehensive drought package in response. We are delighted to be kicking off The Salvation Army Drought Appeal with a donation of $100,000 and call on others in the corporate sector to support the Salvos' Appeal."

The Salvation Army is asking all individuals and businesses to support rural communities by making a donation today.

To make a donation, please call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or visit www.salvationarmy.org.au/drought todayOr visit your local Westpac branch.

Interview with Salvation Army Drought Appeal

How do we determine who gets help

We have workers out in the field - both dedicated to drought relief and through our community support services that assess contacts - case by case. It is through this individual assessment that a decision is made on what assistance is possible with Salvation army funds. There may also be direction on where other funding is available if they have not been accessing this.

Assistance levels are up to $1500 per family but special cases can receive up to $3,000 in payment of accounts. We are not paying business accounts at this time - although this has been done in the past. There is now a range of other avenues for business assistance that farmers can tap into.

Contacts come from a range of sources - mostly through networks such as drought relief officers on the councils, rural financial counsellors and some from self referral or through another farmer.


How are donated funds distributed to farmers;

We pay accounts on behalf of the families through our payment system. Supermarket vouchers to the nearest store are also used.

There is a variety of accounts paid - phone, car regos, house rates, medical costs, insurance, travel, petrol, - just depends on what is causing the most concern for the family at the time.

With return to school we are looking at an average of $500 per child in primary school and $1000 for secondary school.


What percent actually goes to the farmers.
We are running at about 90 % going to actual farming families - however we are aware that there are a lot more people out there who do not qualify for any assistance but are impacted by the drought eg. pensioners living in farm houses who need their tanks filled, farm hands who have lost jobs and need extra support beyond what centrelink offer. We have the opportunity to work with people who are slipping through the gaps of assistance and support them.

There is also a new social problem on the horizon - of people from the city moving into the vacated farm hand houses for the cheap rental. They are bringing into communities all their social issues. We may need to be developing some strategies for this particular client group as they will impact on our community support services.

To make a donation, please call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or visit www.salvationarmy.org.au/drought todayOr visit your local Westpac branch.

For those needing assistance from our drought relief service please contact:

Victoria - (03) 5441 7959.
Tasmania - (03) 6278 7184
South Australia - (08) 8379 9388
Western Australia - (08) 9227 7010
Northern Territory - ((08) 8944 6000
Queensland, NSW and ACT are advised to contact their local Salvation Army or Rural Financial Counsellor.