The Salvation Army in Australia

The Salvation Army in Australia (nicknamed "Salvos" in Australian English) is an evangelical Christian church known for its charity work. It began operating in Australia since the late 19th Century. Administratively it is now divided between The Salvation Army, Australia Eastern Territory and The Salvation Army, Australia Southern Territory.

The first Salvation Army meeting in Australia was held in 1880. Edward Saunders and John Gore led the meeting from the back of a greengrocer's cart in Adelaide Botanic Park with an offer of food for those who had not eaten. In 1883, Major James Barker led the way to establish the first Salvation Army social institution anywhere in the world on a permanent basis, known as the "Prison Gate" program. Barker saw that prisoners being released from the Melbourne Gaol had nowhere to go and no work, so they inevitably re-offended and returned to gaol. Barker leased a small house in Lygon Street, Carlton, to provide accommodation for prisoners discharged from Melbourne's gaols. This led to the formation of the Prison-Gate Brigade, the members of which met discharged prisoners upon their release and offered them a home and the prospect of a job. The Salvos also involved themselves in finding work for the unemployed and in re-uniting families. In Melbourne from 1897 to 1910, The Army's Limelight Department was established as Australia's first film production company.

Eighty-four cents in every dollar donated to The Salvation Army goes directly to those in need. This is one of the most efficient rates of any charity in Australia. It is thought that the name of the popular biscuit by Arnotts, SAO, stands for ‘Salvation Army Officer’.

The Salvation Army helps more than one million Australians every year. In an average week, the Salvation Army provides an estimated:

From these diverse activities, The Salvos have grown to be one of Australia's most respected charitable organisations, with a 2009 survey by Sweeney Research and the advertising group Grey Global finding the Salvation Army and the nation's Ambulance Service to be Australia's most trusted entities.

Australia's George Carpenter was General of the Salvation Army (worldwide leader) from 1939–1946 and Eva Burrows during the 1980s and 1990s.

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