Making a complaint under the Whistleblower policy
If an individual becomes aware of serious wrongdoing within The Salvation Army they may make a confidential complaint under this policy.
Serious wrongdoing includes, but is not limited to the following:
- dishonesty, fraud or corruption;
- instances of bribery or suspected terrorist engagement or involvement;
- illegal acts (e.g. theft, drug sale, violence, criminal damage to property, or other breaches of the law);
- unethical actions (e.g. dishonestly altering organisational records, engaging in questionable accounting practices, or wilfully breaching the Army’s Orders and Regulations);
- actions that are potentially damaging to the organisation or dangerous to individuals associated with it (e.g. substantial wasting of resources);
- actions likely to cause financial loss to the Army and its partners or damage its reputation or be otherwise detrimental to organisational interests;
- any other kind of serious impropriety.
This procedure should not be used for employment relations disputes, discrimination, harassment, relationships at work and other similar internal issues. Please contact Human Resources if these issues arise.
Complaints can be made by these people:
- a Salvation Army officer
- a current employee
- a former employee
- a former officer
- a person seconded to The Salvation Army
- an individual contracted to The Salvation Army
- a person involved in the management of The Salvation Army
- a volunteer in The Salvation Army
- a soldier in The Salvation Army
- an adherent in The Salvation Army
- a client
- a visitor
- a worshipper
- a participant in any Salvation Army activity.
How to make a complaint
It is important when a complaint is made that the person receiving the complaint is told that the complaint is being made under the Whistleblower policy.
The following information must also be provided.
- all facts describing the alleged event, issue or matter;
- the name of each person involved;
- dates, times and locations;
- facts relevant to urgency; and
- documentation, witnesses or other supporting evidence; and
- contact details of the person making the allegation.
The complaint does not need to be in a particular format but the ‘Making an Allegation Form’ below is available as a guide and can be used to make a report if an individual wishes.
Download the Making an Allegation Form (PDF, 76KB)
- Staff (including officers and volunteers) may make complaints to their Line Manager, the Chief Secretary or Territorial Commander.
- Individuals who are not staff should make a complaint to the Centre Manager or Corps Officer for the Centre/Corps they attend or access services from. If they do not consider this is appropriate they may contact the Chief Secretary or Territorial Commander.
- If the complaint is about the Chief Secretary or Territorial Commander, the complainant may contact the International Secretary for the South Pacific and East Asia Zone at International Headquarters, London (email: ihq-spea@salvationarmy.org)