The Salvation Army operates in 109 countries throughout the world as an integral part of the Christian Church. Its mission is both spiritual and practical, encompassing the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the alleviation of human suffering and distress without discrimination.  Its objectives include the advancement of the Christian faith, the practice of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society of the community as a whole.  The Salvation Army Employment Plus remains committed and faithful to the Salvation Army's mission, now and into the future.

1865 The Christian Mission was founded in the slums of London by former Methodist minister, William Booth, who wanted to make the church more accessible to the poor.

1878 The Mission was renamed The Salvation Army. Since then, the organisation’s structure has been based on military lines to represent the battle being waged against poverty and sin.

1890 General Booth’s book, Darkest England and The Way Out, was published. It detailed a comprehensive campaign designed to assist the poor, homeless and unemployed.

1889 The world’s first free labour bureau opened in Melbourne, based in a shed next to The Salvation Army’s prison gate home in Latrobe Street.

1890s General Booth formed the household salvage brigade as a means of creating employment. A receptacle was placed in a convenient spot outside households where servants could deposit waste food, paper, rags, books, old bottles and other household goods. Jobs were created in the collection, repair and recycling of these goods.

1890-1983 The Salvation Army in Australia was involved in helping unemployed people on an individual needs basis, providing one-on-one assistance in conjunction with other Salvation Army social work (such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, Boys Homes and Youth Training Centres).

1983 General Eva Burrows (then Commissioner) formed Employment 2000 in Western Australia, in response to the rising trend of unemployment in Australia. This program received government funding and grew to operate in ten locations throughout Australia.

1995 The Salvation Army commenced delivering case management services. In its first year of operation, it assisted more than 5,000 candidates. Operating in 19 locations throughout Australia, it became the largest provider of case management services under the government’s Working Nation Program.

1998 The Salvation Army Employment Plus was established, growing out of existing training and case management programs. It quickly became the largest services provider to long term unemployed people under the Job Network umbrella.

2004 The Salvation Army Employment Plus, operates from 93 locations throughout Australia.