The Salvation Army
    (396 reviews)

    Company Reviews

    Working at The Salvation Army

    3.3396 ratings in total
    5
    142
    4
    63
    3
    54
    2
    35
    1
    102
    66%
    Rate salary as high or average
    59%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.5(394 ratings)
    Career development
    3.0(395 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    3.0(393 ratings)
    Management
    3.0(395 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.3(394 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.4(391 ratings)
    Ratings for The Salvation Army are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    1.0
    Community Worker
    Apr 2026
    Port Augusta SA 57001 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Don't do it, look elsewhere.
    The good thingsTeam workers and some volunteers.
    The challengesUpper management was completey out of touch with needs on the ground.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Store Manager
    Mar 2026
    Horsham & Grampians VIC1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Disappointed in organisation, lack of upper management, delegation of funds/resources questionable
    The good thingsDedicate volunteers who continue to give.
    The challengesAn organisation who rewards compliance over innovation. Leaders with questionable experience, out-dated workplace, OH&S is an after thought, low pay rates and asked to sign away penalty entiltments.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Employment Consultant
    Mar 2026
    Devonport & North West TASLess than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Worst experience of my life.
    The good thingsThe salary packaging.
    The challengesZero support or training offered to staff. Management have no empathy when it comes to mental health support. Staff turnover is high with everyone in my region looking for work elsewhere. Avoid at all cost.
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Retail Sales Assistant
    Mar 2026
    All Brisbane QLD2 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    Toxic workplace, too much pressure on store managers. Out of touch with the meaning of a charity.
    The good thingsThere is a variety of roles you can do while working as a team member at salvos, makes the jobs interesting.
    The challengesUpper management put way too much pressure on store managers, it makes the work place toxic. Always understaffed, despite having people hired who are not getting shifts, and yet management still complains about not meeting production targets. Will definitely waste your time, you will feel constantly under threat of being let go because they are apparently not meeting budget, despite getting all stock for free as donations and having every resource to improve the store and sales. It feels like the people who are giving instructions to the store managers have either never worked a day in retail in their life or it’s been 50 years, so out of touch. They expect you to drop everything for them but give you nothing in return. I have worked in different locations and see the same issues throughout, please look elsewhere for employment if you want to save your mental health.
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Retail Sales Assistant
    Feb 2026
    Yamanto QLD 4305Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    this experience was worthwhile in every way possible to a great community and great group of people.
    The good thingsI had such a great time with other employees, employers and shoppers the salvation Army have such a great community being so lovely and welcoming and kind they explained everything that needed to be done and if I was doing something wrong, they tell me in a nice and calm voice.
    The challengeswhen undertaking this job down at the salvo's I gained some work experience Aswell as developed, my skills and improved, on them but I still struggle with other skills to this day. To name a couple of challenges I still struggle with, communication skills, working under pressure, and team-based skill which I am working towards at the currant moment i wish to improve on these skills and develop more as I go.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Veteran Team Leader
    Feb 2026
    Spring Hill QLD 4000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Not Veteran Friendly Despite advising they are
    The good thingsSalary Sacrifice paying less tax
    The challengesNot Veteran Friendly
    4 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Tenancy Manager
    Feb 2026
    Adelaide SA 5000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Great office culture!
    The good thingsThe people, culture and work environment is amazing. Everyone is welcoming, willing to help and really work as a team. Everyone was accommodating and even upon deciding to resign due to office location and travel times, everyone maintained their relationship and continued to be supportive throughout the process. I made some lifelong friends and left on good terms feeling positive about my time with SAH
    The challengesOffice location was the deciding factor for me as travel between the office and home became overbearing
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Caseworker
    Feb 2026
    Wagga Wagga NSW 26501 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Destructive and Toxic Upper Management. Until that changes AVOID
    The good thingsThe community and clients
    The challengesUpper management is chaotic and constantly changing direction, which creates confusion and stress for everyone. Processes and expectations are inconsistent, and micromanagement is a daily issue. Staff are not trusted to do their jobs, yet we’re expected to meet unrealistic demands. Managers exploit community for their own limelight and organisations financial gain. The focus is almost entirely on money, not people. Employee concerns are ignored; confidentiality isn’t respected by upper management which makes the environment feel toxic. Upper Management discuss things to other staff. Good hard-working staff are NEVER rewarded, all tokenistic gratitude but will quickly stab you in the back or strategically push you out. When management makes poor decisions that damage community relationships, frontline staff are the ones left to deal with the fallout. t, even when the issues started at the top. it’s a draining place to work with very little accountability from leadership.
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Human Resources Business Partner
    Feb 2026
    Sydney NSW 20005 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Soul destroying. Not the place for workers with integrity.
    The good thingsGreat if you’re in upper management. You’ll be protected no matter what you do.
    The challengesWorkplace safety, culture, policies protecting only the highest level management
    12 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Former employee
    Jan 2026
    Mandurah WA 62105 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN!
    The good thingsLeaving and protecting my wellbeing
    The challengesI wouldn’t touch this organisation with a ten-foot pole, and I say that as someone who actually cares about social justice and frontline work. The Salvation Army leans hard on its reputation and “doing good” branding, but once you’re inside, the cracks are impossible to ignore. There’s a deep disconnect between the values they promote publicly and how staff are treated internally.
    13 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Support Worker
    Jan 2026
    Bunbury WA 62301 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Horrible People running it
    The good thingsHelping support people in the local community
    The challengesNo staff support Arrogant Officers Self serving management Lack of experienced staff
    10 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Reta assta
    Jan 2026
    Gawler SA 511813 to 14 years in the role, former employee
    Ooh dont work for them!!!very evil people,from managers up
    The good thingsNone,just when you think your doing a good job,a new boss comes in,and decidss your not good enough after over 20 years service
    The challengesEverything,rhe management team really need to see what really goes on the stores
    11 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Employment Consultant
    Jan 2026
    Rowville VIC 31787 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Talks the talk on Support & Culture but fails to deliver - Protect your mental health & read reviews
    The good thingsThe work itself was meaningful. Supporting participants to overcome barriers and move into employment was genuinely rewarding and seeing positive outcomes was the most fulfilling part of the role. The fortnightly ADO provided a necessary break, though it wasn’t enough to make the role sustainable for me.
    The challengesWhile the role is promoted as offering a supportive culture, flexibility and strong wellbeing practices, this was not reflected in day-to-day experience. The work environment felt highly controlled, with restricted staff interaction, challenges accessing breaks and daily meetings that involved staff comparisons and communication that undermined morale. Concerns relating to psychological safety and workplace wellbeing were raised in good faith with the Chaplain and senior management but were not consistently acknowledged or meaningfully addressed, ultimately contributing to my decision to resign. The role is heavily KPI driven and predominantly administrative, with increasing workloads and limited support. There is a significant disconnect between organisational values and the lived staff experience. Vacancies for Eplus are now listed under The Salvation Army umbrella on SEEK, prospective applicants are encouraged to also review Employment Plus specific reviews for broader context.
    13 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Financial Counsellor
    Jan 2026
    All Sydney NSWLess than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Protect your mental health and look for another employer
    The good thingsThe only good thing about working for Moneycare was being able to help some of Australia's most vulnerable people
    The challengesMoneycare management is toxic and brutal. They exploit their financial counsellors with unrealistic workloads and unachievable KPIs and will not support you to do your best work advocating for vulnerable clients. Why persecute good people doing fantastic work in an already challenging role with criticism and micromanagement?
    14 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Driving Instructor
    Jan 2026
    Bundaberg West QLD 46703 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Toxic management think twice
    The good thingsHelping the young people achieve their driving licence
    The challengesIf they got rid of the toxic management it would be an ok place to work. Unfortunately they sweep the lies under the carpet when caught out.
    8 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Hard worker
    Nov 2025
    Geelong VIC 32202 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    These reviews don't lie!
    The good thingsMaking friends with other coworkers to band together for mutual support.
    The challengesManagement: Direction - blind leading the blind Accountability - that's that? Honesty - from nobody Integrity - non existent Workplace culture is terrible
    11 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Peer Support Worker
    Nov 2025
    Geelong VIC 3220Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Awful. Lost my spark
    The good thingsLeaving was a very joyful day, do not recommend working at a certain building of the salvation army. Other sites are different
    The challengesLeadership was awful hurtful and crushed anyone with initiative. They'll side with the person who says they are the most offended.
    10 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Case Manager
    Nov 2025
    Melbourne VIC 30007 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Don’t risk your wellbeing and stay far away!
    The good thingsFrontline staff are passionate, values-driven, and genuinely committed to supporting vulnerable people. The work itself is meaningful and can be rewarding when you’re directly engaging with clients or communities.
    The challengesChronic understaffing and high workloads place unreasonable pressure on frontline workers, contributing to burnout and high turnover. Lack of job clarity is common, with staff regularly performing tasks above their classification level without recognition or appropriate remuneration. Top-down decision-making often ignores frontline insights, causing repeated issues that staff have raised multiple times. Admin and reporting expectations are excessive, reducing direct client contact and leading to performative rather than meaningful practice. Systems and digital tools are outdated, creating inefficiencies and duplicated work instead of supporting service delivery. Wellbeing and psychological safety are inconsistently prioritised—support is often reactive rather than preventative. Program messaging and branding can feel misaligned with the operational reality on the ground, creating moral fatigue among staff
    10 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Retail Sales Assistant
    Nov 2025
    Cheltenham VIC 3192Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    I enjoyed packing up things in the shop
    The good thingsIt was enjoyable, organising the things and packing things was good
    The challengesNothing much. I believe it was great
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Program Manager
    Oct 2025
    Darwin NT 0800Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    A progressive, client focussed organisation that strives to evoke conversations of "best practice"
    The good thingsGreat organisation structure, leadership, and resources to equip its work force with compassion, dignity and respect for ALL in the NT.
    The challengesOnly offer 4 weeks leave - Most NGO's provide 5. But have a procedure to purchase more leave up to 8 weeks.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Domestic and Family Support Worker
    Oct 2025
    Darwin NT 0800Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Extremely challenging, an immense amount of stress, and management expected unrealistic outcomes.
    The good thingsThe women I supported within the role.
    The challengesManagement, both upper and supervisors. All were unsupportive of entry-level staff. Insufficient staff training, a toxic workplace with a clique of case managers who excluded all staff not within it.
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Store Manager
    Oct 2025
    Sandgate QLD 4017Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Truly a soul crushing experience.
    The good thingsThe Team in store were amazing.
    The challengesI was absolutely disgusted with the working conditions in the Store. Extreme concerns with WHS. Training was an absolute joke. I was promised a weeks training with “a Buddy” only to receive 2 days at most. I was then left to flounder in the unacceptable mess left behind by multiple Managers who held the Position before me. I was told when offered the Management Position that my personality and vibrant disposition was exactly what the Team needed. It didn’t take long for my sparkly positive outlook to be crushed under what I would have to say was one of the most toxic, stressful environments in which I’ve worked - and I’ve been in Customer Service, retail and Management collectively for over 40 years. I left feeling unsupported, unheard, gaslit and as the recipient of lies spread from at least one other Store Manager under the guise of “feedback”.
    15 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Coordinator
    Oct 2025
    Toowoomba QLD 4350Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Up management is about number not people it’s toxic
    The good thingsMy team was great except for my upper management which were toxic
    The challengesManagement is toxic and not Christian at all lost my sister and then I was made redundant a few months later.
    8 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Volunteer
    Oct 2025
    Canterbury NSW 21931 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Being part of something that has such a good couse is very fulfilling.
    The good thingsThis company cares for their staff members and gives a great satisfaction regardless of you being volunteering or working for them.
    The challengesIn my case everything was perfect.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Coordinator
    Sep 2025
    Port Hedland, Karratha & Pilbara WA4 to 5 years in the role, current employee
    Really lovely. Management have been very supportive and allowed me lots of opportunities to grow and develop myself and the program.
    The good thingsGreat support and opportunities
    The challengesI have loved the last 5 years in the role- im hoping I can transfer when it's time to leave the town.
    1.0
    Team Member
    Sep 2025
    Blackwood SA 5051Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    bad, the place smells bad
    The good thingssome of the people there were nice
    The challengesthey made me clean their microwave and then fired me
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Community Support Worker
    Aug 2025
    Melbourne VIC 30002 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    Salvation army do not deserve you, run far away and never even think about applying for their jobs. Look after your mental health.
    The good thingsThe best part was handing in my resignation
    The challengesToxic management and environment, staff speak up and are continually shut down, no room for growth, promote people who toe the line and are happy to micromanage, do not care about staff mental health, you are just a number and you do not matter. They love it when people resign because it means they can continue getting away with their behaviour. It seems this is a common thread with other people in different parts of Australia, the issues are widespread.
    15 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Education Support Officer
    Aug 2025
    Lawnton QLD 45013 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    I would never work for this organisation ever again.
    The good thingsIt was a close distance to my home
    The challengesToxic environment, soul destroying environment, lack of support from leadership, false advertising in their job description and job advertisements, you are only a number and they wont try to stop you from leaving.
    7 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Manager
    Aug 2025
    Sydney NSW 200010 to 11 years in the role, former employee
    Worst years of my life! Wrecked my mental health and confidence.
    The good thingsThe staff on the ground.
    The challengesExecutive team and there push for unrealistic KPIs. The head National Director preached about culture however has a bunch of micro managers and protected staff leading this organisation into the ground.
    12 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Manager
    Aug 2025
    Devonport TAS 73102 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    Disappointing experience working with Employment Plus would not recommend as an employer.
    The good thingsSome really lovely people
    The challengesImmature reactive senior management. If someone was not liked by GM - they were pushed out. Very bad culture - very bad.
    4 people found this helpful
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