Social Justice Stocktake: Q&A with Jennifer Kirkaldy

Jennifer Kirkaldy says the stocktake reflects The Salvation Army’s commitment to working for justice.

The second-ever Social Justice Stocktake launched yesterday (20 February) to coincide with World Day of Social Justice. The General Manager of The Salvation Army’s Policy and Advocacy team, Jennifer Kirkaldy, has driven the initiative from its inception in 2021. Salvos Online journalist KIRRALEE NICOLLE got the privilege of asking Jennifer what it was like to take on such a huge project again, and what, from her perspective, were some of the key takeaways.

---

Can you describe your feeling going into this process? The first time you did this was in 2021. How did you feel this might go compared to the first time the team took this on?

In 2021, when we just beginning to imagine the Social Justice Stocktake, it seemed like an impossibly ambitious task to deliver a piece of work that was at once national and also hyper-local. Every step of the process was intimidating and invited doubt (about whether such a project would be worthwhile or even possible). I am eternally grateful for the many people who, despite their better judgment, gave us the chance to prove ourselves.

In 2024, while it was still a gargantuan effort, having learnt the lessons from the 2022 reports and with the sure knowledge that it could be done, the process was much smoother and more enjoyable.

Was there anything in the research that you felt was especially surprising or shocking?

In the 2025 Stocktake, we were able to expand some of our information gathering so we could ask about social justice issues people were experiencing themselves as well as seeing in their community. The difference between those two lists really drives home how much people care about their communities. For example, far more people were concerned about housing affordability and homelessness in their communities than were experiencing that issue in their own lives.

The real value of the report lies in equipping and encouraging anyone who cares about social justice in their communities.

Three other stats were notable (although maybe not surprising):

• The overwhelming consistency of concern about housing affordability and homeless at 71 per cent of all respondents. While we anticipated this would be higher than the 2022 Stocktake to have such a huge response on that issue highlights how acute the housing crisis is.

• Almost double the percentage of people identified Financial Hardship and Inclusion in the 2025 Stocktake as did in the 2022 Stocktake. We know from our services that cost of living is affecting many people in our community, but it was stark to see such an increase.

• Around one in eight respondents identified that family and domestic violence was an issue in their own lives. Although that figure is roughly in line with our general understanding of the prevalence of family violence, it remains deeply shocking.

Why is it important to take stock of how we, as a country, are tracking in ensuring there is justice at all levels?

There is a real disconnect between what people are telling us they care about and what gets through in the political conversations in Australia.  There are two things that make taking stock in this way so crucial, and they are both about empowerment:

• Firstly, we need to empower and equip people to have conversations about the issues they care about so they don’t get lost in political noise. In an election year, it is particularly critical that all Australians feel they can make their views heard to the people who are seeking to represent us;

• Secondly, there is a sense of frustration and hopelessness that came through the answers, suggesting that many people felt powerless, so we wanted to provide really practical actions that people can take right now.  We don’t need to wait for someone else before we can make a difference.

 Not many organisations have both the vision or the resources to deliver a piece of work that is both hyper-local and also national.  The Salvation Army’s commitment to working for justice and the fact that this commitment is lived out at every level of the organisation is the only reason a report like this has credibility.

Who are you most hoping might take notice of the data and take action?

The goal is that these insights will be useful to a wide range of people. While the focus for my team taking it forward will be on decision-makers in government, the real value of the report lies in equipping and encouraging anyone who cares about social justice in their communities.

What makes The Salvation Army so well-placed to be able to provide these insights?

Not many organisations have both the vision or the resources to deliver a piece of work that is both hyper-local and also national. The Salvation Army’s commitment to working for justice and the fact that this commitment is lived out at every level of the organisation is the only reason a report like this has credibility. The extraordinary efforts of so many different teams within the Army (I started to list them until I realised that there is no Department or Division within the Army that did not contribute in some way) is the only reason it is possible.