Supporting the Salvation Army with Skilled Social Work Recruitment in Melbourne

Strategic Social Work Recruitment Supporting Community Impact

When The Salvation Army’s Homelessness Case Management Service in Melbourne needed to retain skilled international social workers, McArthur Human Services delivered a tailored recruitment and workforce planning solution.

This initiative created long-term benefits for the organisation, three exceptional UK social workers, and the Melbourne community experiencing homelessness.

The Recruitment Opportunity: Addressing Workforce Gaps in Homelessness Services

The Salvation Army engaged McArthur to help solve an urgent staffing challenge. Three highly qualified UK social workers were working as locums, but visa restrictions prevented their continued employment. Without a solution, critical homelessness services in Melbourne risked disruption.

Leveraging our extensive experience in international recruitment and human services staffing, McArthur identified a sponsorship pathway under the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa program, allowing The Salvation Army to retain skilled social work professionals and maintain workforce stability.

Recruitment Challenges: Navigating Visa and Compliance Complexities

The project required careful management across several areas:

• Visa sponsorship management under Australian Government requirements
• Employer risk and compliance with Department of Home Affairs standards
• Financial feasibility for a not-for-profit organisation

McArthur Human Services collaborated closely with an experienced migration lawyer to design a practical and compliant solution. Drawing on proven success recruiting from the UK, Ireland and the United States, the team ensured all processes were handled with efficiency and transparency.

The Results: Delivering Sustainable Workforce Solutions for The Salvation Army

The outcome was a clear success. Through the new sponsorship arrangement, The Salvation Army secured the three UK social workers on two-year contracts.
The staff members are now fully engaged, delivering essential homelessness support programs across Melbourne and strengthening continuity of care for clients in need.

“Sean and his team at McArthur worked closely with us to not just retain these staff but work through the challenges that come along with sponsorship. They made the transition effortless and ensured that it did not impact on our service delivery especially in these trying times.”
– Louise Smith, Homelessness Case Management Service Manager, The Salvation Army

Why Leading Not-for-Profits Choose McArthur for Social Work Recruitment

For more than 55 years, McArthur has been the trusted recruitment and HR consulting partner for government organisations and businesses across Australia. Our Human Services division connects purpose-driven organisations with the skilled professionals who make a real difference every day.

We specialise in:

• Social work and case management recruitment
• Community and homelessness workforce planning
• Permanent, temporary and contract staffing solutions
• International recruitment and visa sponsorship expertise

With a deep understanding of the care and community sector, McArthur delivers people-first recruitment strategies that ensure workforce stability, compliance and cultural alignment. Our approach goes beyond filling roles, we build teams that strengthen communities.

Follow the link below to find out more about the project, our solutions and the outcome of the Salvation Army social work recruitment project.