Consistent with the first and second editions, the fourth edition of the Guidelines was developed by a Working Group of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery (National Roundtable), with significant input, advice, and collaboration with experts in the modern slavery sector, including people with lived experience and expertise. Developed by the sector for the sector, the Guidelines are intended as a resource for individuals and organisations working with people in or at risk of modern slavery.
In 2022, a scoping paper was developed to update the Guidelines, which were last revised in 2015.
Subsequently, a public online survey was conducted to assess the scope and usability of the current Guidelines. The survey closed in August 2023 and the results suggested that the Guidelines be updated to:
- broaden the target audience
- improve dissemination and promotion of the Guidelines
- update the presentation and content of the Guidelines to provide practical advice and share examples of good practice
- strengthen content, including by providing information on trauma-informed practice and engagement with people who have experienced modern slavery.
Following the survey, a Working Group was established in August 2023, comprising 12 member organisations of the National Roundtable on an opt-in basis, including people with experience of modern slavery who are employed by these organisations (refer to Acknowledgements for the full member list).
Consultation
Further consultation was undertaken to ensure relevance and usability of the document for the sector and its alignment with best practice principles and approaches. Two processes of consultation were developed for engagement with:
- People who have experienced modern slavery.
- Individuals and organisations working with people who have experienced modern slavery.
Individuals who have experienced modern slavery
Recognising the importance of working with people with lived experience, the Working Group ensured that lived expertise and knowledge were centred in the development of the document and embedded within its contents.
In early 2024, the Working Group developed a methodology to ensure that a diversity of views and expertise was captured, including those of individuals who do not necessarily want to move into the advocacy/leadership space, but would still like to influence the development of guidance materials.
The Working Group agreed on 3 key mechanisms to work with people who have experienced modern slavery:
- Specialist frontline support organisations working with people who have experienced modern slavery.
- People with lived experience employed through organisations on the Working Group (who were already involved through their employer organisation’s membership of the Working Group).
- The pilot Survivor Advisory Council (established under The Salvation Army’s Lived Experience Engagement Program, and re-funded over 2023–25 through the National Action Plan Grants Program).
Specialist support organisations
Four member organisations of the Working Group volunteered to support engagement and collaboration with people who have experienced modern slavery through their respective organisations (Anti-Slavery Australia, Australian Red Cross, Scarlet Alliance and The Salvation Army). This occurred through 2 key stages of collaboration:
- Round 1: sought advice and ideas about the scope, purpose and audience of the Guidelines, as well as inclusion of key content most relevant and important to people who have experienced modern slavery.
- Round 2: sought direct input and collaboration on initial drafts of the Guidelines, including reviewing de-identified case studies or materials provided by people who have experienced modern slavery that were included within the draft Guidelines.
People with lived experience employed through Working Group organisations
The Working Group included a number of organisations who directly employ people who have experienced modern slavery. These individuals have been included throughout consultation on and development of the Guidelines at various stages, especially during development of the scope and purpose of the Guidelines and various drafting stages.
Survivor Advisory Council
The Working Group engaged with 2 representatives of the Survivor Advisory Council on the Guidelines, in particular on trauma-informed care and key recommendations for individuals working with people with lived experience.
As outlined in tools that support engagement with people who have experienced modern slavery, such as the Lived Experience Engagement Spectrum and the Lived Experience Inclusion Ladder, the Working Group recognises that there are a number of ways in which people can engage with people who have experienced modern slavery. Australia is still developing its engagement capability in this continually evolving sector, with some organisations more advanced than others.
The Working Group recognises that the chosen approach is not the only approach available. The Working Group used the same processes outlined as good practice within the Guidelines (refer to Practice Area 4: Engaging with a person who has experienced modern slavery). This methodology does not necessarily pre-empt what future engagement with people who have experienced modern slavery may look like.
Overall, the Working Group engaged with over 30 people who have experienced modern slavery – their advice and direct reflections have been embedded within this document.
Individuals and organisations working with people who have experienced modern slavery
The target audience of this document is any individual and organisation working with people who have experienced modern slavery, who wishes to draw from the sector’s practical experience. Considering that the audience of the Guidelines had expanded, the Working Group sought views from across the sector and committed to consulting and/or collaborating extensively with stakeholder groups beyond the Working Group. Consultation with this group took a 4-part approach:
- Initial collaboration to determine the scope, purpose and audience of the Guidelines.
- Consultation on the high-level principles and materials to be included in the Guidelines.
- Expert review of materials to be included within the Guidelines.
- User testing workshops.
Consultation took place from March–November 2024.
Initial collaboration
- 450 stakeholders were invited to attend sessions to discuss the scope, purpose and audience of the Guidelines and provide advice on integrating content and high-level principles applicable across the entire sector.
- 14 sessions were held from March–April 2024 with over 130 people in attendance from a broad range of stakeholder groups, including: NGOs, service providers and special assistance caseworkers, business and industry groups, banking and investment, legal services, health sector, family and domestic violence sector, child safety sector, faith-based groups, migrant and refugee services, education services, academia and research, and government (Commonwealth, state and territory).
- Input from consultations was used to:
- shape and tighten the purpose and scope of the document
- expand on the best-practice literature scan developed by the Working Group
- support development of the basic structure and high-level content of the Guidelines
- determine next steps for future engagement.
Consultation on high-level principles and materials in the Guidelines
The Working Group held 4 extended sessions with approximately 25 attendees to consult on early drafts of the Guidelines and workshop high-level values, principles, gaps in content, and structure. An equally broad group of stakeholders attended these sessions, including NGOs, service providers and special assistance caseworkers, business and industry groups, legal services, health sector, migrant and refugee services, education services, academia and research, and government. The Guidelines were sent for review to an additional 7 targeted stakeholders and 3 individual consultation sessions were held.
Expert review of materials included in the Guidelines and user testing
Later drafts of the Guidelines were sent to almost 20 individual stakeholders for expert review and user testing. Subject matter experts were asked key questions about particular sections based on their expertise, as well as the relevance of the Guidelines to their sector, accuracy of information, gaps in information, risks and sensitivities.
Development of the Guidelines
From June–July 2024, following initial advice and feedback from all consultation sessions, drafting of the next edition of the Guidelines commenced.
After compiling and analysing data from consultations, the Working Group:
- compiled a checklist of key materials to be included
- marked up the third edition of the Guidelines for NGOs with information relevant to the edition
- developed a draft structure of the new edition based on proposed, new and existing content
- identified sections of the Guidelines to be developed by experts in the Working Group, and those where external reference/development was required.
This process led to the development of an initial draft to be used for the basis of the next rounds of consultation post-August 2024.
Over August–November 2024, the Guidelines went through an iterative drafting and consultation process.