This section of the Guidelines aims to provide practical information, tools and advice at each stage of working with people who have experienced modern slavery and supports a holistic response from all sectors in Australia.
Practice Areas
We have identified 6 key Practice Areas, based on extensive research of current literature and operational procedures. These Practice Areas align with the stages of engagement with a person who has experienced modern slavery.
Practice Area 1: Identification
Effective identification is crucial to detect persons experiencing or at risk of modern slavery, and providing support. This section sets out key concepts and stages that all individuals and organisations should consider when responding to a person potentially experiencing or at risk of modern slavery.
Practice Area 2: Referral
There are a number of existing support pathways and specialist services in Australia that all individuals and organisations should be familiar with.
Practice Area 3: Support
Support is essential for healing and recovery. It aims to assist people who have experienced modern slavery to meet their safety, security, health, and wellbeing needs, as well as to develop options for a future beyond their experiences of modern slavery.
Practice Area 4: Engagement
Each person who has experienced modern slavery has unique expertise to share. Individuals and organisations are encouraged to consider the knowledge that people who have experienced modern slavery offer, and include their voices to inform policies, programs and projects.
Practice Area 5: Criminal justice
The criminal justice process involves many steps, including a police investigation of an alleged crime and the prosecution of a criminal offence. Some cases go to court and a person accused of a crime could be convicted and sentenced, or acquitted.
Practice Area 6: Additional protections
In some situations, you may interact with a person who has experienced modern slavery, who needs special protection and assistance. This person may be a child or someone who may be at risk of overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation.
Alongside these 6 Practice Areas, there is additional information on legal services, migration supports, repatriation and consular support, working with media and undertaking research.
Some important points to note:
- Not all individuals and organisations can or should be engaging with people who have experienced modern slavery at all stages.
- Individuals and organisations should understand their roles and scope of practice, and refer to relevant services when they need further support.
- The steps outlined at each stage are a general guide.
- Each person will have their own unique experience, and individuals and organisations should adapt their approach to the person/s they are working with.
- Individuals and organisations working with people who have experienced modern slavery should holistically consider the person’s entire journey to ensure continued support and the building of trust.
- The processes of interacting, supporting, working and engaging with people who have experienced modern slavery are not linear.
- Values for engagement, principles of trauma-informed approaches and intersectionality should be considered and applied in all circumstances.
- Tips, advice and checklists often apply to more than one Practice Area.
The advice provided in this section draws on the expertise of people who have experienced modern slavery.
The processes outlined in the Practice Areas below only refer to steps that should be taken when working with adults who have experienced modern slavery. For more information about working with children and young people, refer to recognising the specific needs of children.
Working with people who have experienced modern slavery
Identify
- Learn about modern slavery and getting your organisation ready
- Initial interaction
- Identification
- Get ready to refer
Refer
- Understand services required
- Consider how to refer
- Prepare referral information
Support
- Understand different support needs
- Provide trauma-informed support
Engage
- Determine the reason for engagement
- Determine an appropriate approach to engagement
- Plan the engagement
Two additional Practice Areas have not been included in the above list – Criminal justice process and Additional protections for people at a heightened risk of modern slavery. This is because not all people who have experienced modern slavery will choose or need to engage in the criminal justice process or access these kinds of additional supports.