Practice Guidelines for Organisations

Help is available if you or someone you know has experienced, are experiencing, or are at risk of modern slavery.

If you have immediate concerns for your safety or the safety of another person, or there is an emergency, you can call the police on Triple Zero (000) at any time.

If you suspect that you or another person are experiencing or are at risk of modern slavery, call the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on 131 AFP (237) or use the AFP’s confidential online form. The AFP can help keep you safe, provide advice, and refer you to other services that provide accommodation, financial support, counselling, and legal and immigration advice.

The Salvation Army provides free and confidential support to people who may be experiencing modern slavery and can refer eligible people to the Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP). If you, or someone you know, may be experiencing modern slavery, you can contact the Salvation Army for free. Call 1800 000 277 (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday) or visit the Salvation Army website. Other service providers who can refer people requiring support to the STPP can also be contacted through the Salvation Army website.

The Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program, delivered by Life Without Barriers, provides individualised needs-based support for those experiencing, or at risk of, forced marriage. To access support you can call 1800 403 213 or visit the Life Without Barriers website.

Anti-Slavery Australia provides free, confidential legal and migration services to people who have experienced or are at risk of modern slavery in Australia. If you have experienced modern slavery, or you are worried about someone in this situation, contact Anti-Slavery Australia for free and confidential legal advice and support. Call (02) 9514 8115 (9am–5pm AET, Monday to Friday), or email ASALegal@uts.edu.au. 

If you or someone you know are in or at risk of forced marriage, you can contact My Blue Sky, Australia’s national forced marriage service run by Anti-Slavery Australia. Call (02) 9514 8115 (9am–5pm AET, Monday to Friday), text 0481 070 844, email help@mybluesky.org.au or visit mybluesky.org.au for support and free, confidential legal advice. 

Free interpreting services are available to help any person communicate with service providers in their own language. Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. All calls are free and confidential.

Please refer to the Directory of Services for more information about other services that might be able to assist you. 

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to First Nations people, their cultures and Elders, past and present.

We honour the courage and resilience of those with experience of modern slavery. By working with people who have experienced modern slavery in the spirit of partnership, we are committed to responding to modern slavery in a trauma-informed way, and acknowledge that their insights and lived experience are essential to shaping our response. 

Practice Guidelines for Organisations: Working with people in or at risk of modern slavery (the Guidelines) updates the third edition of the Guidelines for NGOs: Working with Trafficked People (Guidelines for NGOs) and sets out values and good practice for all sectors. Through these Guidelines, we reiterate our commitment to a response that minimises harm against individuals and communities. 

These Guidelines have been developed by a Working Group of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery (National Roundtable), chaired by Professor Jennifer Burn of Anti-Slavery Australia, with support from a representative of the Department of Social Services (DSS). Other members of the Working Group include: Attorney-General’s Department (AGD), Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH), AFP, Australian Human Rights Commission, Australian Red Cross, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Project Respect, Scarlet Alliance and The Salvation Army. 

We thank the people with lived expertise who contributed to and engaged with us to develop the Guidelines. We sought expert advice from over 30 people with lived experience of modern slavery and anti-trafficking interventions, through direct engagement with representatives of the Survivor Advisory Council, people with lived experience employed by Working Group member organisations, and in sessions hosted by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), drawing on their expertise on content and next steps. This process enabled us to reflect the diversity of insights from individuals who have experienced modern slavery at various stages of their healing journey. The individuals whose quotes are used in this document have provided consent and approval for their use within this context.

We also acknowledge and thank the many NGOs, peak bodies, businesses, unions, academics, office holders of scrutiny bodies and government agencies who contributed to the development of these Guidelines.

Feedback on this document can be provided to humantraffickingandslavery@ag.gov.au.

It has been an honour to lead the Working Group of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery to develop the Practice Guidelines for Organisations: Working with people in or at risk of modern slavery. This Working Group, comprising government and NGO members, demonstrates the strength of collaborative efforts in determining content, processes and consultation strategies. The development process involved extensive consultations with over 150 key stakeholders across Australia and over 30 people with lived experience of modern slavery.

The Guidelines outline good practice approaches for working with people in or at risk of modern slavery and have been informed by substantial engagement with people with lived experience. They are intended for individuals and organisations involved in the anti-slavery sector, including survivor groups, NGOs, schools, universities, faith-based groups, businesses, investors, unions and healthcare workers. 

First published in 2008 and updated in 2010 and 2015, each edition of the Guidelines has emphasised the critical importance of human rights principles, ensuring that those whose rights have been adversely affected receive necessary support and assistance. While we cannot undo past exploitation and abuse, the Guidelines outline good practice approaches, legal rights, entitlements and support mechanisms to ensure affected individuals are treated with respect and in a trauma-informed and culturally appropriate manner.

When we began updating the 2015 edition of the Guidelines, we underestimated the size of the undertaking. The past 9 years have seen significant changes in the modern slavery landscape and operational environment, law and policy – necessitating a considerable rethink of content and approach. Throughout this challenging process, the Working Group has been generous and collaborative. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all members for their thoughtful and generous contributions. 

This fourth edition of the Guidelines aims to influence practice enhancement by incorporating practical tips, tools, diagrams and clear language. As with previous editions, these Guidelines serve as a blueprint for good practice. We appreciate your feedback and invite you to reach out to us with your thoughts and suggestions.

Professor Jennifer Burn, AM, 
Chair of the Working Group
Director of Anti-Slavery Australia 

The Guidelines have considered in great detail the knowledge that service providers require to provide the highest degree of support to those experiencing or at risk of forced marriage (and other forms of modern slavery).

The Guidelines provide in-depth procedural information for frontline staff and organisations, whilst reflecting on best practice. At each point, they incorporate trauma-informed practices, which are crucial to ensuring appropriate support. The cultural component is of particular interest to me. Throughout the Guidelines, culturally safe practices are regularly referred to. A culturally appropriate response is pivotal to seeking and continuing to engage with a support service.  

The Guidelines are not only supported by extensive research and expertise, but they also place the voices of people who have experienced forced marriage (and other forms of modern slavery) at the forefront. As someone who had been at risk of forced marriage, I implore users of these Guidelines to take their time to read, comprehend and apply the expert advice provided in this piece of work.

I want to thank all those who have contributed to creating these Guidelines and know that this work will help support many vulnerable people.  

Habiba, 
Research Assistant, 
Anti-Slavery Australia and My Blue Sky
Lived experience of being at risk of forced marriage

We recognise different understandings of good practice terminology. The language used in the Guidelines reflects the preferences of experts in the field, including those with lived expertise and other expert stakeholders.

People who have experienced modern slavery

Depending on the context, the Guidelines use various terms to describe a person who has experienced, is experiencing or is at risk of modern slavery or is impacted by anti-slavery responses. These terms include a:

• person with lived experience/expertise
• person who is experiencing modern slavery
• person who has experienced modern slavery
• person at risk of modern slavery
• victim
• survivor.

The term ‘victim’ in the Guidelines is drawn from legal and program contexts. We acknowledge that the use of this term is a personal choice and not everyone who has experienced modern slavery will identify with it. We respect and support individuals in choosing the terms that best align with their personal preferences.

The term ‘person who has experienced modern slavery’ has primarily been used throughout the Guidelines to describe a person who has experienced, is experiencing or is at risk of modern slavery, reflecting feedback received in consultations with people with lived experience and more broadly.

Adaptations of this terminology are used to provide specificity to the particular context. For example, ‘a person who may have experienced modern slavery’ is used primarily in Practice Area 1: Identifying someone who may have experienced modern slavery, or ‘person with lived experience’ has been used throughout Practice Area 4: Engaging with people who have experienced modern slavery, to reflect how people identify themselves at different points in their journey.

People who have experience of modern slavery will have their own preferences for terminology used when working with them. Individuals and organisations should seek advice on an individual’s preferences.
 

People with lived experience of modern slavery may also use other terms not covered in the Guidelines. For example, ‘serious exploitation’ is a commonly understood term which can be more relatable and accessible to a person who has experienced modern slavery.

"The term ‘person with lived experience’ feels empowering, especially for those wanting to step into leadership roles. But personally speaking, for me, like many of us who are still, you know, healing or just trying to rebuild their lives, it might not always feel like it fits. …I feel that ‘person who has experienced modern slavery’ is more suitable for me. …It acknowledges our past without boxing us into that experience and it feels more inclusive of those at different points in their journey, whether we are still healing, rebuilding, or moving towards advocacy. It’s a good balance between recognising our experiences and allowing space for more beyond them."
– STPP client

"‘Survivor’ is the second choice behind ‘lived experience’. People deserve to be more than a survivor, you can live a better life than a survivor, hence why ‘lived experience’ is preferred."
– Member of Asian Migrant Sex Worker Advisory Group

"I understand that ‘victim’ needs to be used in the legal context. But otherwise, I don’t like the term ‘victim’ when you are generally addressing someone."
– Person with lived experience