A new report based on the lived experience of modern slavery survivors in Australia recommends some practical steps toward escaping exploitation
These survivors have another critical message: current approaches to ending modern slavery aren’t working
To avoid being revictimised, survivors need stable homes, compassionate work environments, education, financial guidance and peer support
Losing your economic footing makes you a prime target for exploitation, especially if you’ve already been victimised. That’s the consensus among 18 survivors of forced labour, human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery in Australia, as captured in a new report put out by a coalition of advocacy groups.
What’s unique about the report – called Learning from Experience and produced by Survivor Connections, Project Respect and Fair Futures – is that it’s based almost entirely on the firsthand views of these survivors.
Their successful escape from coerced servitude, they say, depended greatly on economic empowerment. In practical terms, that meant having reliable access to a place to live, work environments that took their previous trauma into account, education, financial guidance and peer support.
Their successful escape from coerced servitude, they say, depended greatly on economic empowerment
Strip away one or more of these lifelines as survivors struggle to rebuild their lives and the predatory bosses will be waiting to once again take advantage.
As one survivor involved in the project puts it: “Economic empowerment to me means that no one has power over you because of poverty or disadvantage. It means that you can thrive instead of fighting just to survive. It means when people do bad things to you, you have a way to do something about it.”
I think just having access to resources and being able to be independent really changes everything
Modern slavery survivor
Another says: “If you have your own money, then you can live in your own place, you have your own control. I think just having access to resources and being able to be independent really changes everything.”
These survivors have another critical message: the approaches that governments are currently taking to stop the continuing cycle of modern slavery in Australia simply aren’t working.
Director of Survivor Connections Sarah Schricker – who is herself a survivor – says “this project was born out of the need to be a part of the conversations about our economic recovery and empowerment, rather than just being the subjects of them”.
CEO of Fair Futures Fiona David says first-hand knowledge of what it takes to recover from exploitation should inform all anti-slavery efforts.
This project was born out of the need to be a part of the conversations about our economic recovery and empowerment
Survivor Connections director Sarah Schricker
“Participants talked about major financial burdens they carried after their exploitation, such as having lost apartments they had owned, or being saddled with large debts related to their exploitation,” says David.
“Some described having to live constantly on the move, in their car with their children, either for safety reasons or for lack of housing. These are fixable issues that need to be urgently addressed.”
The report makes five key recommendations for reforming the way governments and other organisations deal with modern slavery.
Services for survivors of modern slavery should focus on restoring functional economic autonomy.
All anti-slavery efforts should be informed and guided by people with lived experience.
Support services should be expanded to focus on early intervention and prevention as well as long-term recovery.
Sustainable economic recovery for survivors should be embedded in all support programs.
Anti-slavery efforts across the board should be responsive to the trauma experienced by victims.
Executive director of Project Respect Carolyn Gowers says extensive consultation with people who have been victims is essential to making progress.
This report proves what happens when survivors are not just the subject of research, they are also the co-authors of solutions
Survivor Connections director of operations Matilda Constable-Webb
“It was important to us that the design of this project was truly survivor-led, to support unrestrained truth telling from survivors. Survivors responded, and were clear that they wanted their experiences known in order to influence positive system change. It is now up to all of us to make this change happen.”
Survivor Connections director of operations Matilda Constable-Webb says “prevention starts when systems listen. This report proves what happens when survivors are not just the subject of research, they are also the co-authors of solutions”.
Andy Kollmorgen is the Investigations Editor at CHOICE. He reports on a wide range of issues in the consumer marketplace, with a focus on financial harm to vulnerable people at the hands of corporations and businesses. Prior to CHOICE, Andy worked at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and at the Australian Financial Review along with a number of other news organisations. Andy is a former member of the NSW Fair Trading Advisory Council. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University. LinkedIn
Andy Kollmorgen is the Investigations Editor at CHOICE. He reports on a wide range of issues in the consumer marketplace, with a focus on financial harm to vulnerable people at the hands of corporations and businesses. Prior to CHOICE, Andy worked at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and at the Australian Financial Review along with a number of other news organisations. Andy is a former member of the NSW Fair Trading Advisory Council. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University. LinkedIn
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