Modern slavery still a scourge on society today
- Jun 10, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Content warning: This article discusses themes of modern slavery, including coercion, abuse, and exploitation. Some content may be distressing to readers. Support is available at the end of the article for those affected.
BY LERISSE SMITH
For many Australians, slavery is seen as a dark stain in the pages of history.
But the truth is far more confronting: Slavery never ended. Modern slavery is woven into the fabric of everyday life – hidden in homes, workplaces and communities across the country.
Yet there is hope. There is help. There is a lifeline.
Thanks to a groundbreaking initiative, The Salvation Army’s national Additional Referral Pathway (ARP) program is now on the frontline of support for those caught up in a nightmare of coercion, deception, and control. Often, it is their first port of call for help.
“Survivors can experience long-term emotional and psychological impacts due to the experience, and recovery might take a lifetime,” said Neenu Thomas, Program Manager of the Additional Referral Pathway program, as she reflected on the impact of slavery.
“It is a huge problem ... There are misconceptions that slavery is done and dusted. It has been eradicated long back, and nobody has been enslaved. Now that’s not true. Modern slavery is very much still prevalent across the world. It may not be in the same way, but it is still happening. And the truth is, anyone can end up in slavery because of a specific situation or circumstances.”
Modern slavery is often described as situations where someone controls a person or takes away their freedom and ability to make choices about their life, to gain profit or benefit. For years, the only official support option for victim-survivors in Australia was to go through the Australian Federal Police.
But that system didn’t work for everyone, and for some, contact with law enforcement was a terrifying thought. For those trapped in modern slavery – including human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices such as debt bondage, deceptive recruitment, servitude, trafficking, forced labour, forced marriage and at-risk of forced marriage – seeking help was often thought to be impossible.
But after two decades of relentless advocacy by non-government organisations for an additional referral pathway to specifically assist victim-survivors, a turning point finally came: the launch of the ARP Program in June 2024, offering a long-overdue alternative.
Now, victim-survivors have choices.
The introduction of the ARP program ensures they can choose to go to police, report the case and get support as one pathway, or choose to come to the ARP program for non-law enforcement support, including referral onto the Support for Trafficked People’s program or Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program for people who have experienced or are experiencing modern slavery. But if the person’s needs are different from what those programs offer, then the case workers connect that person with alternative options.
“The program provides access to people who prefer a non-law enforcement pathway,” Neenu said.
“Among those walking the path to recovery, some choose a different way to seek justice. Instead of seeking justice through legal channels, they turn to support, looking for stability, healing, and a fresh start through services designed to meet their immediate needs. It’s a path shaped by personal choice, safety, and the hope of rebuilding life on their own terms. With the introduction of ARP, that option is available for everyone.”
And the need is great.
Over the first 18 months of operation, ARP has received more than 600 enquiries. So far, 150 individuals have been formally referred for support.
Modern slavery can manifest in many ways and involve being forced to work under threat or harsh conditions with little or no pay, having no control over your job or personal life, or being made to repay a never-ending debt.
It also includes being tricked into work that is not as described, being moved or recruited through force or deception for exploitation, or being pressured into marriage.
At its core, the referral pathway program is about one thing: the individual.
“The main aim of our work is that one person,” Neenu explained.
“That one person that we can offer support to. To me, it doesn’t matter the number. We start to build trust with the survivor, make sure that they are in a safe place and that they feel comfortable before they share what they have been going through to see what support might help.”
Support is confidential, respectful, and non-judgmental – tailored to each person’s needs.
While many of those who reach out for support are women, the team also work with men and individuals of diverse gender identities. A specific approach is tailored for children and young people needing help. Each person’s experience is unique, and a commitment to meeting people where they are at. If a person’s experiences don’t include clear indicators of modern slavery, there is no wrong door.
The program will connect individuals with other relevant services, both within the Salvos and externally. Trauma-informed case managers conduct an assessment using an ARP-designed tool. They can also provide brokerage services for those impacted by slavery, including emergency support.
The program is led by The Salvation Army in partnership with legal provider Anti-Slavery Australia and in collaboration with other key specialists, including Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, Project Respect and Scarlet Alliance.
Affiliated programs include the Red Cross Support for Trafficked People program and Life Without Barriers Forced Marriage Specialist program. Salvos services such as Doorways, family violence and homelessness support, and counselling referrals can also assist victim-survivors.
So, how do people fall into situations of modern slavery?
“At times, it is an employer’s deceptive recruitment – the job that has been promised as a good opportunity was never their intention” Neenu shared.
“Or it can occur within an intimate or familial relationship … people who are vulnerable in other areas, like economically, socially isolated or living with a disability. They (the perpetrators) use their vulnerability. Some cases of slavery we have seen stretch back years to when they were children, exploited while growing up in Australia. Others are migrants who recently arrived with a temporary visa, and it may not be valid anymore; they are isolated and vulnerable.”
And the perpetrators? They are not always strangers. They can be family, a friend, community member, or a carer.
Unexpected to some, the majority of victim-survivors who have contacted the ARP to date are Australian citizens or permanent residents with diverse backgrounds. Cases come through word of mouth, friends, family, organisations and community outreach – and even Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“A young person might describe their situation and need for help in the ChatGPT portal, with ChatGPT suggesting ARP as a program to go to.”
The program has a website, an email address and a toll-free number, so people can use any of these to get in touch with ARP, and case managers can meet people in person in some states and territories.
A huge mix of people from all walks of life come through the program via different platforms, with most referred by another service provider like health, housing, FDSV or legal – but a significant portion of those the program supports have found their way to ARP on their own, a testament to growing awareness and trust in its services.
But there is always one harsh reality: Modern slavery leaves deep, lasting scars that take time to recover from.
“It is control, it is deception,” Neenu explained.
“This is about someone trying to control another person’s life, which is how the abuse continues. It takes a huge emotional toll and causes deep trauma for those experiencing it. We’ve seen people facing complex mental health challenges because of these experiences. For many, ARP may be the only source of support available, and that can make a real difference with specialist case managers supporting survivors with a person-centred approach.”
Slavery doesn’t always mean locked doors.
The control is often psychological, the manipulation is deep, and the emotional impact is profound. Victim-survivors can face high and complex levels of trauma, anxiety, and shattered trust – especially after being betrayed by someone close. Healing isn’t a straight line, and the trauma doesn’t just disappear.
“From a perspective of acute trauma, a complex trauma … it never goes away,” she added. “It is learning to manage and live with it. It’s like a new reality for many of the survivors, so providing that support to recovery becomes crucial, and it is also a collective responsibility as a community.
“Anyone can live a purposeful life if they are free from exploitation and abuse.”
When escape becomes urgent, the ARP team acts fast. From providing phones to coordinating accommodation and transport, they help victims find safety – even if they are still trapped behind four walls.
“We often hear from people saying, ‘I have nowhere else to go, and I’m being exploited.’ In those moments, our focus is on helping them take back control, working together to plan a safe exit and provide the support they need. The need for safe housing and refuge is huge.”
Looking to the future, standing up for what is right is all-important.
“The community needs to come together to fight against modern slavery,” Neenu said. “It needs to be the whole community coming together and saying that this is it, we are going to stand up and we are going to stand against modern slavery existing; we will not accept the abuse of power and use of exploitation in relationships, in places of work … We also need to have a better system with long-term support for survivors and where the perpetrators of slavery are held to account.”
Hope is also a key element in the fight against modern slavery.
“There is hope,” Neenu said. “Because even after experiencing this exploitation, survivors go on to move forward in their lives. People we were able to connect with otherwise would not have had the help they needed.”
And she counts herself fortunate to be part of a dedicated team, adding it was “amazing” the ARP program was able to support victim survivors.
“Everyone deserves the freedom to live a meaningful, purposeful life that is free from the constraints of modern slavery,” she added.
“We are able to open up that pathway so that they have the opportunity to move forward in life.”
The Additional Pathway Referral program’s website and contact details: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/additional-referral-pathway/ funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
