Community, government, business, and survivor leaders convene to combat modern slavery at inaugural NSW Anti-slavery Forum

In a state first, leaders from across NSW local and state government, community service providers, academia, and business, will join modern slavery survivors for a two-day forum convened by the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner in Sydney on 21 and 22 May 2024.

“With more than 16,400 people in NSW estimated to be survivors of modern slavery in NSW, and an estimated 28 million people in forced labour worldwide, there is a growing recognition of the significant impacts modern slavery has on people, businesses, and communities,” said NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne.

“I am thrilled to host the inaugural NSW Anti-slavery Forum and bring together a community of passionate people committed to ensuring the human right to live free from slavery is a reality for every person in NSW,” he continued.

The first day of the event – Fostering a Community of Purpose – will include opening remarks from the NSW Attorney General, the Hon. Michael Daley MP, and a co-delivered keynote address from Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation’s CEO Dr Tiffany McComsey and Chair Uncle Michael ‘Widdy’ Welsh, entitled 'The path to remedy: unlocking our past to free our future'.

Hundreds of children were sent to Kinchela Boys Training Home near Kempsey between 1924 and 1970. Some of them experienced practices that would today be called modern slavery. The Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation was established to restore and reconstruct the identity, dignity, and integrity of survivors. Dr McComsey and Uncle Widdy will reflect on the steps taken to address intergenerational trauma caused by these practices and the path to healing for survivors, their families and their descendants.

Other day one program highlights include expert panel discussions on:

• The role of allies and institutions in supporting modern slavery survivors to safely find paths to remedy, participation and leadership.
• Strengthen modern slavery survivor’s access to safe, secure, appropriate housing.
• Building prevention and response capacity of frontline workers to better identify people experiencing or at risk of modern slavery and support their recovery.
• Modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers

The second day of the event – Fostering Responsible Commercial Conduct – will include a keynote address entitled ‘Migrant Workers in Australia: The Challenges of Detecting Modern Slavery Risks’ from Associate Professor Laurie Berg from the Migrant Justice Institute and the University of Technology Sydney Law Faculty. An expert on migrant workers’ rights in Australia, A/Professor Berg will provide insights into the structural vulnerabilities of temporary visa holders in Australia and offer recommendations to improve protection, support, and remediation for labour exploitation.

Other day two program highlights include expert discussions on:

• New modern slavery due diligence and reporting obligations for more than 400 NSW public entities.
• Achieving social impact through procurement policy.
• Centring worker voices in modern slavery due diligence arrangements to ensure more effective modern slavery risk identification, management and remedy.
• Addressing modern slavery risks in renewable energy value-chains while transitioning to a decarbonised economy.
• Emerging best practice in buyers and suppliers working together to tackling modern slavery in supply-chains.
• Tackling risks in the cleaning and ICT supply-chains