Additional Referral Pathway Now Available
The pilot Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP) additional referral pathway
(ARP), announced in April 2023 at the federal budget, is now being offered to
victim/survivors of human trafficking.
The pilot ARP, led by the Salvation Army, can:
- Provide free and confidential support.
- Help a person understand their rights and options.
- Offer a person free legal advice about their experience of modern slavery.
- Help someone with their immediate safety and wellbeing needs.
- If eligible, refer a person to the Australian Red Cross: Support for Trafficked
- People Program.
Children under the age of 16 without a safe guardian cannot be assisted by the ARP and will be referred to child protection and the Australian Federal Police for support.
The ARP recognises that people who have experienced modern slavery have rights no matter what their age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, culture, religion or visa status.
ARP material explains the program as one, “designed to help people who have experienced or are experiencing modern slavery and connect them with support. The ARP is an entry-point to the Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP). Through the ARP, you can be screened and assessed for indicators of modern slavery, and you can be provided with a referral to the STPP if you are eligible. If you are not eligible, you can still be connected with other community-based services. Support through the ARP also includes safety planning, legal advice, short-term casework,
and assistance with immediate needs.”
People who would like support, or to find out more, can contact 1800 000 277 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Or you can find out more here.
The ARP means people do not have to report issues to the Australian Federal Police to receive support. The new ARP recognises that many victim/survivors of human trafficking are not able to engage with law enforcement. ACRATH’s Executive Officer Christine Carolan said the new ARP comes after more than 15 years of advocacy by ACRATH and other organisations.
“The announcement at the federal government budget in 2023 of this alternate pathway for victim/survivors of human trafficking onto the Support for Trafficked People Program was a huge achievement for us. Work on this important milestone started in 2005 when ACRATH made this recommendation as part of a submission to the United Nations,” Christine said.
To find out more about the ARP pilot, which is being delivered by a consortium comprising The Salvation Army, Anti-Slavery Australia, Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, Project Respect, and Scarlet Alliance click here.