Noelene’s Push for Change

Sr Noelene Simmons sm has been part of most of ACRATH’s big moments; the moments that changed outcomes for trafficked people. She’s participated in the Federal Government’s National Roundtable year after year and met MPs from all political persuasions in a bid to achieve outcomes that improve life for victim/survivors of human trafficking. She knows first-hand the time, energy and resources needed to bring about change.

Hope and determination have kept Noelene working in ACRATH for almost 15 years. In 2017 she began a term as ACRATH’s President after 3 years as the NSW regional coordinator; she still manages the ACRATH website.

Each roundtable, meeting, and campaign brings change closer.  One of the biggest achievements involving ACRATH was the introduction of the Modern Slavery ACT in 2018. It came after many years of advocacy alongside other NGOs and policy makers.

“The Modern Slavery Act was the result of a lot of work by committed people. That’s what has always been important, no matter which side of politics we are working with. We always take the trafficked person and their issues with us. They are at the heart of what we do,” Noelene said.

Noelene believes the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery has been crucial in bringing about systemic change. However, it is just one part of the ‘mix’ and would not be effective in isolation.

“The roundtable involves formal working groups and networking groups, including the group of NGOs who did years of advocacy and research on developing alternative pathways for trafficked people, de-linking the services for people trafficked into Australia from a criminal justice response. This meant the advice to the roundtable was strong because we had done the work,” Noelene said. This work led to the introduction last year of an additional referral pathway to the Support for Trafficked People Program.

A roundtable working group also did years of work on supply chains and labour exploitation that went into the development of the Modern Slavery Act.

“Apart from the important formal work during the roundtable with NGOs, ministers and department staff, a lot of networking goes on during breaks that creates opportunities to speak one-to-one with relevant ministers and department heads,” Noelene said.

Nothing happens overnight in advocacy. It can take years of work, research, meetings, and a lot of hope to keep an issue on the table. She is always heartened by the respectful way people deal with each other and the open and respectful conversations that she is part of, despite the impatient desire to see changes.

“There is a great sense of collegiality at the National Roundtable because we all have a common desire to end human trafficking and support victim/survivors,” she said.

Many of the people Noelene encounters during the roundtable meetings are faces she sees again during ACRATH’s annual Canberra advocacy trips. It is a chance, in many cases, to continue a conversation or update a minister.

Noelene has been involved in ACRATH’s annual Canberra advocacy trips since 2010 and knows the groundwork necessary to take a team to Canberra, including a lot of pre-training and workshops to ensure each member of the advocacy team ‘is on top’ of the issues.

“One thing we always do when meeting with a minister or departmental head is to ask them what advice they have for ACRATH. Often, they will direct us to someone else who can help us with what we are working on and sometimes they will even arrange a meeting,” Noelene said.

Advocacy has made a difference – it works. Last year during the Canberra visit, ACRATH members thanked MPs for what has been achieved, including:

• the establishment of Australia’s first federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner
• the introduction of an additional referral pathway to the STPP, the Support for Trafficked People Program
• the introduction of the Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program
• the introduction of the workplace justice visa
• the introduction of new laws and regulations to enhance the rights of seasonal workers.

ACRATH’s advocacy comes at a cost. Volunteers who go to Canberra each year need to be trained and they stay in Canberra for several days. Help fund ACRATH’s important advocacy – donate today.