Individual presentations from services on their programs supporting people who have experienced FDV and/or gender-based violence.

Human Trafficking, homelessness and the sinuous path to recovery
Melina Matthia, Program Manager for Salvation Army Trafficking and Slavery Safe House

When exploring modern slavery and homelessness in Australia, it is clear they are interconnected. The UN report by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery (2023) highlighted the correlation between homelessness and modern slavery which can be both a cause and a consequence of the other. The report found that people experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, whilst also being at high risk of homelessness due to slavery-like practices such as debt bondage, forced labour or having to escape a forced marriage. The Salvation Army’s Trafficking and Slavery Safe house is the only refuge in Australia dedicated to housing adult survivors of all forms of modern slavery and trafficking. Established in 2008, the 10-bedroom property accommodates adult women survivors (cis and trans) of modern slavery needing secure housing and a space for recovery, offering client-centred and trauma-informed case management. The Safe House also delivers an outreach transitional housing program in partnership with Sisters of Charity providing comprehensive case management support and access to headlease model to support access to safe and stable housing. Learnings from lived experience and survivor leader’s inputs shows there is no “one fits all” solution, unlimited timeframe for support based on needs is essential and centring survivor voices is fundamental to ensure appropriate solutions. We’ve also learned recovery isn’t a linear pathway and access to specialised services is key. The program’s work is relatively unknown in the homelessness sector and this presentation aims to present the many years of evidence-based practice in the provision of safe and stable housing, therapeutic case management and long-term support in the recovery from modern slavery. We aim to raise awareness on the specific housing needs of people who have experienced modern slavery, share learning from the many challenges faced when operating a non- government funded program and also share on the successes and stories of resilience we have been able to witness.

Helping Children Heal from an experience of FDV
Manda Rochester, WAGEC

Presenting a pilot project to prevent homelessness by providing holistic healing from Family & Domestic Violence and creating resilient families, this presentation will outline the model used to increase social, emotional and educational outcomes for children and their families. This presentation will have a focus on our Kids Council project – a consultation seeking to amplify the voices of children and young people seeking support from services. What helps? What hinders? How should services create a whole of family approach that provides what children and young people really need to recover from experiences of family and domestic violence. It will explore the ethical and practical dilemmas that emerge when doing research with children and young people and how we addressed those challenges. Subject to consent, we will present a selection of the creative projects completed by the young people and bring some representatives from the Kids Council to share their experiences of being part of this project and to address the conference – what do children and young people really need from services? We are currently seeking a Researcher to be part of this project and so it is likely we will have a contributor but this is unknown at this stage.