Lived Experience Engagement Program

Survivor voices making change

The Australian Government recognises that survivors have expert knowledge and lived experience vital in preventing, identifying and responding to modern slavery. To draw on this knowledge and experience, the Australian Government funded The Salvation Army’s Lived Experience Engagement Program to create a forum for survivors of criminal labour exploitation to provide advice and leadership in anti-slavery efforts in Australia.

The program commenced in August 2021, creating and facilitating a Survivor Advisory Council made up of six survivors of criminal labour exploitation. Advisory Council members took part in consultations with government representatives on several key government policy initiatives and participated in the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery, the National Modern Slavery Conference and several other engagement opportunities with key stakeholders.  

The project achieved its objectives to:

1. Develop an evidence-based, survivor-endorsed written model for ethical and effective government engagement with survivors of modern slavery, particularly criminal labour exploitation
2. Provide an empowering forum for victim-survivors of criminal labour exploitation to safely utilise their lived experience to create positive change
3. Provide constructive consultation to government and key agencies on how to prevent, identify and disrupt criminal labour exploitation occurring in Australia

The Salvation Army was subsequently successful in gaining additional funding to continue the Lived Experience Engagement Program, expanding membership to include survivors of all forms of modern slavery, including forced marriage.