New guide helps doctors spot modern slavery victims
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Healthcare workers in New South Wales, Australia, now have a new resource to help them identify people experiencing modern slavery.
The NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner launched the guide in Dubbo earlier this month, drawing on the experiences of Sarah, a survivor of debt bondage who found emergency departments and GP offices unable to recognise her situation. The booklet trains healthcare professionals to ask sensitive questions and directs them to relevant support services, without creating a mandatory reporting requirement.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners contributed to the guide’s development, recognising modern slavery as a health issue that causes both physical injuries and mental health problems. Doctors are well-positioned to notice patterns of abuse due to their ongoing contact with patients, looking for signs like a third party controlling a patient’s care or references to unpayable debts. Victim-survivors often trust healthcare workers more than law enforcement, seeking help from those focused on their needs rather than judgement.
The Commissioner estimates that 16,400 people in NSW and 41,000 nationally are trapped in modern slavery, and hopes the guide will be used beyond the state’s borders to help more people find freedom.
