ACRATH, the national network of religious and lay people working together to combat human trafficking and slavery, is moving forward from its 20th anniversary with renewed energy and commitment, following a recent gathering of members.
By Debra Vermeer
A new president has also been appointed, with Sister Annette Arnold RSJ taking on the role, after Sister Clare Condon SGS completed her second two-year term.
More than 40 members, staff and committee representatives of ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) from across the country met at the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre in Sydney’s Baulkham Hills in March.
The two-day gathering reflected on 20 years of advocacy, and reaffirmed ACRATH’s commitment to ending human trafficking and supporting victim/survivors.
A highlight was the keynote address by Australia’s first Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Chris Evans, who commended ACRATH’s dedication and urged continued advocacy in Canberra.
“Your presence and advocacy are keenly felt in Canberra,” Mr Evans, a former Labor Senator, said, also stressing that survivor voices remain vital in shaping the national response to modern slavery.
Sister Sarah Puls SGS, ACRATH National Executive Officer. Photo credit: ACRATH.
ACRATH’s National Executive Officer, Sister Sarah Puls SGS, said the gathering was an important opportunity for members to come together, share their experiences and have their voices heard.
She said initiatives like ACRATH’s long-running Companionship Program, meant that members were often on the frontline of hearing the needs of survivors, which then informed ACRATH’s support and advocacy work.
“The Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Chris Evans, is a long-time supporter of ACRATH from back when he was in parliament, so he knows the importance of the work we do,” Sarah said.
“He was really encouraging and affirming of that part of ACRATH’s work and history, and he gave us some good fresh energy for another new project that we’re doing in terms of outreach into the Pacific.
“In that project, we’re targeting the countries that are sending people as part of the PALM (Pacific Australia Labour Migration) scheme. The aim is to build capacity and to help them understand modern slavery and human trafficking, and how networks like ACRATH and others can engage with government to raise the voices of people who are marginalised and need support.
“This is the kind of thing that ACRATH has been doing for 20 years; speaking for people who are very vulnerable in terms of modern slavery and human trafficking. It’s a great new development to be doing some capacity-building in the Pacific, together with networks like Talitha Kum, which is the international group of networks like ACRATH.”
Sister Annette Arnold RSJ, ACRATH President. Photo credit: Talitha Kum.
Sarah said that as ACRATH looks to the future, it is more crucial than ever for its work to be based on close listening to the needs of today.
“ACRATH has done lots of different things over the past 20 years, so it’s about recognising that not everything we’ve done before is necessarily the need now. So how do we listen really carefully to what are the needs now, and where are we particularly gifted and also called?”
Sarah said among ACRATH’s successful initiatives in recent years was the employment of Carla Chung, a role funded by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan for three years. Sister Taabeia Ibouri SGS, from Kiribati, has also had a close relationship with ACRATH in recent years, liaising with workers and authorities from the Pacific.
Carla, who is from Timor Leste, works three days a week engaging with temporary migrant workers, mostly in the PALM scheme for workers from the Pacific.
“It’s a program that has vulnerabilities to slavery and exploitation, but when it works, it works well,” Sarah said. “Carla works to support anyone who’s here as part of the PALM scheme, to help them understand their rights, and advocate for them when things go wrong or when there seem to be struggles.”
Sarah said that many migrant workers were hesitant to complain or to engage with government authorities out of fear of losing their employment. Carla’s advocacy on their behalf is a valuable resource, because she is trusted by the workers.
Carla recently appeared before a New South Wales Government inquiry into the experience of migrant labour in the state’s regions, speaking on behalf of the workers. She shared some of the challenges they face in leaving their families behind in the Pacific and coming to Australia for temporary work, often in isolated, rural areas.
One issue that ACRATH continues to advocate for is to allow migrant labourers who are in Australia on the PALMS scheme to have access to Medicare.
“They pay taxes like the rest of us, but don’t have access to Medicare like the rest of us. That can become a big deal when people get sick and that is one of our ongoing key advocacy points,” Sarah said.
Sister Clare Condon SGS, ACRATH President (2022-2026). Image: Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
Meanwhile, standing down as ACRATH President at the 26 March annual general meeting, Clare Condon SGS said that among the highlights of her four years in the role was the ongoing strengthening of partnerships.
“There continues to be a strong support, both in personnel and financially, from Australian Catholic religious orders, particularly the women’s groups, as well as new partnerships with civil society and other groups who are working in this same area of trying to combat trafficking,” she said.
“They’re all working together and supporting one another, particularly when they come together at the Federal Government’s Roundtable and provide advocacy together.”
Clare said that increased ties in the Pacific region and the growing presence and activity of laypeople within the ACRATH membership were also important areas of growth as the organisation looked to its next 20 years.
Annette Arnold RSJ has a long involvement in working to combat human trafficking and slavery, including serving on the ACRATH National Committee since 2022 and currently serving as the Talitha Kum Oceania Regional Representative.
Annette said she was honoured to have been appointed ACRATH’s President. “We have celebrated 20 years of ACRATH, which has provided us the opportunity to both celebrate and take stock,” she said.
“At the recent national gathering, the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Chris Evans, told the members that ACRATH is one of the most effective advocates in Parliament House, and the reason is that ACRATH members are not there out of self-interest, but for the long haul.
“ACRATH’s national membership ensures the necessary grassroots flow of information for effective advocacy. We have much work to do to build an impactful presence and continually respond to emerging and cutting-edge needs. It is both an honour and a responsibility to take on this role.”
