What is a Survivor Informed approach?

Survivor-informed guidance is what happens when survivors’ voices guide your business decisions.

[written by Sally Irwin]

I’ve seen firsthand how empowering survivors of modern slavery creates transformative change. By incorporating their experiences into workplace policies and practices, businesses can shape trauma-sensitive environments that foster trust, growth, and innovation. For instance, I was recently running some modern slavery training at a large company that must comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2018, and one of their senior executives told her story of slavery many years ago in another country. Incredibly the impact was not so much about the story itself, but how she has overcome, how she was in an environment where she could share her diversity and lived experience, and how she works hard to ensure fair work and prevent others from this experience.

Then there are the businesses that go the full distance by employing these resilient individuals directly from our Survivor School. As a result they allow the survivors to upskill and work in a fair workplace. So those companies not only gain loyal employees but also contribute to breaking cycles of exploitation. The result? A workplace culture that’s inclusive, compassionate, impactful and helps vulnerable lives to be equipped for success.

 

Put simply a survivor-informed approach creates workplaces that are not only compliant but compassionate.

How Survivor-Informed practices can elevate your business?

Modern slavery affects close to 50 million people globally. But behind these staggering numbers are individuals with powerful stories of resilience and recovery. Here in Australia, the estimate is 41,000 people. I find this just shocking. Even if only one is in slavery we have work to do.

Businesses have a unique opportunity to impact these figures simply through the method they use to create their policies. The result can have a big impact on humanity!

Overseas organisations collaborating with Survivor Alliance have reported increased understanding of survivor involvement and leadership. This collaboration has enhanced the credibility of projects and garnered greater support from partners and funders. The Freedom Hub Survivor Advisory Board is the only one of its kind supporting businesses.

 

What Is a Survivor-Informed Approach?

A survivor-informed approach places the voices and experiences of survivors at the centre of decision-making. This practice ensures that policies, training, and workplace environments are sensitive to the unique challenges faced by those recovering from trauma.

I think that the best way to do this is to engage organisations working with survivors of workplace abuse and exploitation. We can see past the policies, and see them through the lens of a vulnerable person. Therefore, we can see the gaps and loopholes that can be used to deceive or exploit workers that many company executives miss.

Why Businesses Should Embrace Survivor Insights:

Here are three reasons I believe it’s a benefit for businesses to embrace ‘compliance with compassion’ with survivor-informed insights.

  1. Building Inclusive Cultures: Trauma-sensitive environments foster trust and reduce barriers to employment for vulnerable individuals. These workplaces not only empower survivors but also create a compassionate, resilient culture for all employees.
  2. Enhancing Reputation: Companies prioritising survivor-informed practices stand out as leaders in social responsibility, social impact and ethical innovation. Consumers and stakeholders are increasingly favouring businesses that align with their values.
  3. Creating Loyal Workforces: Survivors who are given opportunities often demonstrate exceptional loyalty and dedication, leading to lower turnover rates and stronger teams. (I should also mention, as many come from other cultures they bring creative thinking and skills we are often short of in Australia.)

 

How to Get Started:

  1. Audit workplace policies to ensure they are trauma-sensitive and inclusive.
  2. Create mentorship programs that allow people who have experienced trauma to share their experiences and insights.
  3. Partner with organisations like The Freedom Hub which assists with survivor recovery, to access survivor-informed training and resources.

For example, at The Freedom Hub, we have an Employment Pathway Program that supports survivors by equipping them with workplace skills while helping businesses understand the value of trauma-informed practices. By training businesses to be ready to employ survivors we bring unique perspectives to the table, offering insights that can help organisations shape a culture fostering inclusion and understanding.

In summary, by integrating survivor-informed practices, businesses can become agents of meaningful change, demonstrating that profitability and compassion are not mutually exclusive. These small changes can have big effects on the fight against exploitation.

I hope this inspires you to consider the opportunity,

Sally

OFFER: a free 30-minute deep dive into how to embed these tips, with our Ethical Business Advisory Team. Email us at: [email protected]

Discover more actionable steps to implement survivor-informed strategies in your workplace: Explore our resources.

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