Enhanced modern slavery program offers greater insight into supply chain risks

HSV’s Modern Slavery team has completed risk assessments with suppliers of 10 Victorian health services. A final round of assessments for FY25 is currently underway, and a further five participating health services will receive reports in early April.

The risk assessments are part of a broader program of work to support health services with risk management and the preparation of annual modern slavery statements.

Participating health services receive a tailored modern slavery risk report based on supplier responses, in addition to the annual HSV collective purchasing agreement report.

Under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth), organisations that operate in Australia with an annual revenue of more than $100 million are required to report on actions they take to address modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains each year. There are currently 29 health services in Victoria required to report annually under the legislation.

Executive Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service Shireen Jahan says partnering with HSV to conduct the risk assessments provided her team with an additional level of assurance when reporting to the board and audit and risk committee.

“We have a good relationship with HSV. Our procurement team has access to a lot of resources and training on modern slavery,” she says.

Director of Procurement and Supply at Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) David Cassar says the report provided by HSV forms a significant part of the annual DHSV Modern Slavery Statement.

“The work undertaken by HSV is invaluable for DHSV to meet its legislative requirements,” he says.

HSV’s Acting Chief Executive John Delinaoum says the risk assessments conducted with health service suppliers are providing a clearer picture of the healthcare supply chain.

"The materials we have developed to support health services help to build awareness for procurement and supply chain staff, and include information that can be displayed in public areas to inform the community about modern slavery risk."

He says it makes sense for HSV’s Modern Slavery team to carry out this work due to their streamlined processes and established expertise in this area.

“They can help to reduce the administrative burden on health services and free them up to focus on patient care.  

Health services, particularly smaller ones, often don’t have large procurement teams – the reports give them the information they need to help identify and manage the risks,” John says.

From next year, the risk assessment reports will include trend data to help health services measure improvements in their modern slavery activity.

Estimates suggest there are at least 50 million people living in conditions of modern slavery globally, and health service supply chains are particularly at risk.

For further information or support, please contact the HSV Modern Slavery team at modernslavery@healthsharevic.org.au.