2 September 2021

Helping health services assess modern slavery risk in supply chains

As part of our program of support, HealthShare Victoria (HSV) has completed modern slavery risk assessments with 200 contracted suppliers of collective purchasing agreements in May and June 2021, with the findings shared with health services in August.

HSV provides leadership and guidance for health services in relation to legislative requirements, including the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (MSA) introduced on 1 January 2019.

Thirty Victorian public health services with an annual consolidated revenue of more than $100 million are currently required to provide an annual Modern Slavery Statement to the Australian Government, describing their actions to assess and address modern slavery risks in their domestic and global supply chains.

HSV guides and supports health services to meet their operational and reporting compliance requirements, including providing tailored tools and resources for conducting modern slavery risk assessments, as well as monthly forums to share key information and promote collaboration.

HSV continues to offer feedback to health services via the assessment process to help improve their progress within this legislative requirement, and has also recently reviewed health services’ first Modern Slavery Statements submitted under the MSA.

HSV Modern Slavery Risk Manager Sunil Rao says the review highlighted good reporting practices and further opportunities for improvement.

“All statements were compliant which is very positive, and we’ve also identified areas where HSV can help health services meet continuous improvement expectations under the MSA,” says Sunil.

“Information about due diligence and remedial policies can be strengthened, particularly in relation to suppliers engaged directly by health services outside of HSV’s collective agreements,” he says.

A report on the findings is being prepared and review outcomes were discussed at HSV’s Modern Slavery Community of Learning session on 25 August 2021.

The Community of Learning program provides targeted guidance in relation to health services’ operational and reporting compliance and fit-for-purpose practical tools. Recent activities include:

• May – Drafting policies to ensure minimum standards for conducting business.
• June – Implementing contract clauses to assist in mitigating modern slavery risk.
• July – Reporting on each of the seven mandatory criteria under the MSA and the type of information required to demonstrate continuous improvement.

HSV has also developed a supplier engagement template to foster collaboration between health services and their suppliers in identifying, assessing and addressing modern slavery risks.

“We recognise our significant role in reducing modern slavery risk in health service supply chains and supporting health services to meet their reporting requirements,” says Sunil.

For further information or support, please contact a HSV Customer Relationship Manager or the HSV Modern Slavery Risk Manager at modernslavery@healthsharevic.org.au.