Updated modern slavery resources available

As a key HSV function, governance is an area where our Risk team has undertaken significant work to simplify compliance and reduce modern slavery risk.

As a result, updated resources are now available to help health services address modern slavery risks in health supply chains and respond to mandatory reporting requirements.

The resources have been refined to include further guidance on how to prepare an annual modern slavery statement and reduce modern slavery risk as required under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth).

Health services and suppliers with annual consolidated revenue of at least $100 million are required to report on the risks of exploitation in their supply chains and the actions they are taking to eliminate them.

“Health services together with HSV can play a key role in reducing modern slavery risk”, says HSV Executive Director of Finance, Risk and Governance John Delinaoum.

“These resources are designed to enable the healthcare sector to respond effectively to modern slavery risk and reduce the operational burden of the reporting criteria.”

HSV established a modern slavery working group in November 2022 to ensure alignment between HSV’s modern slavery risk mitigation program and the expectations of the sector. Subsequent consultations with representatives from across the health sector supported the resources developed by HSV.

The updated content is included in HSV’s Modern Slavery Risk Mitigation Program being rolled out throughout 2023 and 2024. The program aims to alleviate the operational burden of reporting requirements and provide an informed, consistent approach to modern slavery risk mitigation. It will also assist organisations to progress towards mandatory minimum standards.

According to the International Labour Organisation and Walk Free, nearly 50 million people worldwide are estimated to be living in modern slavery conditions. The risk is particularly high in health service supply chains due to complex multinational supply chains that make it difficult to monitor supplier practices.

For more information on HSV’s Modern Slavery Risk Mitigation Program, contact a HSV Customer Relationship Manager or email modernslavery@healthsharevic.org.au.