Working with Trafficked People
Purpose
Dams Organization International Guidelines for Working with Trafficked People
Core Principles
• Survivor Dignity and Agency — survivors lead decisions about their care; support is offered, never imposed.
• Do No Harm — prioritise safety and minimise re‑traumatisation and risk of retaliation.
• Confidentiality and Privacy — share information only on a need‑to‑know basis with informed consent.
• Safety First — immediate safety of the person and dependants is the priority.
• Non‑Discrimination and Cultural Safety — services are accessible regardless of nationality, migration status, gender, sexuality, religion or disability.
• Trauma‑Informed Practice — recognise trauma responses and adapt interactions to reduce distress.
• Accountability and Transparency — clear governance, complaints mechanisms and regular review.
• Partnership and Coordination — collaborate with specialist services, law enforcement when appropriate, and survivor‑led groups.
Operational Standards for DOI (Identification and Intake )
• Screening — use a brief, conversational screening checklist to identify trafficking indicators.
• Immediate triage — if life‑threatening risk → call 000. If criminal exploitation suspected and survivor consents or safety requires, notify police/Australian Federal Police (AFP) via designated liaison.
• Informed consent — explain services, limits to confidentiality and referral options in plain language and via an interpreter if required; record consent decisions.
• Safety planning — develop an individualised safety plan before any referral or information sharing.
Case Management and Care
• Person‑centred case plan — co‑develop goals, responsibilities and review dates with the survivor.
• Holistic supports — ensure access to safe accommodation, medical care, mental health support, legal and migration advice, income support and pathways to education or employment.
• Child protection — follow mandatory reporting laws and child welfare protocols; prioritise the child’s best interests.
Confidentiality and Data Security
• Minimum data principle — collect only what is necessary for safety and service delivery.
• Secure records — encrypted digital files, locked physical files, role‑based access controls and clear retention/destruction policies.
• Information sharing — obtain written consent for sharing unless safety or legal obligations require otherwise; document all disclosures.
• Anonymised data for advocacy — use only de‑identified, aggregated data for reporting and policy work.
Partnerships and Referrals
• Referral directory — maintain an up‑to‑date list of AFP liaison, STPP/Red Cross, Salvation Army ARP, local legal centres, health providers, interpreters and survivor‑led organisations.
• MOUs — formalise roles, referral triggers, information sharing rules and review schedules with key partners.
• Rapid referral protocol — one‑page flowchart for frontline staff with escalation steps and safe‑handover checklist.
Staff Capacity and Safeguarding
• Training — mandatory induction on trafficking indicators, consent, safety planning, data security and referral protocols; annual refreshers.
• Supervision — regular clinical supervision and vicarious trauma supports for staff.
• Safeguarding — child and adult safeguarding policies, staff code of conduct, recruitment checks and complaints procedures.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Advocacy
• Outcome indicators — safety outcomes, housing stability, health and psychosocial wellbeing, legal outcomes and economic participation.
• Quality assurance — weekly case reviews, quarterly safeguarding audits and annual external evaluation.
• Survivor participation — involve survivors in program design and evaluation with safety and fair compensation.
Governance
• Board approval of DOI trafficking policy. Lead: Executive Director. Review: annually.
Intake checklist
• Safety check completed.
• Consent obtained and recorded.
• Interpreter arranged if required.
• Emergency contacts and safe contact times noted.
• Short safety plan created and given to client.
• Referral partner and contact recorded.
Data and records
• Minimum data only; encrypted storage; access limited to named caseworkers.
Training and supervision
• 1‑day induction for new staff; quarterly refresher sessions; monthly clinical supervision.
MOU targets
• Sign MOUs with at least three specialist partners within 60 days.
Immediate actions on contact
• If immediate danger: call 000.
• If criminal exploitation suspected: contact AFP liaison.
• Non‑police casework: refer to STPP/Red Cross or Salvation Army ARP.
Essential referrals to maintain
• Police liaison: AFP designated officer (populate local contact).
• STPP casework: Australian Red Cross (populate contact).
• Non‑police ARP: Salvation Army Additional Referral Pathway (populate contact).
• Local legal centre: (populate contact).
• Health provider: (populate contact).
• Interpreter service: (populate contact).
• Survivor‑led group: (populate contact).
Key risks and mitigations
Re‑traumatisation — mandatory trauma‑informed practice and supervision.
• Confidentiality breaches — encrypted records and role‑based access.
• Funding volatility — diversify funding and maintain 6‑month reserve.
Action this month
• Run 1‑day staff training; populate referral directory; begin MOU outreach.