The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for Social Services
Member for Kingston
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
Member for Isaacs
The Hon Justine Elliot MP
Assistant Minister for Social Services
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
Member for Richmond
The Albanese Labor Government is establishing the new Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program and is investing over $9.3 million in the not-for-profit organisation Life Without Barriers to deliver the program nationwide.
Life Without Barriers will deliver intensive and tailored support services to people who are at risk of, or who have experienced, forced marriage, with funding provided over four years from 2024-25.
Services will commence in January 2025, with a focus on health, wellbeing and social support, including access to counselling, legal services and emergency accommodation in cases where it is not safe for clients to remain in their current residences.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the key goals of the program are to support victims and survivors to gain independence and self-determination.
"Funding provided to Life Without Barriers will give victims and survivors of forced marriage access to intensive and tailored case-managed support while they explore their options and legal rights," Minister Rishworth said.
"This will empower them to make informed decisions on what is best for them and their families."
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Justine Elliot, will today hold the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery (National Roundtable) and provide an update on the specialist program.
"Forced marriage is a deeply distressing form of modern slavery and it has deep impacts on victims, their families and entire communities," Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.
"Labor has a long-held commitment to tackling forced marriage, including the creation of the first criminal offences for forced marriage in 2013 and establishing Australia's first Anti-Slavery Commissioner this year."
"The National Roundtable is an important opportunity to bring together the expertise of government agencies, community organisations and key industry stakeholders to ensure we are best placed to eliminate all forms of modern slavery in Australia", said Assistant Minister Elliot.
"The Forced Marriage Specialist Support Program is critical to achieving this goal, and today's announcement is a further demonstration of our commitment to strengthening supports for victims and survivors of modern slavery."
The Albanese Government also expanded access to the Support for Trafficked People Program earlier this year through the Additional Referral Pathway pilot. The Albanese Government has invested over $37 million for support services for victims and survivors of modern slavery in Australia.
These actions support the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 and National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-25.
If you are currently at risk of, or have experienced, forced marriage, support is provided through Support for Trafficked People Program. Further information is available on the Department of Social Services website.
My Blue Sky can also provide you with free and confidential legal advice and link you with other support if you are at risk of forced marriage. You can contact My Blue Sky by calling (02) 9514 8115, texting +61 481 070 844 or visiting www.mybluesky.org.au
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family, or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au
