Modern slavery was a major focus of pastoral and social justice work in primary schools, colleges and kindergartens in the Rockhampton Diocese this month. Source: ACAN.
The diocese held modern slavery awareness-raising events in Rockhampton and Bundaberg, while Rockhampton’s Catholic Education Office released an all-staff training module on modern slavery.
ACAN lived experience consultant Moe Turaga, who lives in Bundaberg, featured in all activities.
On March 7, Rockhampton Bishop Michael McCarthy and the diocese’s pastoral council hosted Mr Turaga at the Duhig Centre in Rockhampton.
Mr Turaga shared his personal experiences of modern slavery in the horticulture sector with members of the pastoral council and discussed the pastoral needs of temporary migrant workers from the Pacific.
He thanked Bishop McCarthy for his support and encouragement.
“My ACAN colleagues and I deeply appreciate your leadership on modern slavery,” Mr Turaga said.
He also congratulated Rockhampton’s Catholic Education Office, which has made modern slavery awareness training mandatory for its 3200 staff for the past four years.
“Training is an important part of identifying people at risk. Many cases of modern slavery are identified because a trained employee responded safely when someone asked for help,” Mr Turaga said.
Rockhampton Diocese covers some of Australia’s richest horticultural areas. Local produce is picked mostly by temporary migrant workers – one of the most vulnerable groups to labour exploitation and modern slavery.
On March 15, Mr Turaga addressed more than 45 parishioners at Bundaberg Parish’s MenAlive Breakfast.
“It was great to talk to a mostly male audience about forced labour,” Mr Turaga said. “Women and girls are vulnerable to modern slavery, but lots of men find themselves in these situations too, through deceptive recruitment or coercion.
“ I am a big, rugby-playing Pacific Islander, so when I stand up and tell my story, it challenges people’s understandings about vulnerability.”
FULL STORY
