The Freedom Hub

This was a great moment of recognition for 10 years of working in this space. A huge shout out to all our team, volunteers and supporters for your encouragement and work in helping the vulnerable in our country and pioneering business for good. Lynn Rasmussen Ben Popplestone CAPT Gavin Irwin OAM RAN Simon Mason Prof Michael Adams FAAL Ian Cooke Robert Walker Belinda Ramirez Westpac Foundation First Sentier Investors Tim Sims Angela Pond Commonwealth Bank City of Parramatta Faye Backhouse (nee Williams) Adrian Feben Kelly Beaumont City of Sydney Clover Moore AO Lucy Brotherton Sally McGeoch Chris Evans

It is quite exciting to be selected to be a ‘Champion’ mentor for social enterprise. “Funded by NSW Government through the Women in Social Enterprise Program, the Champions will help us reach, connect and support 500 women and non-binary people in SE across NSW and help strengthen the sector as a whole.” Read More here: https://buff.ly/4gm2Zhj #socialenterprise #secna #socialtraders #businessforgood #businessandhumanrights

Reflecting on a highlight from last year, while pondering next year…. This pic captures last year’s TedX event in Sydney. TEDx generously built us a stunning garden retreat and people dwelled in its beauty between talks, while we talked to them about the world of freedom we envision. We are still consolidating this year, but next year is exciting. Our board met last night and approved our plans, and we can’t wait to share them with you in our January newsletter. In the meantime as we close for the year, we wish you a safe and happy Christmas. If you are lonely, sad or bored think about volunteering with our team. If you want to support a survivor through this strange and foreign season for them, think about donating, and if you want to stay in touch with our 2025 plans subscribe to our newsletter (one more in 2024 to go out later this week) Thank you for your lean in and support this year! #thefreedomhuborg buff.ly/3c1tY2W

Our end of year Survivor School News and our Ethical Business News will be emailed out this week. Are you on the email list? Stay up to date by subscribing to our monthly newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gyjb9j3s #endslavery #modernslavery #humanrights #bizhumanrights

This week we farewelled Leesha. (on the right). She is off for a 1 year mat leave. We look forward to meeting Freedom Hub baby number 6! How we will function without her is beyond our ability to comprehend right now. But we are very, very happy for her. We love you Leesha. #freedomhuborg #team #family #friends #changemakers

Hey if you haven’t had a Christmas lunch with you work friends yet, you can make your Christmas party one to talk about! We are open for three days before closing next week. This is a unique way to celebrate the end of the year with good food and good wines. The Freedom Hub Waterloo is your go-to spot for an ethical, sustainable, and truly memorable Christmas lunch. Locally sourced ingredients, a welcoming vibe, and a menu that’s as delicious as it is impactful. Every dollar spent supports survivors of modern slavery—so your celebration creates real change. Book your table now and let’s make this Christmas extra special! Book: cafe@thefreedomhub.org or if you are a small group of under 6 people just turn up. Menus: https://lnkd.in/gyRBc9ew #christmas #worklunch #socialimpact #socialenterprise #businessforgood

Our newsletter with all that has been happening within our survivor school drops next week!! Don’t miss it - subscribe now here: https://lnkd.in/gyjb9j3s #modernslavery #endslavery #humanrights

Today is Human Rights Day, a day for us all to reflect on the freedoms and rights many of us enjoy here in Australia—freedoms that millions across the world are still denied. At The Freedom Hub, we are deeply committed to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, especially Article 4, which states no one shall be held in slavery or servitude, and Article 5, which declares that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. For 10 years, we’ve been making an impact: helping survivors of modern slavery here in Australia rebuild their lives with dignity, and partnering with businesses to ensure workplaces uphold human rights. This work has only just begun. The harsh truth? 50 million people are still enslaved worldwide—and shockingly, 41,000 of them are in Australia. It’s time to face this reality. We’re asking you to join us in taking a stand. You can do this by raising awareness (share this post is a start!) and join us in our vision to have a Survivor School in every state, empowering more survivors to reclaim their freedom and independence. Imagine the impact we can have in your local city or region. Find out more by receiving our monthly newsletter at: buff.ly/3c1tY2W Support a survivor this Christmas here: buff.ly/3pc56MM Meet with our CEO to be a part of our next 10 year strategy: buff.ly/4grG0kt #HumanRightsDay #EndSlavery #SupportSurvivors #thefreedomhuborg

Here is a Movie Recommendation! If you’re looking for something eye-opening to watch this week, check out “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy” on Netflix. This documentary dives into the sneaky ways big brands and tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Adidas, and Unilever get us to buy more than we need—without thinking about what happens to all that stuff when we’re done with it. It covers issues like products being made to break so we have to replace them, to shady tactics like gluing parts together to stop repairs, the film unpacks how our buying habits are manipulated. It even explains those oversized shopping carts and how websites are designed to keep us shopping longer. It’s wild how much thought goes into making us buy stuff we don’t even need. While it doesn’t cover everything about consumerism, it’s a great reminder to stop and think about what we’re buying, especially now as the festive season kicks in. Let’s rethink how we spend and make more ethical, sustainable choices. Watching this film is a great place to start. #TheFreedomHub #BuyNowDocumentary #EthicalConsumerism #SustainableLiving #PeopleAndPlanetFirst

Our volunteers are our heroes. As we continue to rebuild after the pandemic and this difficult economy, we have relied heavily on the incredible generosity of our volunteers. The work they do is priceless—they don’t just help us, they change lives. Every moment they give transforms the journey of survivors in our school, and helps our paid staff achieve our mission. The next two months are their busiest of the year, and yet, they continue to show up—giving up their time during the festive season to serve others. Words cannot express how grateful we are for their selflessness and heart. Thank you, volunteers, for your unwavering support and kindness. You are the heart of The Freedom Hub. ❤️ Join our team - next intake is Feb 2025: buff.ly/3c1tY2W #GratefulHeart #VolunteersChangeLives #TheFreedomHub #ThankYou