Ending Slavery in Australia: How Sally Irwin’s Cafe & Social Enterprise, The Freedom Hub, is Restoring Survivors – Ep 18

When Sally Irwin moved to Berlin with her husband’s diplomacy work, she had no idea how much it would change her life. 

There, she came face to face with modern day slavery and the sex trafficking trade, working as a volunteer to help enslaved, abused and traumatised young women.

On her return home, she founded The Freedom Hub – a social enterprise that helps survivors of human trafficking, who find themselves trapped in modern day slavery in Australia. Through a Survivor School, young women are being restored to health and independence.

And through businesses such as cafes, online retail, and event spaces, The Freedom Hub raises its own funds to do it.  

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Key Moments

06:55 – Sally is challenged, early in her career, by the poor integrity often found in big business. 

09:40 – Sally comes face to face with modern day slavery for the first time. 

10:54 – "I literally watched girls dying... They were selling themselves for 2 Euros.” 

12:32 – Once home from Europe, Sally is devastated to learn that modern day slavery exists here in Australia as well.

13:45 - How people become trapped in slavery in Australia; the role of The Freedom Hub. 

22:34  – The Freedom Hub is funded through its own business enterprises. 

30:41 - The challenges of being a startup.

34:00 - HR for start-ups: it’s important to get right. 

40:10 - Practical ways you can make a difference - individually, and as a business.  

45:20 – Plans for the future: helping survivors across Australia and internationally.

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LEARN MORE 

• More about The Freedom Hub 
• Explore all episodes of Getting to the Heart of Business