Everything you need to know about modern slavery and human trafficking in Australia

There are an estimated 15,000 people trapped in modern slavery in Australia – people experiencing human trafficking, slavery, servitude, forced labour, debt bondage, deceptive recruitment, the worst forms of child labour, and forced marriage. The resources below will help you fully understand the extent of the problem and provide suggestions for how you can help.

Educational resources on modern slavery and human trafficking

UTS Modern Slavery online course

In this free, self-paced online short course, you will learn about all the types of modern slavery through examples and real life stories. You will also develop a better understanding of how we all intersect with modern slavery in our daily lives and what you can do about it. This course is suitable for high school students, university students, community workers, front line responders, educators, and Australian community members who want to learn more about modern slavery, human rights and social justice issues.

Modern Slavery Teaching Kit for Secondary Students

Developed by ACRATH, this teaching kit has been prepared for secondary school teachers to assist in educating and raising consciousness about the issue of human trafficking.

Radio and podcasts about modern slavery and human trafficking

Big Ideas with Paul Barclay – Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Australia: Where to Next?

Under the Modern Slavery Act, businesses are required to assess the risk of slavery in their operations – down the complete supply chain. Presented by the Monash University Migration and Inclusion Centre, an expert panel discusses how policy, advocacy and practise has evolved in Australia and internationally.

Invisible Heroes – Investigating Human Trafficking: Det Supt Jayne Crossling

A senior member of the federal police domestic violence task force, Det Supt Crossling identifies an area of significant focus and deep concern currently attracting little to no attention from the wider public: human trafficking in the form of child brides still increasing in Australia’s suburban fringes. We investigate how and why this practise continues unabated and how our forces are striving to stymy it without tearing delicate cultural fabric or sensibilities.

Invisible Heroes – Child Brides and Forced Marriages: Det. Sgt. Trevor Russell

Trevor Russell started out his career wanting to be an economist. So how did he end up investigating forced child marriages for the Australian Federal Police? In part two of this exploration of Australia’s victim-based crimes, Det Sgt Trevor Russell takes us deep into what it’s like investigating forced child marriage in Australia.

Nightlife with Philip Clark – Modern Slavery

If slavery is illegal in Australia, why is it still happening? Helping us find some answers are Professor Jennifer Burn, founder director of Anti-Slavery Australia; David Cooke, Chair of the UN Global Compact Network Australia; and Vanessa Zimmerman, CEO of business and human rights advisory firm Pillar Two.

The Business of Sustainable Leadership

This episode of the UNSW Business School’s The Business Of Leadership podcast examines sustainable business models and a prevalent issue in global supply chains — modern slavery.

Videos and webinars about modern slavery and human trafficking

A Different Lens: Exposing Modern Slavery

Sometimes the answer isn’t as simple as criminalising these acts. In many cases it’s also a societal or family issue, which complicates the motivations for victims to report their situations. It begs the question: how do we stop the exploitation of people? Produced by Monash University.

Channel 10’s The Project: Modern Slavery

The Global Slavery Index 2023 estimates there are 50 million people trapped in conditions of modern slavery around the world. Segment features Dr Martijn Boersma, Associate Professor Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery at The University of Notre Dame Australia; Freya Dinshaw, Senior Lawyer at Human Rights Law Centre; and Grace Forrest, Director of Walk Free.

What is Modern Slavery?

Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute and expert on modern slavery and supply chain responsibility for human rights Professor Justine Nolan provides an introduction to modern slavery.

UNSW Legal Hour Webinar: Modern Slavery

What do you think about when you hear the word slavery? The clothes we wear, the coffee we drink, the food we eat – all of these are the end products of long supply chains tainted by modern slavery. Hear from a dynamic panel of business and human rights leaders on the topic of modern slavery.

When the Exploited Become the Exploiters

Flinders University PhD student Alexandra Baxter shares her research on the incidence and characteristics of female human trafficking victims who become the offender.

Organisations working to fight modern slavery and human trafficking in Australia

ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) works to eliminate human trafficking and the harm it causes in Australia, the Asia Pacific region and globally through advocacy and education.

AFP (Australian Federal Police) is Australia’s national policing agency, working to protect Australians and Australia’s interests from serious criminal threats, like human trafficking and slavery.

Anti-Slavery Australia is the only specialist legal practice, research and policy centre committed to the abolition of modern slavery in Australia. The centre is based at the University of Technology Sydney’s Faculty of Law.

Be Slavery Free is an Australian coalition of civil society campaigning against modern slavery, human trafficking, forced and child labour.

My Blue Sky is Australia’s dedicated forced marriage portal providing information, support and legal advice to people in or at risk of forced marriages. My Blue Sky is managed by Anti-Slavery Australia.

Red Cross offers support to people who have experienced human trafficking, forced labour or forced marriage. The program can provide a caseworker, financial support, access to health and accommodation services, counselling and more, and is funded by the Department of Social Services under the Support for Trafficked People Program.

The Freedom Hub runs a cafe, event venue and online retail social enterprises to fund a Survivor School and peer support program for survivors of modern slavery in Australia.

The Salvation Army empowers survivors of exploitation and slavery and engages community, business and government to recognise and act to end modern slavery in Australia. It also operates a Safe House for survivors.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation and The Salvation Army have joined together to provide transitional housing assistance and support to survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking who are ready to become independent, helping them build a new life after their ordeal.

Walk Free is an international human rights group focused on the eradication of modern slavery in all its forms. Based in Perth, Western Australia, Walk Free is creator of the Global Slavery Index, the world’s leading data set on modern slavery, which underpins policy and response to this human rights abuse globally.

What to do if you suspect someone is trapped in modern slavery

As advised by Anti-Slavery Australia:

1. You should be careful that any actions you take do not harm a victim or survivor of modern slavery. Never publicly disclose personal information without informed consent.
2. In emergencies, where there is immediate danger, or where the situation involves a child, call Triple 0 (000).
3. Anti-Slavery Australia can provide access to free and confidential legal and migration advice to anyone in modern slavery. Call 02 9514 8115 or visit antislavery.org.au.
4. To report modern slavery in Australia call the Australian Federal Police on 131 237 or report through their website afp.gov.au.