Prevention
Prevention is the most effective way to stop modern slavery in Australia and overseas. This is why Australia is addressing the drivers of modern slavery and empowering people who are vulnerable to modern slavery.
Addressing the global drivers of modern slavery
The global drivers of modern slavery include:
- poverty
- displacement
- gender inequality
- lack of economic opportunity
- lack of access to education
- weak rule of law.
Australia addresses these through official development assistance and other tools, including our diplomatic, legal, economic, trade and security engagement and policies.
In the United Nations and other forums, Australia's Ambassador to Counter Modern Slavery, People Smuggling and Human Trafficking works with the Ambassadors for Gender Equality and for Human Rights to highlight and address the drivers of modern slavery.
Australia will provide more than $4.96 billion in Official Development Assistance to overseas partners in 2024–25. This includes:
- $490.5 million for humanitarian, emergency and refugee initiatives
- $217.8 million for national and economic resilience initiatives
- $144.4 million for climate change and environmental initiatives
- $117.7 million for education and scholarships
- $102.3 million for gender equality, disability and social inclusion (including LGBTQIA+) initiatives.
Orphanage trafficking
Australia recognises that children can be trafficked into – and exploited in – orphanages. Australians can unintentionally contribute to child exploitation by visiting and volunteering in orphanages overseas.
Here is an example of what this can look like:
An orphanage actively recruits children from families and pays parents to place children in their care. They promise children will be well educated and cared for in the orphanage. The children are removed from their parents and housed in substandard conditions. The orphanage makes false claims that the children are orphans to attract donations. The children are exploited in the orphanage, including for the purpose of orphanage tourism. A number of Australian travel companies regularly visit the orphanage with tour groups. Some children are also sexually exploited.
The Australian Government discourages short term unskilled volunteering in orphanages and raises awareness through the Smart Volunteering Campaign and on the Smartraveller website.
Organ trafficking
Human trafficking for the purpose of removing an organ is a form of modern slavery in Australia. It includes when someone is coerced, threatened or tricked into moving so someone can remove an organ from them without consent. The focus is on the movement of a person for the purpose of exploitation.
In the case of trafficking in organs, the focus is on organs and their use. A trafficked organ may have been removed from a living or deceased person, with or without their consent.
Australia criminalises human trafficking for organ removal, with penalties of up to 25 years' imprisonment under Commonwealth law. This crime is different to the trade or sale of organs, which is a crime under state and territory laws.
Sometimes, people go to another country to pay for an organ transplant. This is called 'transplant tourism' and has serious risks. Be aware of transplant tourism's legal and ethical issues before considering it – read Smartraveller's advice on organ transplant tourism.
Raising awareness and reaching people at risk
Raising awareness of modern slavery and its warning signs in the Australian community helps people identify and avoid the risks of modern slavery. It also helps people to recognise when they or someone else might need help.
Find out more about how to get help for yourself or support someone else.
The Australian Government raises awareness of modern slavery in Australia in various ways, including:
- online information, including in community languages
- education, assistance, advice and guidance
- grant-funded projects delivered by community partners
- community outreach and engagement.
For example:
- The MyAus App provides essential information on family, domestic and sexual violence – including forms of modern slavery – tailored for migrant and refugee communities. It is available in 20 community languages. Learn more on the Department of Social Services' website and MyAus App website.
- The Government has delivered awareness raising campaigns aligned with World Day against Trafficking in Persons. You can watch an animation about human trafficking through a deceptive online job ad in English, Arabic, Chinese, Thai, Hindi and Urdu on the Attorney-General's Department's YouTube channel.
Australia's Modern Slavery Act also plays an important part in raising awareness among the Australian business community of modern slavery risks, including the role of business in addressing modern slavery risks in global operations and supply chains.
Preventing forced marriage
Forced marriage is one of the most common forms of modern slavery reported in Australia.
The My Blue Sky national forced marriage service, run by Anti-Slavery Australia, helps people who are in a forced marriage, or who are worried about being forced to marry, find out about their rights and their options. This service also provides information and guidance for people worried about a friend or family member who might be in or at risk of forced marriage, and dedicated resources for frontline workers.
The Speak Now project, delivered by Anti-Slavery Australia, supports efforts to prevent forced marriage and other forms of modern slavery in the home. This national project delivers education and awareness-raising in collaboration with service providers, frontline communities and young people from across Australia.
Preventing forced labour and other forms of modern slavery at work
The Fair Work Ombudsman is responsible for enforcing Australia's workplace laws. It provides education, assistance, advice and guidance to employers and employees, including vulnerable workers, in a number of languages. This includes through the:
- The Fair Work Infoline (13 13 94), which provides advice and assistance on Australia's workplace laws over the phone (and through a free interpreting service, if needed)
- The Fair Work Ombudsman website, which helps workers in Australia to understand their workplace rights and protections – including through specific information for migrant workers and other visa holders.
The Australian Red Cross' Work Right Hub also helps people find support if they or someone they know is being exploited at work in Australia. This online hub provides information for migrant workers, frontline workers and service providers across Australia, in several languages.
The Government also provides information to Australian travellers about forced marriage on the Smartraveller website.
Enforcement
Enforcing Australia's laws against modern slavery disrupts crime, holds offenders to account, and discourages other people from committing modern slavery crimes.
In disrupting modern slavery, the Australian Federal Police:
- Prioritise education and awareness raising to prevent modern slavery from happening. This can include direct engagement with people at risk and their families and communities when appropriate.
- Intervene early to remove people from harm when modern slavery does happen. Investigations take a victim-centred, harm-minimisation approach that puts the victim's needs, personal safety and interests first.
Investigating modern slavery
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the lead agency for investigating human trafficking and other modern slavery crimes in Australia.
The AFP leads a coordinated and connected policing response. They work with all state and territory police agencies as well as international partners, non-government organisations and other stakeholders.
The AFP has dedicated human trafficking investigation teams in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and specialist trained investigators in every state and territory.
Frontline officials – such as state and territory police, immigration and border officials, Fair Work Ombudsman inspectors and more – may come across people in or at risk of modern slavery when doing their jobs.
The AFP's Look a Little Deeper initiative supports frontline officials to recognise and help someone at risk of modern slavery, including by referring them to the AFP.
Find out more on the Australian Federal Police website.
Prosecuting modern slavery
The Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) prosecutes offences against Commonwealth law. This includes the modern slavery offences in the Criminal Code (Cth).
The Australian Federal Police and other investigative agencies refer matters to the CDPP. The CDPP does not investigate matters.
The Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth guides whether or not the CDPP commences or continues a prosecution, including a modern slavery prosecution. The CDPP must be satisfied that:
- there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the case
- the prosecution would be in the public interest.
Find out more on the CDPP's website.
Need urgent help? If you or someone you know is not safe, or it is an emergency, phone Triple Zero (000) and ask to speak to the police. You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.
