Â鶹ÊÓƵ's commitment to eradicating modern slavery
Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s vision – to provide knowledge leadership for a better world, through educating the brightest minds and amplifying research that creates positive change – would not be achievable without upholding the highest levels of integrity and transparency in its commitment to human rights.
- Â鶹ÊÓƵ's response to modern slavery
- Students
- Modern slavery statements
- Resources and training
- Report modern slavery concerns
Modern slavery is when coercion, threats or deception are used to exploit individuals and deprive them of their freedom.
These serious crimes affect millions globally, and include people trafficking, forced servitude, debt bondage, child labour, and deceptive recruiting for labour or services.
Modern slavery exists in Australia today.
As a top 50 global university, Â鶹ÊÓƵ recognises our duty to take a robust and sustained approach to addressing modern slavery risks within our operations and supply chain and ensure that our frameworks and processes identify and minimise these risks.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ strives to make an impact in the fight against modern slavery, supported with significant involvement from its senior management, internal champions and its cross-functional working group throughout 2021 and beyond.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s annual modern slavery statements summarise the steps taken by Â鶹ÊÓƵ and its controlled entities to identify, mitigate and manage the risk of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains.
View the latest Â鶹ÊÓƵ modern slavery statement (PDF, 7.8 MB)
View the working group Terms of Reference (PDF, 119.7 KB)
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You may be at risk of experiencing exploitation in Australia and overseas.Ìý
The risk is greater for students who:
- don’t have many close support networks
- are learning English
- aren’t aware of the labour laws in Australia
- have a limited income.
Signs of slavery
While these situations aren't always modern slavery on their own, they often indicate more serious issues and can lead to modern slavery.
You may be in a situation of modern slavery if you:
- can’t access or control your passport or other identification documents
- feel intimidated or threatened by someone who has power over you (such as an employer or landlord)
- experience physical or sexual violence or abuse are isolated, controlled or restricted in your communication and movement
- are offered a job that you didn’t apply for aren’t paid or are underpaid for your work
- are forced to repay a large debt from your wages or pay excessive fees for accommodation, food, transport or training
- live or work in abusive or unsafe conditions that are difficult to leave.
Vulnerable students are also at greater risk of cyber scams which could lead to modern slavery. Ìýon Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Cyber security site.Ìý
Help for studentsÌý
If you’re stuck in a concerning situation or experiencing modern slavery, help is available.Ìý
For general information and questions,Ìý.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ resources
Support at Â鶹ÊÓƵ
Report a modern slavery incident or concern
If you or someone you know is in danger or is unsafe, seek help.
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Specialised information and support
Depending on the type of situation you are experiencing, more direct support and resources might be valuable.Ìý
Employment
You might be vulnerable to exploitation at work, especially if you have visa conditions or restrictions. Employers may threaten to cancel your visa or use your visa as an excuse to underpay you.Ìý
You can seek help about exploitation without fearingÌýyour visa will be cancelled under .Ìý
The Fair Work OmbudsmanÌýensures workplaces are equal and fair in Australia.
- ​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹ÌýorÌý.
- Ìýas an international student on Study Australia.Ìý
Placements and work experience
Â鶹ÊÓƵ investigates placement organisations before applications are opened to students.
However, there’s still risk that students, particularly those with placements in high-risk countries or industries, could be threatened with academic consequences and exploited to work excessive hours.Ìý
If you have any concerns related to a WIL or work experience:
- contactÌý
- seeÌý.
Forced marriage
A forced marriage is when person gets married because they have been coerced, threatened, deceived, or are incapable of understanding what marriage will mean for them (for example, because they are too young).
Anyone can be a victim regardless of their cultural group, religion, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation.
An arranged marriage is different to a forced marriage – in an arranged marriage, both people freely consent and can refuse to get married.Ìý
Free and confidential legal and migration support is available.Ìý
- .
Rentals and housingÌý
If you’re struggling to find a rental, avoid agreeing to unfair conditions and situations that you wouldn’t normally accept.Ìý
It’s important to know your legal rights as a tenant to prevent exploitation, especially if you don’t have local knowledge of the rental market.
- Ìý
Recruitment agents
Unauthorised internationalÌýrecruitment agents might attempt to scam students by offering illegitimate study opportunities or make false promises of paid work.
Make sure your agent is registered with Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
Forced movement
Human trafficking may involve forcing or tricking someone into travelling to a different country, including Australia, to exploit them.Ìý
Advice and support is available.
In line with Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s legislative requirements under the Modern Slavery Act (2018), the University publishes an annual modern slavery statement. This statement outlines activities we undertake to engage the Â鶹ÊÓƵ community and reduce risk in the supply chain and university operations over the reporting period.
Modern Slavery Statement 2023 (PDF, 7.8 MB)
View our historical modern slavery statements on the Australian Government's Modern Slavery Statement Register.
The following resources provide more information about modern slavery, and how businesses and organisations can understand and minimise the risk that their operations and supply chains may be contributing, directly or indirectly, to modern slavery practices.
Content warning: information contained in the following links portrays victims of exploitation and describes their experiences, which may be distressing to some readers.
Staff resources
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Webinar
This informative webinar provides information on Â鶹ÊÓƵ's approach to identifying and addressing modern slavery risks.
Policies
| Policy | Purpose |
|---|---|
| This policy demonstrates the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Senate and management’s commitment to the effective and efficient governance and management of the University. | |
| The Staff Code of Conduct Policy sets out the ethical principles that the University requires staff members to comply with in the performance of their roles at the University. Â鶹ÊÓƵ has zero tolerance for intentional and material breaches of Â鶹ÊÓƵ Values and Code of Conduct. University staff are required to draw on evidence and reason in their decision-making to establish probity when taking actions to realise the University’s purpose. | |
| The Enterprise Risk Management Framework Policy provides the overall framework, direction and oversight for the systematic, disciplined and consistent identification and assessment of risks (including opportunities) and for their effective and efficient management. Â鶹ÊÓƵ adopts an enterprise approach to risk management and ensures its risk management framework, processes and practices recognise the impact of human, cultural and environmental factors on University objectives. | |
| The Procurement Policy aligns with and implements Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s obligations under the Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP). Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s key procurement objectives include engaging in economically, socially, environmentally and ethically responsible procurement (sustainable purchasing), purchasing only from reliable and reputable suppliers and supply chains that are consistent with Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s responsible and sustainable purchasing principles, and not engaging with suppliers who have supply chains that utilise modern slavery. Probity, ethical considerations and social responsibility remain integral components OR are integral to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s procurement culture. | |
| TheÌýHealth, Safety and Wellness PolicyÌýestablishes the University’s overall health, safety and wellness objectives and demonstrates the Senate’s and the Vice-Chancellor and President’s commitment to continual improvement of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s health and safety performance. | |
| The Prevention of Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Behaviours Procedure outlines the University’s commitment to ensuring that staff, students and visitors are not subjected to behaviours, practices or processes that may constitute discrimination, harassment, workplace bullying, vilification, or victimisation. The procedures attached to this Policy outline the options available to staff and students who believe they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment and/or workplace bullying. | |
| The Fraud and Corrupt Conduct Policy recognises that the University has a zero-tolerance stance on fraud and corruption and is committed to maintaining an organisational culture that will ensure that effective prevention of fraud and corruption is an integral part of all university activities, consistent with its Code of Conduct and the law. Staff members and students may report suspicions of fraudulent or corrupt activities and are provided legislative protection. | |
| Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Environment and Sustainability Policy covers adopting applicable undertakings to ensure sustainability is embedded in the University’s teaching, research, engagement and operational activities across all its campuses to foster a culture of sustainability that supports global priorities. | |
| TheÌýUniversity of Queensland Enterprise Agreement 2021-2026Ìýis Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s current enterprise agreement and clearly sets out working conditions and entitlements for eligible staff and language teachers. Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s enterprise bargaining process is regulated by theÌý. | |
| TheÌýDelegations PolicyÌýrequires that Â鶹ÊÓƵ contract sub-delegates consider probity issues and undertake an appropriate level of pre-contract due diligence before binding the University to a contract. | |
| TheÌýWork Integrated Learning and Work Experience PolicyÌýprovides a framework for managing the engagement of students in work-based learning experiences for educational benefit. | |
| The Volunteers Policy outlines appropriate engagement of community members who provide their services to the University in a voluntary capacity. |
We also undertake a variety of governance activities such as conducting due diligence of our downstream partners and ethics approvals for research initiatives. The nature and extent of those activities and potential impact of the related controls is reflected in Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Modern Slavery Statements.
External resources
| Resource | Purpose |
|---|---|
| This document outlines the UN’s guidance for human rights relating to transnational corporations and other business enterprises. | |
| A suite of materials with important information about modern slavery for community members and frontline workers including a guide for Australian businesses on understanding and addressing modern slavery in their operations and supply chain. | |
| Searchable library of resources on modern slavery in Australia including some free eLearning opportunities. | |
| Ìý | Provides a country-by-country ranking of the number of people affected by modern slavery, as well as an analysis of the actions governments are taking to respond, and the factors that make people vulnerable. |
| Information from the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department on criminal justice, people smuggling and human trafficking. | |
| Australian Government’s online register for Modern Slavery Statements provided by entities reporting under theÌýModern Slavery Act 2018. |
Training
The purpose of these courses is to educate people to identify the signs of modern slavery, its potential impacts, and where to report it.
Please complete the after you have successfully completed an externally-run course. This will help the Anti-Slavery Working Group gather statistics about training completion.
Modern slavery online course
Provider:ÌýAnti-Slavery Australia – a not-for-profit organisation that offers training programs to increase awareness about all forms of modern slavery, its indicators, available protections, best practice and referral pathways. They also offer training about the Australian Modern Slavery Act and the supply chain reporting requirements.
Description: This free, online course covers all the types of modern slavery through examples and real life stories, including:
- human trafficking
- servitude
- forced labour
- debt bondage
- deceptive recruitment
- child labour
- forced marriage.
Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
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Police assistanceÌý
In case of emergency,Ìýcall 000 for police assistance.ÌýÌý
If youÌýor someone you know isÌýaffected by modern slavery practices,Ìýyou canÌýalsoÌýcontact the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on 131 237 to discuss or report it. Contact can be made anonymously.ÌýÌý
Reporting to Â鶹ÊÓƵ
If you have concerns about modern slavery in relation to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’sÌýoperations and/ or supply chainÌýor you have any questions or feedback, complete our online form.
Your reportÌýwill be reviewed by a member of the Anti-Slavery Working Group to determine the appropriate course of action.ÌýAll communications are confidential and can beÌýmadeÌýanonymously.Ìý
For further informationÌýandÌýsupport regardingÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ’s response to modern slavery, contact our team atÌýantislavery@uq.edu.au.Ìý