A national short course series is equipping university students and staff with the tools to recognise and respond to modern slavery in Australia. Source: ACRATH.
Developed in partnership by Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH), Flinders University and the University of South Australia, the free “Educating for Change” course includes six online modules designed to build essential awareness and practical knowledge among pre-service professionals in law/criminology, health, social work and education.
Modern slavery affects an estimated 41,000 people in Australia daily, taking forms such as forced labour, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and domestic servitude. These crimes often go unnoticed in everyday settings including schools, hospitals, law firms, and universities.
Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans praised Educating for Change.
“I think this project is really worthwhile. I hope universities throughout Australia take it up and I think it will help make a difference in years to come,” Mr Evans said.
Already, 14 universities nationwide have begun implementing the course with academics at a further 29 institutions actively exploring adoption.
The program also supports university staff in recognising risks within their institutions and supply chains, aligning with obligations under the Modern Slavery Act (2018).
Developed with support from a grant by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and reviewed by experts including the Australian Red Cross and Anti-Slavery Australia, the modules combine academic rigour with real-world case studies for maximum impact.
“Through this work, we hope to foster a more informed, responsive, and compassionate approach to modern slavery in Australia – strengthening support systems, deepening cross-sector collaboration, and driving real-world change,” ACRATH’s Melissa Halliday said.
Details: Educating for Change.
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‘Educating for Change’ Free National Short Courses to Combat Modern Slavery (ACRATH)
