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Modern slavery and students

Modern slavery is a term which refers to a range of serious crimes involving exploitation. It encompasses forced labour, debt bondage (slavery as security against a loan or debt), forced marriage, human trafficking and the worst forms of child labour.

There were around 40.3 million people in modern slavery in 2016 alone. Seventy-one per cent of victims were women.

Modern slavery occurs in Australia and students, in particular international students, can be at risk of being victims of modern slavery.

UOW is committed to combatting modern slavery. We believe everyone has the right to decent work conditions, freedom of movement and freedom from exploitation.

Read about UOW’s commitment to combatting modern slavery

Forms of modern slavery and where to get support

Labour exploitation is against the law, and can be a form of modern slavery.

Workplace rights, including rules about pay, leave, conditions and leaving employment are protected by law.

It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure they comply with these laws. It is not your responsibility as a worker, and you will not be punished if you have accepted working conditions that do not comply with the law.

What are my rights?

Employers should not be doing any of the following:

  • paying you less than the minimum wage
  • asking for a "deposit" for a job
  • asking you to undertake unpaid training
  • failing to provide workplace entitlements like paid leave or superannuation
  • making unfair deductions from your wages for accommodation, food, transport or training
  • threatening to cancel your visa
  • withholding your passport
  • making threats, requiring you to "pay back" unreasonable debts by working for them, or doing anything else which makes you feel you cannot leave your job or place of work.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is an independent service that provides guidance to employees on their rights.

The Fair Work Ombudsman website provides a range of resources:

The Fair Work Ombudsman also has tools to work out:

Working conditions related information for international students

Visit Study Australia's Know Your Rights page

Working conditions information for cleaners

For rules around hours of work, entitlement to breaks, leave entitlements, toilet cleaning allowances, and fixing incorrect payment, see Cleaning Accountability - resources for cleaners.

Where can I get support?

UOW Student Legal Clinic

Get free, confidential legal advice in person, via Zoom or by phone.

Anti-Slavery Australia

Specialist legal advice is available for people who have been forced to work because of the use of coercion, threats or deception.

Have you been subjected to forced labour?

Get support from the Australian Red Cross' Support for trafficked people Program

Support include:

  • caseworkers
  • financial support
  • health and accommodation services
  • counselling

Contact Australian Red Cross

If you have experienced or witnessed any form of sexual harm, sexual harassment, domestic or family violence, please contact UOW’s Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) team for support.

You are not alone, and UOW encourages you to speak out about your experience.

Get support

Support from the UOW SARC team

9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. UOW SARC Team are on standby to respond to emergencies 27/7.

Forcing someone to get married without their full and free consent is a crime in Australia. This might involve coercing someone to get married, deceiving them or in situations where someone doesn’t have the capacity to consent (e.g. because of age or impairment).

Regardless of age, visa status, gender, sexuality culture or religion, all persons have the right to choose whether or not they get married.

If you have or are being forced to marry or if you are worried about someone in that situation, please reach out for support.

Get support

Support from UOW’s SARC (Safe and Respectful Communities) team

9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. UOW SARC Team are on standby to respond to emergencies 24/7.

  • Call +61 2 4221 3344
  • Email uow-sarc@uow.edu.au

Support from My Blue Sky

My Blue Sky provides access to specialist support, information and legal advice.

  • Visit My Blue Sky - website is set up for quick exit and deletion of browser history
  • Call +61 2 9514 8115 (9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, interpreters available)
  • SMS text +61 481 070 844
  • Email help@mybluesky.org.au

Support from the Salvation Army - Trafficking and Slavery Safe House

The Salvation Army provides support for women who have experienced trafficking, forced marriage or slavery in Australia.

Support from the Australian Red Cross - Support for Trafficked People Program

Victims of forced marriages may gain access to case workers, financial support, access to health and accommodation services and access to counselling from the Australian Red Cross' Support for Trafficked People Program.

If someone is forced or tricked into travelling to a different country or to Australia for the purposes of exploitation, this is a crime in itself – known as human trafficking.

Get support

Support from UOW Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) team

9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. UOW SARC Team are on standby to respond to emergencies 24/7.

Specialist legal advice from Anti-Slavery Australia

Anti-Slavery Australia can offer advice for people who have been subject to human trafficking.

Support from the Salvation Army - Trafficking and Slavery Safe House

Support for women who have experienced trafficking, forced marriage or slavery in Australia.

Support from the Australian Red Cross

If you have been subject to human trafficking, you may be entitled to access support, including caseworkers, financial support, access to health and accommodation services and access to counselling from the Australian Red Cross' Support for trafficked people Program.

Employers and sponsors cannot cancel your visa

Only the Australian Government (Department of Home Affairs) can cancel your visa.

Check your visa conditions, including entitlement to work, through Australian Government’s VEVO portal.

What if I have been forced to work in breach of visa conditions?

If you have breached the work-related conditions of your visa because of workplace exploitation, there are ways to seek help without fear of visa cancellation.  

The Fair Work Ombudsman has a protocol in place with the Department of Home Affairs so that certain temporary visa holders (including student and temporary work visas) can seek help even if they have breached work conditions of their visa, without it resulting in visa cancellation or future visa refusal.

More information

Get legal advice

What if I am here on a temporary partner visa?

If you are in Australia on a temporary partner visa, and you are the victim of forced marriage or if your partner is subjecting you to family violence there are avenues to seek help, including with your visa.

Support from UOW’s Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) team

9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. UOW SARC Team are on standby to respond to emergencies 24/7.

Get legal advice

Get help, make a report, seek advice

Emergency or in danger

Call the police on 000

Help on UOW campus

UOW Security offers first-aid help, and security escorts 24/7

To report a crime of modern slavery

Call the Australian Federal Police on 131 237

Personal support via UOW 24-hour wellbeing hotline

  • Call 1300 036 149
  • SMS text 0488 884 164