Mark Dreyfus backs new uni course
A new university program, educating staff and students about modern slavery and pathways for support, has been endorsed by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus as well as key advocates and educators.
ACRATH, Flinders University and the University of South Australia are working together to create Educating for Change, 6 micro-credentialed courses that will equip the next generation of professionals to recognise and combat modern slavery. The courses are free and have been developed for students studying social work, law, criminology, education, and health care as well as for staff working with international students.
Educating for Change has already been trialled in some tertiary settings and is set to be rolled out across the country’s universities in 2025.
The Attorney-General encouraged law students to engage in the relevant Educating for Change module and said: “Because modern slavery can occur in any sector, industry or domestic setting, I encourage you to learn and understand the indicators of modern slavery so that you can help us identify those who are experiencing modern slavery and support them.”
Professor Jennifer Burn AM, Director Anti-Slavery Australia, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney, echoed the Attorney-General’s view and said, every lawyer should be aware of what slavery looks like, what the indicators of slavery are. And so, when a person presents to a lawyer or law office, there can be an awareness that not only is this a problem about family violence or property law or housing, or immigration, but there also could be a modern slavery element”.
Samantha Lyneham, Principal Research Analyst at the Australian Institute of Criminology, said: “Research has demonstrated that teachers have a really important role to play in being able to identify and respond to human trafficking that might be happening among students that they teach. And some of the signs that a child might be experiencing or at risk of, exploitation include that, their attendance at school is quite low, they don’t feel comfortable spending time at home, they might be hanging around, a lot of adults instead of children their own age, they might be wearing inappropriate clothing for their age, and they might be talking about things like work or even marriage, that might, you know, send a signal that something’s not quite right, especially if they’re talking about going overseas, for a marriage as well”.
“So teachers, also have a role to play, I think, in educating students about what human trafficking and modern slavery are, and that helps them to learn what it is, know what the signs are, know what to do if they come across something that’s suspicious, and can also help them learn about broader consumer behaviours that might help them make ethical choices, as consumers to help prevent human trafficking in society,” Ms Lynham said.
ACRATH’s Melissa Halliday said the course was almost ready to roll out with final testing of some modules now underway as well as input by an Advisory Committee that includes Australian Red Cross, Anti-Slavery Australia, and the Attorney-General’s Department. The Department’s funding for the program runs out in June 2025.
ACRATH has also established a working group of people who are developing networks in universities interested in embedding Educating for Change in their courses.
Listen to Attorney-General Hon. Mark Dreyfus discussing the importance of Educating for Change here.
Join ACRATH in helping future frontline professionals prevent and address modern slavery in Australia, from universities to the workforce. Together, we can educate for change. If you would like to register your interest in the project, or have any questions you can email us at edforchange@acrath.org.au or learn more: https://acrath.org.au/resources/educating-for-change/
