Notre Dame’s approach to Modern Slavery

The University of Notre Dame Australia is committed to protecting and respecting human rights and has a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking.

The University is guided by the Australian Government’s landmark Modern Slavery Act (Cth) 2018. The University recognises there are risks of modern slavery within its supply chains of goods and services. Staff are continually working to improve the University’s approach to combating modern slavery within its operations.

The University’s annual modern slavery statements summarise the steps taken by the University to identify, mitigate and manage the risk of modern slavery in our operations and supply chains.

Modern Slavery Statement 2022

What is modern slavery?

The term ‘modern slavery’ is used to describe situations where coercion, threats or deception are used to exploit victims and undermine or deprive them of their freedom. Modern slavery is often a hidden crime, involving grave abuses of human rights and serious violations. These situations can include forced labour, debt bondage, human trafficking, and slavery. The United Nations and the Walk Free Foundation estimate there are approximately 9.6 million victims of modern slavery around the world.

  • Modern Slavery in Australia

    Modern Slavery happens in Australia too. Anti-Slavery Australia estimates more than 1,900 people in Australia are victims of modern slavery, with only 1 in 5 detected.

  • Modern Slavery and the Catholic Church

    Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network (ACAN)

    The Catholic Church has a long history of anti-slavery action. The Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network (ACAN) supports Catholic entities to identify and manage modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains. It also assists through the preparation of annual Modern Slavery Statements as required by the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018.

    Global Catholic Anti-Slavery Initiatives

    Many initiatives are delivered worldwide by organisations such as Caritas, the International Catholic Migration Commission and the Order of Malta. Modern slavery and human trafficking are a priority at The Vatican as evidenced by the Santa Marta Group and Pope Francis’ regular engagement on the issue via his videos.

What action is Notre Dame taking?

The University is committed to reducing the risk of modern slavery across its operations and supply chains. At Notre Dame, we are taking a strategic organisation-wide approach to manage the risks and continuously improving our approach to modern slavery involving University students, staff, partners, stakeholders and its wider local and global community.

The University has established Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking programs at Graduate Certificate and Postgraduate levels. These programs focus on understanding the complexity of the issue and equips a new generation of leaders with the skills needed to proactively identify, prevent and remedy modern slavery and human trafficking.

The University has established a Modern Slavery Working Group that leads initiatives to support all areas across the University to identify and remediate risks. The Working Group has developed a three-year Roadmap that aims to continuously improve the University’s approach in respect to modern slavery.

The University’s roadmap has been broken into three pillars of activity:

1

Governance
Engaging with stakeholders and partners— internally and externally—to develop and distribute tailored solutions to mitigate the University’s modern slavery risk.

2

Education
Continuing the promotion of the University’s programs in Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking as part of an ongoing effort to develop the future’s ethical leaders.

Collaborating and engaging with international foundations, human rights groups, and other university partners through our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking programs, ensuring our students receive a global perspective. Closely collaborating with industry to enable students to apply their knowledge and skills immediately and ensuring the community will benefit from the expertise and training they have acquired.

3

Supplier Engagement
Developing programs that assess the domestic community and partners to prevent and deter modern slavery through supporting stakeholders to understand, assess, and address modern slavery risks within global operations.

Connecting through Sedex to identify key labour, human rights, governance and environmental risks across supply chains.

Continuing to work with the Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network (ACAN) and leveraging due diligence.

How might our staff and students be affected by modern slavery?

It is possible that University staff, students or family members may know or suspect someone is a victim of modern slavery. This might be in Australia or overseas. The Walk Free Foundation is an international human rights group focusing on the eradication of modern slavery, in all its forms, in our lifetime. Their website contains many useful resources for those who would like to know more about this important cause.

Reporting to Notre Dame

If you have concerns about modern slavery in relation to Notre Dame’s operations and/or supply chain or you have any questions or feedback, you can complete our online form (below).

Your report will be reviewed by a member of the Modern Slavery Working Group to determine the appropriate course of action. All communications are confidential and can be made anonymously. 

Alternatively, you can email a member of the Modern Slavery Working Group with your question or query at: modernslavery@nd.edu.au.

Modern Slavery Feedback Form

NB:  If you would like to remain anonymous, please leave the name and email fields blank. If you would like a response, please fill in the name and email fields.

Modern Slavery Feedback

 
 

Staff training and further study

Below are some courses offered by Notre Dame and ACAN. The first is a Staff Development course, and the following are programs of study at our University should you choose to undertake studies in this area.

  • COM0365 Staff Learning and Development (ACAN course)

    COM0365 Staff Learning and Development (ACAN course)
    If you choose to undertake the staff learning course, you will become knowledgeable in how to help raise awareness of modern slavery and how to identify and report troubling practices. The purpose of this course is to create awareness of the concept of modern slavery, its signs and its potential impacts.

  • Graduate Certificate Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

    Graduate Certificate Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
    Holistically explores severe forms of labour exploitation and equips students with the skills needed to proactively identify, prevent and remedy modern slavery and human trafficking.

  • Graduate Diploma Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

    Graduate Diploma Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
    This program builds on the foundation established in the Graduate Certificate. The Special Topics, Case-study, and Fieldwork courses provide knowledge and skills that empower you—as an individual and as a leader in your workplace and the wider community—to put an end to the exploitation of vulnerable people.

  • Master of Arts (Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking)

    Master of Arts (Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking)
    This Master’s degree provides a high-level analysis of the concepts of modern slavery and human trafficking and contextualises these issues in an international, national and local context. Gain exposure to both research and professional practice study modes.