Useful links
Make a report of modern slavery
Addressing modern slavery is central to the University’s values
The University is committed to handling reports of modern slavery in a compassionate and fair manner that treats survivors with respect and dignity.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing modern slavery linked to any part of the University’s activities, help is available. You can make an anonymous report through our online reporting form. The University’s Modern Slavery Unit will use the information you provide to understand your needs, to refer you to care and support, and where possible, address the incident you are reporting.
If you have experienced modern slavery, it is your choice whether to report the incident. You have the option to report it to the University and you also have the option of reporting it to the police.
Whatever you decide, we can connect you with appropriate support, provide information on reporting options, and assist you with the reporting process.
Modern slavery includes some of the most serious types of exploitation: trafficking in persons, slavery, servitude, forced labour, forced marriage, debt bondage, the worst forms of child labour and deceptive recruiting for labour or services. Often people recognise the types of modern slavery (e.g. trafficking) rather than the term itself.
Indicators of modern slavery include:
- Controlled or restricted freedom of movement – monitored, guarded or confined
- Intimidation and threats including threats of deportation
- Threatened or actual physical and/or sexual violence
- Abusive living and/or working conditions
- Unable to leave accommodation for non-work reasons
- Living at the workplace or another place owned/controlled by employer
- Deceived, or lack of information about nature and conditions of work
- Identity, travel or other important documents have been taken by employer or a third party
- Labour or services are required to repay a large debt
- Excessive hours of work
- Isolation – geographic, social and/or linguistic
- Withholding, underpayment or no payment of wages
- Unable to end employment at any time
- Extended, unexplained or sudden absence or withdrawal from university or work
- An upcoming overseas trip that appears to cause fear, anxiety or distress, or failure to return from an overseas trip
- No discretion over life decisions
For more information, complete our short Anti-Slavery Awareness Module on Workday (for staff) or Canvas (for students), or visit Anti-Slavery Australia.
Making a report - what you need to know
Submit a report through the online form.
The form is available to be accessed by anyone and you do not need a UniKey to login.
You can use the form to report possible cases of modern slavery that may be linked to any part of the University of Sydney’s activities. This may include the University’s supply chain, partnerships, collaborations, research projects, or concerns involving University of Sydney students or staff.
Reports can include:
- Concerns for yourself or another person that may be experiencing modern slavery, including labour exploitation, debt bondage, trafficking or forced marriage;
- Concerns about a modern slavery incident that you suspect may happen; and
- Concerns regarding modern slavery occurring, both on or off campus, or in the University’s supply chain through the procurement of products and services.
If you wish to provide it, you can use the form to give us information about an incident that you or somebody else has experienced.
The University understands that you may not wish to provide specific information about what happened, or personal details about yourself. We respect your privacy. If you make an anonymous report, the University may be limited in the support we can provide you with.
Any personal information you give us will be highly protected and kept in accordance with our Privacy Policy 2017 and Privacy Procedures 2018.
You have the right to access and correct personal information about you held by the University. If you have any questions or concerns about this form, or if you wish to access or correct personal information held about you, please contact the Modern Slavery Unit, anti.slavery@sydney.edu.au
We may also collect personal information (including sensitive information) about you indirectly from third parties, if we are required to comply with obligations to assist relevant government agencies.
The Modern Slavery Unit will use the information you provide to understand your needs, to refer you to care, and where possible, respond to the incident you are reporting.
The University may be required or authorised by law to disclose any personal information you provide us with emergency or support services, or law enforcement agencies.
We will not otherwise disclose the personal information outside the University without your express consent.
The information you provide will be stored in the University's record keeping system and will be used to investigate and respond to your report. Identified information will only be accessible to staff whose duties relate to the University’s compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and relevant systems support.
The information you provide may also be used by the University on a de-identified basis to review and improve our response to addressing modern slavery.
If you have provided your contact details, the Modern Slavery Unit will respond to you within 3 business days to confirm we have received your report and clarify any information.
If you need urgent assistance, you should call emergency services by dialling triple zero (000).
We will review the information you have provided and determine what action might be required. As part of our review, we may need to seek further information from you, and/or from other parties at the University or external to the University. We will seek your consent before disclosing any personal information about you, unless required to do so by law.
Depending on the findings of our review, the University may take certain steps to respond to the concerns you have raised, or any related issues that may arise. You will receive an explanation on the outcome of your report.
Please do not use the Modern Slavery Online Reporting form if your concern does not involve modern slavery. Instead, we encourage you to use other University forms for the purposes for which they were intended.
For example, if your matter relates to:
- a student complaint, refer to the Student Complaints form
corrupt conduct, serious maladministration, government information contravention, privacy contravention, serious and substantial waste of public money refer to reporting wrongdoing.
- sexual misconduct that does not involve modern slavery, refer to the reporting of Sexual Misconduct form
- a staff complaint or poor working conditions, please contact HR.
- bullying or harassment that does not involve modern slavery, please make a report via HR.
Support services for students
- Student Wellbeing
02 8627 8433; student.wellbeing@sydney.edu.au
Can support you if you are experiencing workplace exploitation (including modern slavery), sexual misconduct, domestic and family violence, or bullying and harassment.
- Call 1800 SYD HLP
1800 793 457 (option 2, then option 1) from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- After Hours Mental Wellbeing Support Line
1300 474 065 (available 24/7), or text 0488 884 429 (for SMS chat option).
- Security services - contact Protective Services
02 9351 3333, 24 hours a day.
- Student representative associations
Undergraduate students: contact the Student Representative Council (SRC) on 02 9660 5222, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday
Postgraduate students: contact the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) on 02 9351 3715, 9am – 5pm (closed 12 – 1 pm), Monday to Friday.
Support services for staff and affiliates
- The Modern Slavery Unit
anti.slavery@sydney.edu.au can provide confidential advice and refer you to the appropriate service.
- Counselling, coaching and support for staff
Visit the Intranet for contact details and more information.
- Staff health support
02 9351 4052, 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- Security services - contact Protective Services
02 9351 3333, 24 hours a day.
- Health services (for current staff and affiliates only) - contact the University Health Service on 02 9351 3484, 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- Staff unions – NTEU Sydney Branch 02 9351 2827 or sydney@nteu.org.au (for NTEU members only); CPSU NSW 1800 772 679 or cpsu.nsw@psa.asn.au.
Additional support services
- Anti-Slavery Australia
02 9514 8115; asalegal@uts.edu.au
Provides free and confidential legal and migration services for people experiencing modern slavery.
- My Blue Sky
02 9514 8115; 0481 070 844; help@mybluesky.org.au
Provides free and confidential support for forced marriage.
- The Australian Federal Police
131 237 (131AFP); www.afp.gov.au
Can keep you safe, provide advice and refer you to other services that provide accommodation, financial support, counselling, and legal and immigration advice.
24-hour free phone counselling is also available from the following community resources:
- Lifeline - 13 11 14
- Mental Health Line NSW - 1800 011 511
Free interpreter services are available to help any person communicate with service providers in their own language. Call Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. All calls are free and confidential.