The Australian Government has awarded a total of more than $1.67 million to seven organisations working to combat modern slavery in Australia under the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-25 Grant Program.
Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Jason Wood MP said the funding will advance specific actions under Australia's National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-25.
"The Australian Government strongly believes that investment in civil society, business and academia is critical to our success in fighting these heinous crimes," Assistant Minister Wood said.
The Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights, the Australian Red Cross, Global Compact Network Australia, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, Taldumande Youth Services, the Salvation Army, and the University of New South Wales will receive funding to deliver a range of projects to address:
- modern slavery in Australia and in global supply chains within Australian businesses,
- criminal labour exploitation,
- forced marriage,
- and research to combat modern slavery.
"These projects will engage directly with those at risk of modern slavery, build networks to support business to meet their reporting obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2018, and provide research to improve our understanding of modern slavery risks in global supply chains," Assistant Minister Wood said.
"The types of funded projects include the establishment of a Survivor Advisory Panel, where survivors of criminal labour exploitation and servitude can safely share their experiences and provide advice to Government, and a trial to build a tailored family dispute and conflict resolution model that is responsive to specific needs of individuals facing forced marriage".
Since 2008, the Australian Government has awarded over $7.8 million to anti-slavery non-government organisations, business and academia, supporting joint efforts to combat modern slavery in Australia.
More information about Australia's efforts to combat modern slavery is available here.
