Modern slavery has no place in Griffith University's operations or supply chains.
Griffith University works with suppliers to identify, prevent and address modern slavery risks while promoting respect for human rights throughout our supply chains. This page provides information about Griffith's requirements, supplier responsibilities, available support services, and practical resources to help suppliers strengthen their approach to modern slavery risk management.
According to the Global Slavery Index 2023, an estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021, an increase of 10 million people since 2016.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to contributing to a more equitable and just society, where everyone has a chance to thrive and contribute to sustainable development.
Griffith's commitment
Griffith is committed to raising awareness of modern slavery among staff, students, suppliers, contractors and workers throughout its operations and supply chains.
We work to:
- increase awareness of modern slavery and human rights risks
- provide education, training and support resources
- encourage reporting of concerns and suspected incidents
- support remediation where harm has occurred
- work collaboratively with suppliers to improve modern slavery practices
- strengthen transparency across our supply chains.
Through our Modern Slavery Improvement Plan process, we support suppliers to develop or strengthen systems and practices that help identify, manage and mitigate modern slavery risks.
What are human rights?
Human rights recognise the inherent dignity and value of every person. They are universal principles concerned with equality, fairness and freedom from discrimination, harassment and fear.
Respect for human rights is the foundation of safe, inclusive and equitable communities where everyone can contribute and achieve their potential.
The Australian Human Rights Commission provides information on the development and protection of human rights through a range of fact sheets and educational resources.
Human Rights Explained fact sheets Know Your Rights video
Human rights and business
According to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, human rights are international standards that apply equally to every person without discrimination.
These include rights contained within:
- the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- the International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Businesses can have both positive and negative impacts on human rights through their operations and supply chains. Understanding these impacts is an important part of responsible business practice.
How Businesses Impact Human Rights
Supplier requirements
As part of Griffith's procurement processes, all suppliers are required to register on Informed 365.
Informed 365 is a third-party platform that helps Griffith gain greater visibility of modern slavery risks within its supply chains and supports collaboration with suppliers to improve responsible procurement outcomes.
Griffith uses Informed 365 to improve transparency across its supply chains and support responsible procurement practices.
The platform enables Griffith to:
- assess supplier modern slavery risks
- engage suppliers on risk mitigation activities
- encourage continuous improvement
- support modern slavery reporting obligations
- strengthen due diligence processes.
The platform also helps suppliers gain greater visibility of risks within their own operations and supply chains.
Working together to combat modern slavery
Griffith collaborates with several organisations and industry initiatives to strengthen its response to modern slavery.
Working collaboratively to address modern slavery risks can help organisations:
- strengthen stakeholder trust and reputation
- meet legislative and regulatory obligations
- improve supply chain resilience
- reduce operational risks
- strengthen supplier relationships
- support ethical and sustainable business practices
- improve transparency and governance across supply chains.
Developing robust due diligence processes and utilising technology-enabled risk assessment tools can provide suppliers with greater visibility of risks and opportunities for improvement.
Reporting concerns and getting support
Modern slavery can take many forms and is not always easy to identify. If you suspect, witness or experience modern slavery within Griffith's operations, supply chains or supplier networks, we encourage you to raise your concerns and seek appropriate support.
Reporting concerns early can help ensure individuals at risk receive assistance and that potential cases are investigated and addressed.
Report a concern to Griffith
Griffith has established grievance and remediation processes to support the investigation, assessment and remediation of modern slavery concerns.
If you have concerns about suspected modern slavery connected to Griffith's operations or supply chains, you can lodge a grievance through Griffith's Your Call reporting service.
Supporting people who may be experiencing modern slavery
If you believe a person may be experiencing modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour or another form of exploitation, it is important to obtain their informed consent before referring them to support services.
The following organisations provide free and confidential advice, support and referral services.
Supplier resources and practical tools
These resources can help your organisation understand modern slavery risks, meet legal and ethical obligations, strengthen due diligence processes, and build a more robust modern slavery framework.
These introductory resources provide practical guidance on modern slavery, labour exploitation and human rights, helping organisations build foundational knowledge and awareness.
Addressing Modern Slavery: A Guide for Australian Businesses
Developed by the Australian Red Cross, this introductory guide helps businesses and suppliers understand and address modern slavery risks while supporting compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2018.
The guide provides practical information on:
- understanding modern slavery and its causes
- identifying modern slavery risks in operations and supply chains
- developing due diligence processes
- taking appropriate action when risks are identified
- meeting reporting and compliance obligations.
Addressing Modern Slavery: A Guide for Australian Businesses
Community Partner Modern Slavery Toolkit
This Australian Red Cross toolkit contains practical information for community members and frontline workers, including:
- indicators of human trafficking
- indicators of forced labour
- indicators of domestic servitude
- how and where to seek help
- educational videos and awareness resources.
Understanding where modern slavery risks may exist within your operations and supply chain is a critical part of any modern slavery framework.
The following tools can assist organisations to identify, assess and prioritise risks.
Walk Free Self-Assessment Questionnaire
A supplier questionnaire template designed to support modern slavery due diligence and identify areas of potential risk across supplier operations and supply chains.
Queensland Government Supplier Questionnaire
A supplier due diligence questionnaire template that organisations can adapt and use when assessing their own suppliers and supply chain partners.
Inherent Risk Identification Tool (IRIT)
Developed by the Office of the NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner with support from the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney Business School.
The tool assists organisations to:
- identify procurement categories with elevated risk
- assess inherent modern slavery risks
- prioritise due diligence activities
- support risk-based decision making.
These resources support organisations to identify, respond to and prevent labour exploitation and modern slavery.
Australian Red Cross Labour Exploitation Toolkit
The Labour Exploitation Toolkit provides information and practical guidance for organisations, professionals and community members working with people who may be at risk of exploitation.
Topics include:
- recognising indicators of labour exploitation
- understanding modern slavery risk factors
- accessing referral pathways
- responding appropriately when concerns are identified.
An effective modern slavery framework should include processes that allow workers and stakeholders to raise concerns safely and without fear of retaliation.
Organisations should establish grievance mechanisms that are:
- accessible
- confidential
- independent where possible
- available to employees and non-employees
- supported by strong investigation procedures.
These processes should be complemented by remediation practices that seek to address harm and restore the rights and wellbeing of affected individuals.
Remediation may include:
- corrective actions
- support services
- financial compensation
- other appropriate remedies based on the circumstances.
Strong governance arrangements help embed human rights and modern slavery considerations into everyday business activities.
The following resources support organisations to develop and strengthen governance frameworks.
Walk Free governance resources
These resources provide practical guidance on developing:
- codes of conduct
- company policies
- supplier standards
- modern slavery contract clauses
- due diligence processes.
Codes of Conduct and Company Policies Modern Slavery Business and Investor Toolkit
Australian Government resources
The Australian Government provides additional guidance materials and resources, including examples of modern slavery procurement, contract and tender clauses.
Australian Government resources
Note: Always seek independent legal advice before incorporating contract clauses into procurement or commercial agreements.
Building awareness and capability across your organisation is an important part of preventing and addressing modern slavery risks.
Supply Chain Sustainability School
Access free online learning modules suitable for different levels of experience:
Modern slavery e-learning catalogue Where might modern slavery be hiding in your supply chains?
Australian Red Cross training
Australian Red Cross offers free training materials and online learning resources focused on:
- labour exploitation
- modern slavery awareness
- identifying risk indicators
- responding to concerns appropriately.
The Mekong Club
The Mekong Club provides a broad range of practical resources to support organisations at different stages of maturity.
Resources include:
- anti-slavery toolkits
- practical implementation guidance
- technology-enabled solutions
- industry research and thought leadership
- educational videos and awareness resources.
This includes multilingual videos and resources focused on human trafficking prevention and reducing vulnerability to modern slavery.
Modern Slavery Tools and Resources Facts and Figures educational video
Education for Change training
Educating for Change is a project designed to build cross-sector capability aimed at identify and responding to modern slavery in Australia. It is a collaboration between Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH), Flinders University and Adelaide University. The project is funded by the Australian Government, and has delivered free online, on-demand learning modules.
The modules follow a two-step learning pathway:
- complete the Introduction module first,
- then one or more sector-specific modules as needed.