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Modern Slavery

At UniSQ we are committed to serving our employees, students and communities and ensuring our values are reflected in all that we do.
Through our employees, suppliers and partners we strive for excellence to ensure our products and services are delivered ethically and responsibly. Our procurement processes establish clear guidelines for maintaining sustainable and social integrity which includes reporting and remediating modern slavery risks.

The Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018 came into force on 1 January 2019 and aims to combat modern slavery through identification of risks in operations and implementing actions to address those risks.

In accordance with the Act, the University of Southern Queensland is required to submit an annual statement outlining how it identifies, assesses and manages modern slavery risks within its global operations and supply chains.

The University of Southern Queensland's 2021 Modern Slavery Statement can be accessed here. 

University communications for employees (restrictions may apply) 

University communications for suppliers and partners

UniSQ aspires to an organisational climate where all students, employees and partners feel confident and comfortable about raising concerns, or making legitimate and grounded complaints. 

In accordance with the University's Procurement Procedure, the University will maintain a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory process for addressing Complaints and concerns raised about University Procurement activities in accordance with the UniSQ Complaint Management Framework.

The University encourages informal resolution of issues in the first instance. For example, an Employee Authorised to Purchase will attempt to resolve Complaints where possible, by providing more information. Communications regarding Complaints will be kept as signed and dated file notes.

If informal resolution is not successful, a Complaint may be made in writing to the Manager (Procurement) or, if the Complaint is about the Manager (Procurement), to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Complaints about Procurement activities will be investigated by the Manager (Procurement), CFO, or another University Member as appropriate.

Complaints about modern slavery must be made in writing to the .

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available to support the University's suppliers and partners.

Q: What is modern slavery?

A: The Modern Slavery Act 2018 defines Modern Slavery as:

‘conduct which would constitute:

(a) an offence under Division 270 or 271 of the Criminal Code; or

(b) an offence under either of those Divisions if the conduct took place in Australia; or

(c) trafficking in persons, as defined in Article 3 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, done at New York on 15 November 2000 ([2005] ATS 27); or

(d) the worst forms of child labour, as defined in Article 3 of the ILO Convention (No. 182) concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, done at Geneva on 17 June 1999 ([2007] ATS 38).’

Q: How do I determine if modern slavery is present in my organisation's operations and supply chains?

A: A risk assessment should be conducted and reviewed regularly to identify and address modern slavery risks within an organisation’s operations and supply chains. 

Q: How can I address modern slavery?

A: Actions for addressing modern slavery risks can be identified within an organisation’s risk assessment. This may include engaging with suppliers and partners to ensure the organisation is not contributing to modern slavery through indirect (third-party) relationships. 

Q: What should I do if I have a complaint or concern regarding modern slavery?

A: UniSQ is committed to combating modern slavery and is focused on mitigating any such risks within its operations and supply chains. If you have a complaint or concern regarding UniSQ’s management of modern slavery, please submit the details in writing to the Chief Financial Officer. 

Q: What other resources are available?

A: UniSQ has compiled a list of resources in the Support section of its Modern Slavery web page.

Internal links (restrictions may apply)

External links

Contact us

For further information please contact the University's Modern Slavery Working Group.

Phone

 +61 7 4631 2579

Email

Procurement.Enquiries@usq.edu.au