Exploitation and modern slavery may occur on student placements, particularly in unpaid placements where initially agreed conditions shift to an employment relationship that becomes exploitative.
Fair Work have identified the following indicators to help us identify where a placement has changed into a work relationship:
For more information see the Fair Work Ombudsman page Work experience and internships.
Modern slavery is an umbrella term that describes situations where someone is being tricked, forced or controlled into exploitation and they cannot leave without consequences. These practices include deceptive recruitment, trafficking, debt bondage, forced labour and forced marriage. Modern slavery is on the extreme end of a continuum of exploitative practices. The continuum ranges from fair work, to exploitation and then to modern slavery at the extreme end.
Young people, including students, can be at a heightened risk of experiencing modern slavery both in Australia and overseas. Students could be at risk of exploitation during placement, especially international students and those who have fewer immediate support networks, lower English language proficiency, or are unaware of the workforce laws in Australia.
Student is forced / coerced / deceived into:
Undertaking activities reasonably considered outside appropriate placement experiences or unrelated to their learning goals (e.g., menial tasks not aligned to professional expectations);
Performing activities outside university-approved hours which may be excessive (e.g., attending placement for 12 hours / day);
Placement has transitioned into an employment arrangement.
Coercion may occur via many methods, some relevant to placement may include:
Student may be threatened with Placement failure;
Student may be threatened with having their visa revoked;
A student’s passport, identity documentation or mobile phones may be confiscated;
A student may feel trapped in a situation of exploitation due to threats, force, or other violence.
A student may experience mental health or physical health issues as a result of exploitation, which are indicators of potential modern slavery. If you are unsure, email the Modern Slavery Unit at [email protected]. For immediate student support, contact Student Wellbeing at [email protected].
Modern slavery is considered a critical incident by the University. Please follow the incident on placement process if you suspect a student has been exposed to modern slavery during placement.
To ensure students are safeguarded from modern slavery, please ensure that the minimum due diligence requirements are met before a student starts their placement. These include:
While on placement, students themselves may be at risk of exploitation but may also sometimes encounter people (e.g., staff or clients) who may be in situations of modern slavery. For example, if a student is completing a hospital placement where victim-survivors commonly present.
Students under duress, either from having directly experienced exploitation or having been exposed second or third hand, should be encouraged to share concerns with Student Wellbeing
If a student approaches you with concerns, the Modern Slavery Unit (MSU) can provide guidance in these situations. Email [email protected] or complete the online reporting form. Please note the Modern Slavery Unit will respond to you within 72 hours.
Scenario
Sophie is a final-year veterinary science student completing a clinical placement at a large veterinary hospital. The placement is intended to provide supervised learning and practical experience.
Sophie is scheduled for multiple night shifts and weekend work, often exceeding 60 hours per week—far beyond the agreed placement requirements. Night shifts often involve working alone in high-pressure emergency situations without adequate supervision. Sophie is exhausted and makes mistakes, increasing risk to animal welfare and her own safety.
Despite performing duties equivalent to paid staff —such as assisting in surgeries and managing emergency cases— and working more than her placement hours, Sophie receives no remuneration. She is reminded that “students don’t get paid.”
When Sophie raises concerns about fatigue and wellbeing, the supervisor warns that negative feedback could affect her final grade and future employment prospects as she is “not a team player”. She is told this is “essential for real-world experience” and that refusing could jeopardize her assessment.
Sophie feels she cannot speak up due to fear of academic repercussions and lack of clarity about her workplace rights.
Scenario
Jenny is a student currently completing her placement as part of her pre-registration course at the Sydney Nursing School. She is placed at a NSW public hospital in the women and maternal health ward. Several weeks into her placement, Jenny is assisting a patient who has presented with breathing difficulties, weight loss and untreated TB. Jenny observes that the patient speaks no English, appears anxious, withdrawn and flinches when Jenny checks her vitals. Jenny notices bruises and scars on her arms and hands.
Jenny and the patient are from a similar background and luckily, can speak the same dialect. She learns that the patient has had their personal movements restricted and documentation confiscated. The patient explains her back breaking work as a domestic help doing cleaning, cooking and taking children to and from school. She is receiving no pay, as she is paying off her ‘sponsoring and travel fees’ to the family she is working for. She informed Jenny she hasn’t had a day off for about 8 months since she arrived in Australia.
Jenny had previously completed the University’s Anti-Slavery Awareness training module for students. Jenny recognises the patient could be experiencing modern slavery. Jenny informs her supervisor and together they assist the client to access appropriate support. Thanks to the training she has undertaken, Jenny has assisted a potential victim of modern slavery.
In this situation, the patient is experiencing indicators of modern slavery including:
Health issues requiring hospital treatment which may have resulted from her exploitation;
Those from overseas or on temporary visas are at heightened risk of modern slavery due to language and cultural barriers and limited knowledge of Australian work rights;
Travel documents confiscated;
Unpaid wages;
Working excessive hours;
Paying off a debt, in the form of ‘sponsoring and travel fees’ as a way to keep the individual working for the family; and
movements controlled and freedom restricted.
If you notice students themselves experiencing any of the above signs or indicators, you should follow the critical incident on placement process .
Resources for staff
To request bespoke training related to placements please email [email protected]
Resources for students
Content reviewed by the Inclusion and Disability team on November 2025.