INTRODUCTION
A recently released interim report on Modern Slavery and Global Supply chains indicates it is likely a Modern Slavery Act will be introduced in Australia and that the prevention of ‘orphanage tourism’ will be included in its scope. This will have implications for a range of Australian organisations and businesses, including Australian charities which currently fund overseas orphanages (or other forms of residential care) and/or facilitate volunteering and voluntourism (including short-term mission trips, or STM) to orphanages.
As such, this briefing note has been written to give Australian charities currently engaging with overseas residential care institutions an overview of the issue and an understanding of some of the potential ramifications of the proposed legislation.
