Human trafficking is an issue that must be implemented in the Australian curriculum. We wrote a letter to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) informing them as to why it is essential that this issue is taught in all Australian schools. Below is the letter that will be sent to the ACARA. 

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To whomever it may concern,

As you may or may not be aware, human trafficking is a pressing and prevalent issue that is not covered within the Australian curriculum. As a student body, we strongly believe it is crucial that information informing and warning about human trafficking be implemented into the curriculum of all Australian Schools. Considering that a large majority of the victims are children, as youth, it is important to understand and be educated on the dangers and problems some children face worldwide.  

It is estimated that around 40.3 million people are the victims of human trafficking every year. As you probably already know, adults are not the only ones affected. In fact, around 5.5 million children are at risk of being sold, forced into marriage, sexually abused and taken into enslavement to be forced into many forms of labour. These types of labour could include prostitution, domestic servitude, manufacturing (mainly shoes and clothes) and so many more forms of labour that are not known to the public. Human trafficking does exist in Australia. We feel this is overlooked by people considering the position of privilege that most Australians are in. As a country of great diversity, it is incredibly important for the younger and older generations to stand together and be advocates for eliminating human trafficking.  

Though some of the experiences that these vulnerable people go through may be confronting and disturbing, it is a reality and needs to be more of a frequent conversation topic. We were shocked to learn that a lot of students at our own school were unaware of the lengths that human traffickers go to. We can only assume that this is the case in many other schools in Australia. Please consider our proposal regarding this extreme display of injustice and abuse, and implement the issue of human trafficking into the curriculum of all Australian schools. 

Kind regards,

Iris Farrer, Evelyn Drinias and Bridget Kearney