HumanTrafficking.org | Australia Government Agency: Australian Government Office for Women

A web resource for combating human trafficking

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Australia

Australian Government Office for Women

Address

Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs – Box 7788, Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610, Australia

Contact Information

If calling from Australia:

Tel: 1800 808 863
Fax: 02 6212 9572

If calling from overseas:

Tel: 1800 808 863
Fax: +61 2 6212 9572

Website

http://ofw.facs.gov.au/index2.htm

Email

women@facsia.gov.au

Activities

The Australian Government Office for Women (OfW) is part of the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The Office provides policy advice to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues on issues affecting women in Australia.

The Australian Government shares community concern about the welfare of victims of trafficking and has responded by introducing a comprehensive victim support program, which is managed by OfW.

On 13 October 2003 the Australian Government announced a major strategy to combat people trafficking. The $20 million strategy will complement existing efforts to significantly enhance the detection, investigation and prosecution of traffickers and improve the range of support available to victims.

On 17 June 2004 the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator the Hon Chris Ellison and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues, Senator the Hon Kay Patterson, launched the Australian Government’s Plan to Eradicate Trafficking in Persons. The Action Plan is available online for downloading and printing at the link to “people trafficking”.

As part of the strategy, OfW coordinates support for victims of trafficking through the Support for Victims of People Trafficking Programme. The Programme provides financial and other support to victims around Australia who are of interest to the police or assisting with criminal investigations and prosecutions in Australia. The support provided assists with victims’ living expenses and their general well being and includes income support, access to accommodation, medical treatment, basic legal advice, counselling, training and social support.

The support is provided by a contracted case manager, who is responsible for ensuring the appropriate coordination or delivery of these support services from the time the client is referred to them by police to the conclusion of the victim’s assistance with the investigation and prosecution in Australia.