Australia’s airports unite across the nation to fight against human trafficking 

Australia’s largest airports are joining forces once again to raise awareness of human trafficking and exploitation, with Perth Airport joining Sydney and Melbourne in expanding the Can You See Me? awareness campaign nationwide.

Led by anti-human trafficking organisation A21, the campaign urges travellers to recognise and report the signs of human trafficking and modern slavery. Digital screens and billboards across Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth airports will display the campaign throughout November, featuring messages that remind travellers “If you suspect it, report it.” QR codes will link to information and videos showing how to identify potential trafficking situations.

Combined, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth airports cater for 77% of Australia’s total international passenger traffic. In November alone, more than 8.5 million travellers are expected to pass through their terminals, giving the campaign significant reach to raise awareness and prompt action. Reports of human trafficking to the AFP have nearly doubled over the past five years, with 420 reports recorded in 2024–25, averaging one report per day compared with 224 in 2020–21. The increase reflects growing community awareness and willingness to report suspected exploitation.

Human trafficking in Australia takes many forms, including trafficking, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, debt bondage, forced labour, deceptive recruitment, and organ trafficking. The Global Slavery Index estimates 41,000 people in Australia live under conditions of modern slavery. A21 has rolled out this program in high-profile spaces worldwide from Times Square billboards, screens at Heathrow Airport, train stations in Thailand to inflatable screens in vulnerable Cambodian communities – reaching an impressive 3.4 billion people globally.

A united response to human trafficking
Sydney Airport CEO, Scott Charlton, said, “Sydney Airport is proud to continue leading this vital campaign alongside its airport partners. “Every person deserves to travel safely, without fear of exploitation. Expanding this campaign from east to west shows what’s possible when Australia’s gateways work together on an issue that affects people everywhere,” he said. “This partnership with Melbourne airport and Perth airport alongside A21 builds on last year’s success and ensures millions of passengers see a message that could keep a life safe.

Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus, said “Melbourne Airport was proud to be helping shine a light on a crime that is often hidden in plain sight. “We hope that having three of Australia’s major international gateways join forces with A21 will help tackle this insidious crime,” she said. “By providing our passengers and the airport workforce with the information they need to recognise and report the signs of human trafficking, this campaign will help save lives.

Perth Airport CEO, Jason Waters, said “Perth Airport was pleased to join A21 and our partner airports in Sydney and Melbourne on this important campaign. “At Perth Airport we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all passengers and workers and this campaign brings a critical issue to the forefront and will help those vulnerable in our community. “We will be activating this campaign Can You See Me? across digital screens across our estate including our four terminals.

A21 CEO, Nick Caine, said “Expanding this campaign across Sydney, Melbourne, and now Perth Airport represents a powerful step forward in Australia’s united response to human trafficking. Every airport is a gateway - not only for travellers, but also, tragically, for traffickers.

By standing together across the nation, we can turn these gateways into places of protection and awareness. Our hope is that through this partnership, more victims will be seen, recognised, and ultimately, set free.”

Christian Elliott, A21 Chief Impact Officer said, “Human trafficking thrives in silence and invisibility. By bringing Can You See Me? to airports across Australia, we are breaking that silence and shining a light in places where exploitation often hides in plain sight. “This collaboration between Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth airports shows what is possible when we come together for a shared purpose - to protect the vulnerable and empower everyday people to be part of the solution. One look, one report, one moment of awareness can change everything."

The Rotary Clubs of Botany Randwick and Marrickville will again donate all funds raised from 11 collection boxes across Sydney Airport throughout November to A21, supporting its mission to end human trafficking and help survivors rebuild their lives. Australian Federal Police Commander Human Exploitation, Helen Schneider, said “In the past financial year, the Australian Federal Police recorded a more than 100 per cent jump in reports of exit trafficking, where coercion, threats or deception were used to exit, or attempt to exit, an individual from Australia.”

“Airports are a key environment where traffickers seek to move victims across borders, so awareness campaigns in these locations can play a critical role in helping travellers and frontline airport staff recognise and report these crimes. Any piece of information, however big or small, may help protect a person who is at risk of being exploited.”