The Catholic archdiocese in Sydney, Australia, has announced a series of new initiatives to address the widespread problems of modern slavery and human trafficking. Teachers at Catholic secondary schools this week took part in an education programme, aimed at highlighting the importance of personal commitment to the anti-trafficking campaign.

The schools’ programme is part of a broader effort being spearheaded by His Grace Archbishop Anthony Fisher, who set up a task force to examine the supply chains of Church organizations and to develop an ethical purchasing guide for all parishes. The chair of the Anti-slavery taskforce is Australia’s former ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy, who was in Rome earlier this month to attend a conference at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences highlighted new initiatives to fight against human trafficking.

McCarthy concluded his remarks by encouraging that Change will come about when people realize that they can be part of the solution.