Overview
The SHHH! campaign shines a spotlight on the widespread tolerance of exploitation faced by international students in Australia. Cultural norms, systemic vulnerabilities, and fear of retaliation often lead students to accept poor working conditions and underpayment as a “normal” part of their experience. This tolerance, reinforced by peer groups and systemic issues, perpetuates a cycle of silence, making exploitation harder to combat. The campaign title, “SHHH!”, symbolizes the enforced silence and pressure to endure mistreatment. It challenges this normalization by empowering students to recognize their rights, speak up, and break the cycle of exploitation.
Design Highlights
Illustrative Style: A relatable and approachable visual approach that humanizes the issue and engages the audience.
Cohesive Visual Language: Consistent layouts and a red-dominated color palette create a unified campaign while emphasizing urgency.
Narrative Storytelling: Each poster highlights a distinct experience of exploitation, from fear of retaliation to normalized mistreatment, helping viewers see the broader systemic issue.
Engagement Features: QR codes on each poster lead viewers to resources for learning their rights and seeking help.
Impacts
The SHHH! campaign successfully drew attention to the normalization of exploitation and inspired important conversations among international students and advocacy groups. The striking visuals and compelling stories helped bridge the gap between awareness and action, empowering students to challenge exploitation and seek support.