Empowering frontline immigration officials with the knowledge, skills, and networks they need is key to effective regional coordination in addressing irregular migration and protecting people on the move.  

The Border Control Agency Management Program (BCAMP) is a specialised training program for emerging immigration leaders from Member States from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Timor Leste, and Australia, coordinated by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Viet Nam’s Ministry of Public Security and The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. 

BCAMP focuses on building skills and connections between immigration officials to manage the safe movement of people across borders, including countering trafficking in persons and people smuggling. It is The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs’ undisputed flagship capacity building program in ASEAN. 

Marking 15 years of BCAMP, Home Affairs Counsellor and RSO Co-Manager (Australia) David Scott, presented on the realities of trafficking in persons and people smuggling, including discussions on emerging risks and trafficking for forced criminality in cyber-scam centres.  

On the margins of BCAMP, the RSO held bilateral meetings with Viet Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and key agencies under the Ministry of Public Security—including the Department of Foreign Relations, Department of Immigration, and the People’s Police Academy (PPA). Since 2016, the RSO and PPA have trained over 800 officers through 14 foundational and advanced courses, contributing to strengthened investigative capacity across the region.    

Discussions focused on opportunities to expand ongoing cooperation to strengthen responses to cyber-enabled trafficking and enhance engagement through ASEAN and the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) Process. 

Looking ahead, the RSO recommitted to our long-standing partnership with the PPA, confirming the delivery of two targeted training courses on countering trafficking in persons for law enforcement, including an introductory course for cadets and an advanced courses. The RSO, together with the Ministry of Public Security, will also deliver a workshop supporting law enforcement to enhance online investigation capabilities to counter misuse of online technology and social media, focused on practical online investigation techniques to support real-time, cross-border cooperation on trafficking cases. 

This July, Viet Nam will ratify an update to its anti-trafficking laws, championing a victim-centered and internationally cooperative approach to countering trafficking in persons and establish an intergovernmental committee to oversee implementation of the new laws. The RSO looks forward to supporting Viet Nam through the provision of policy advice and relevant research findings.