Why are you called 'The Grey Man'?

'The Grey Man' is a military term that refers to someone who stays "under the radar" and isn't noticed. We chose the name because it fits in well with the covert nature of some of our activities. We also believe that most people lead their entire lives as 'the grey man' ... never standing for anything, never making a difference, never reaching their full potential as human beings. Best summed up as 'Consume, Be Silent, Die'. This attitude of resignation, cynicism and lack of trust in one's own ability to change the world is not good enough. Not good enough for you, not good enough for humanity and not good enough for the earth. You can stop being 'the grey man' and move forward to become 'The Grey Man'. There is a big difference.

Since you are called 'The Grey Man' does that mean you don't have women in your organisation?

No, approximately half of our membership is comprised of women.

I have heard that you have to be from the special forces to join 'The Grey Man' in field operations

Not at all. Some of our members are ex-special forces but it is not a pre-requisite for working with us. You will have skills that we need that you don't even know you have yet. We need those skills.

Where is 'The Grey Man' (TGM) based ?

Brisbane, Australia.

Why is a national police check required to be a Australian member ?

We have a duty to protect the children we rescue. A national police check is the first step in minimising the infiltration of sex predators into our organisation.

What exactly do you do?

We have been quietly rescuing children since 2004, usually only when we have good intelligence and in low- to medium-risk environments. This is a slow process. We have also been tracking and gathering intelligence on child sex predators and passing the information on to the authorities. Our focus is rescue, however as a preventative measure we also provide educational infrastructure (school power, water, gardens, transport, etc) for hill-tribe villagers to release them from the poverty trap and diminish the need to traffick their children.

How much will it cost me to work with you?

While in Australia, very little (a national police check and the basic costs of training camps). For Thailand, the cost of an airfare (approx. $1400), accommodation and food ($100 per week) and associated expenses, e.g. visas, sightseeing, passport, travel insurance, medical costs, and personal items.

What roles do you have for people in your organisation?

All positions are voluntary. In the villages at various times we occasionally need builders, plumbers, teachers, health workers, counsellors, administrators, computer people, and others. However, anyone who wants to help is welcome. These volunteers are co-ordinated through our partner agency 'Kid's Ark Foundation' and generally we require a month of your time as a minimum.There are also roles in covert teams which are co-ordinated through our Director of Operations in Thailand and we can utilise you for a few days to a few weeks.  However, it can be a long process to become involved in a covert team (6 months or more) and we prefer people with some experience though this is not always necessary, depending on the individual.  We also prefer people who are willing to get involved in other aspects of our work.  Bear in mind that we are increasingly utilising local personnel in Thailand so the requirement for caucasian personnel is diminishing.

Note: All Grey Man volunteers who work in Thailand are required to have a national police check and have completed the Grey Man basic course.

How do I know you are a genuine organisation?

We are an incorporated non-profit organisation under Australian law and a registered charity (No. CH1673). This can be checked through the Office of Fair Trading in Brisbane. Our books are audited annually.

Are non-Australian members welcome?

Yes. However, since part of the vetting process involves a number of meetings with us, if you are not in Australia it is difficult for us to vet you.  Also, if we cannot check your background through police agencies then you will not be allowed to be involved in our field activities. So, the reality is that our people are usually Australians or British personnel residing in Australia. 

Where does TGM conduct its activities?

Presently our focus is on Thailand and Laos

How do I find out more about TGM?

Read the pages on this website. Send us an This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone our Communications Officer on +61 07 3878 3924.

If I make a donation what will it be used for?

It will be used to fund our investigations and operations in Thailand, send children to school  or build infrastructure for a village (e.g. a pump, solar power, etc). Money may be used to purchase equipment or run an operation. You can stipulate how you want the money spent by sending us an e-mail after making a donation on our donation page. (NOTE: Grey Man staff and volunteers pay their own way.  All donations are spent on protecting children NOT on administration).

How do I make a donation?

Go to our donations page. All transactions are secure.

What is in it for me if I join 'The Grey Man'?

You will make a difference. You will start to see yourself as a leader with more possibilities than you could imagine. You will have fun. We will offer you some unusual training. You will travel the world, meet interesting people and help them. Members receive 'The Grey Man' newsletter and access to our courses. Only Grey Man members can volunteer in Thailand.

Is Thailand the only country where sex trafficking of children goes on?

No, it is a worldwide phenemon but south-east Asia is of major concern.

Are you a religious group?

No. We have no affiliation with any religious group but we accept members from all religions as long as they want to stop child trafficking and are NOT interested in converting children to their religion.