Submission: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Access submissions to the 2012 National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention, including evidence from public hearings and specific issue-focused
Summary
Click on the links below to access submissions relating to specific issues raised by the Inquiry and submissions from individuals/ organisations attending public hearings.
Submissions to the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention:
The Commission received more than 300 submissions for its Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention, announced in November 2001.
Click on the links below to access submissions relating to specific issues raised by the Inquiry and submissions from individuals/ organisations attending public hearings.
Submission received from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Submissions on the Psychological health of child asylum seekers
Submission received from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs prepared a submission in response to the terms of reference of the Commission's Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention and to issues raised in the Background Papers.
To access the DIMIA submission visit: http://www.immi.gov.au/detention/hreoc
Submissions focussing on Multiple Issues
Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Ethnic Childcare, Family and Community Services Co-operative Ltd
Len Baglow, B. Soc. Wk., G. D. U. R. P, Child Abuse Counsellor
Social Justice Group at St John's College Dandenong, Victoria
Social Responsibilities Commission, Anglican Province of Western Australia
Submissions on Legal Issues
These submissions were made by individual lawyers and by bodies representing lawyers and the judiciary as well as organisations and individuals whose submissions dealt mainly with legal issues raised by the Inquiry:
International Commission of Jurists WA Chapter and Women Lawyers Inc WA
Dr John Tobin, (University of Melbourne, Faculty of Law) - released prior to the Inquiry hearings in Melbourne
Julian Burnside QC (and the KIDS submissions) - released prior to the Inquiry hearings in Melbourne
The Law Institute of Victoria (endorses KIDS submission)
Victorian Bar Council (endorses KIDS submission)
Submissions on Health and Disability Issues
Health
Disability
Submissions on the Psychological health of child asylum seekers:
Australian Association for the Welfare of Child Health (AWCH)
Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses (Qld Branch)
Brisbane Refugee Health Network and Refugee Claimants Support Centre
School of Education and Early Childhood Studies, University of Western Sydney
Literature review on the psychological difficulties facing child refugees and asylum seekers
The Psychological Well Being of Child and Adolescent Refugee and Asylum Seekers: Overview of Major Research Findings of the Past Ten Years is a literature review undertaken by Trang Thomas, Professor of Psychology, and Winnie Lau, Clinical Psychology Researcher, at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The review identifies several consistent findings by international studies on the psychological difficulties facing child and adolescent refugees and asylum seekers. For example, unaccompanied minors are at greater psychological risk than others. However, the review also points to the need for more research in certain areas. It includes extensive References and Suggested Readings.
Submissions on Education in Immigration Detention Centres:
South Australian Department of Education, Training and Employment
Queensland Independent Education Union (QIEU) Equity Committee
Artwork Submitted to the Inquiry
The following poems and drawings were submitted to the inquiry.
Drawings provided by a child who has been in detention at Port Hedland IRPC for 22 months
Two poems and a drawing provided by the mother of a child at Woomera IRPC
Drawing provided by a former child detainee in a focus group of the Inquiry
C omments made by former child detainee on cover of HREOC Report, Those who've come across the seas
Public Hearing - Melbourne, 30 - 31st May 2002
Public hearings for the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention were held in Melbourne on 30th and 31st May 2002.
The following people were scheduled to appear. Submissions received from these individuals/ organisations have been made available where possible.
Thursday 30th May from 2pm
Julian Burnside QC et al (KIDS) Friday 31st May from 11am
Scott Phillips and colleagues (Melbourne International Health and Justice Group, RMIT)
Public Hearing - Perth, 10 June 2002
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention visited Western Australia from 10 to 19 June and held a public meeting in Perth on 10 June 2002.
The following people were scheduled to appear. Submissions received from these individuals/ organisations have been made available where possible.
Ms Mary-Anne Kenny - Southern Communities Advocacy Legal & Education Service Inc
Dr Judyth Watson - Coalition Assisting Refugees after Detention (CARAD)
Public Hearing - Adelaide, 1 - 2 July 2002
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention visited South Australia from 27 June - 3 July and held a public meeting in Adelaide from 1 - 2 July 2002.
Submissions received from individuals/ organisations in South Australia have been made available where possible.
Dr Ros Powrie, Australian Association for Infant Mental Health
Ms Rosemary Steen and Ms Julie Redman, SA Coalition for Refugee Children
Ms Sue Park, Ms Beverley Hartigan, The Association of Major Charitable Organisations (SA) inc
Ms Joy de Leo, Mr Janusz Mikos, Department of Multicultural Affairs, SA
Public Hearing- Sydney, 15 - 17 July 2002
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention held a public meeting in Sydney from 15 - 17 July 2002.
Submissions received from individuals/ organisations in New South Wales have been made available where possible:
UNSW Centre for Refugee Research and the Australian National Committee on Refugee Women
(Fr) Frank Brennan SJ AO, Uniya Jesuit Social Justice Centre
Public Hearing - Brisbane, 5th August 2002
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention held a public meeting in Brisbane on 5th August 2002.
Submissions received from individuals/ organisations in Queensland have been made available where possible:
Rohan Vora, Gaby Heuft, Margot Salom, Brisbane Refugee Health Network
Ms Rasheeda Joseph, Ms Frederika Steen, Sr De Lourdes Jarrat, Alec Shabanz, Romera Centre
Kirsten Hagon (accompanied by four Australian high school students), Amnesty Schools Network
Statements about individuals
The Commission agreed to suppress names of individuals in published submissions where it is alleged that those individuals have acted inappropriately or illegally. The objective of this is to avoid publicity about an individual when there has been no opportunity to test the claims made against him or her.
This decision is in accordance with the Directions issued by the Human Rights Commissioner on 19 April 2002 entitled ' General Directions by the Human Rights Commissioner: Preservation of Anonymity and Limitations on Publication.' These directions are to be found on the Commission's website at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/privacy.html
Disclaimer
The Commission was publishing these submissions without modification for public information and to facilitate comment. The submissions may contain errors and their publication does not represent any finding by the Commission about the matters contained in them.