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CARAD is a group of volunteers, supporters and donors formed from January 2000, in an attempt to meet some of the range of essential and urgent needs of refugees who reach Perth, following assessment of their claim while in a detention centre. We have now met in excess of 2,000 refugees, not all of whom remain in WA, and have provided them with compassionate, practical assistance. We estimate that there are about 1000 individual volunteers, supporters and donors affiliated with CARAD.

International and Australian evidence demonstrates the long-term effects of early life experience on health and well being throughout life. The detention of children and young people is poses significant risks to normal development. The exposure of infants and young children to stress either directly or mediated through the experiences of their parents reduces the likelihood of normal brain development.

The Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the Inquiry by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission into Children in Immigration Detention. In our opinion, this is a very timely and important Inquiry into an area of great significance to Australia as a nation and to the way that Australia is perceived internationally.

As part of its Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention the Commission has compiled eight Background Papers to assist organisations and individuals wishing to make submissions to the Inquiry.

Two Assistant Commissioners have been appointed to assist the Inquiry. Prof Thomas and Dr Sullivan will assist the Inquiry in providing advice in their respective fields of expertise and will assist with public hearings.

1. The Women Barristers' Association ("WBA") makes this submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in relation to its national inquiry into children in immigration detention.

2. Recognises the obligations of the Australian Federal Government as a signatory, on 22nd August, 1990, to the Convention on the Rights of the Child as at 15th October 1996 (187), this coming into force on 16th January 1991.

This submission will focus on the current Australian immigration detention regime as it applies to minors. The regime will be examined based on data and information made available by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (“DIMIA”) and supporting documentation ranging from government publications, the Flood Inquiry and testimonies given to the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission “HREOC” under oath.

The current submission recognises the need to move beyond mere critique of the status quo and focus resources on the development of viable alternatives. To be feasible any such model must satisfy the legitimate concerns of the government while upholding the fundamental right of freedom of movement.

To those of you who have been following this Inquiry closely, it may be unclear as to why this hearing is taking place as I had said in December 2002 that those would be the last of the Inquiry's hearings. I will therefore briefly set out the history and methodology of the Inquiry to this point which will take us to why we are here today. I will then set out what steps remain to be completed after this hearing is concluded and prior to publication. Finally, I will set out the proposed procedure for today's hearing. Let us start with methodology of the Inquiry to date.

The Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia is the national peak body representing non-government organisations working with children and young people experiencing abuse and neglect and their families. The Association represents more than 80 organisations across Australia engaged in child and family welfare service provision, including each State and Territory peak child welfare association. The Association of Children Welfare Agencies (ACWA) is a founding state based peak member of CAFWAA.

The YWCA of Australia is a women's membership movement, nourished by its roots in the Christian Faith and sustained by the richness of many beliefs and values. Strengthened by diversity the Association draws together members who strive to create opportunities for growth, leadership and empowerment in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice freedom and dignity for all people.

Many of my clients (while I was working as a Child and Adolescent Counsellor with STARTTS June 2000 - January 2002) refused to talk about their experiences in Australian Immigration Detention Centres. In addition, several mothers only let me see their children for counselling on the condition that I not raise their Australian Detention experiences as it would distress them too much and they do not want to talk about it. This concerned me a lot.

Australia ratified its commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child in 1989. Australia has also committed itself to other human rights standards such as the Refugee Convention. In order to fulfil these obligations and on pure humanitarian grounds, it is imperative that children in detention are afforded these rights.

The Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) is a network of youth workers, children's lawyers, policy workers and academics concerned about juvenile justice and working to promote the rights of children and young people in Australia.

Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is the national professional organisation for Australian nurses. The College was established in 1949 and until the early 1990's was a provider of formal ongoing education for nurses who wished to gain higher qualifications in nursing. Following the completion of the transfer of nursing to the higher education sector in 1993, the College refocused its functions to become the national professional organisation for Australian nurses.

The Law Institute of Victoria wishes to endorse the Legal section of the Submission by KIDS (Kids in Detention Story) to you Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention.