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A century ago, the Australian people engaged in a debate about creating a nation. They held meetings...They wrote articles and letters in newspapers. Many views were canvassed and voices were heard. The separate colonies, having divided up the land between them, discussed ways of sharing powers in order to achieve a vision of a united Australia. The result was the Australian Constitution, establishing the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.

As a former teacher at the Woomera IRPC, I was able to witness at first hand, the conditions of detention and the resulting outcomes for Asylum Seekers.

The meeting was attended by 8 people including 7 young people aged between 9 and 15 years and one parent. Omeima Sukkarieh (notes) from HREOC attended and facilitated the consultation.

When I commenced writing this chapter in 2008, Australia did not have a national Indigenous languages policy. However in August 2009, for the first time in Australia’s history, the Commonwealth Government launched a strategy for preserving Indigenous languages: Indigenous Languages - A National Approach 2009 (National Approach). The National Approach sets out the Commonwealth Government’s plan to preserve Indigenous languages through targeted actions. They are:

State and Territory legislation, programs and policies in the areas of child welfare, adoption and juvenile justice are intended to provide a non-discriminatory framework for the administration of services. In many cases, programs are designed with the objective of reducing the extent of contemporary removals of Indigenous children and young people. In spite of this, the over-representation of Indigenous children among children living separately from their families and communities, temporarily or permanently, remains high.

As a former teacher at the Woomera IRPC, I was able to witness at first hand, the conditions of detention and the resulting outcomes for Asylum Seekers.

Contained in this document are recommendations from students of Amnesty International’s School’s Network who believe that the current system of undocumented asylum-seeker processing is inadequate. In this proposed procedure, both detention centres and the Temporary Protection Visa are abolished and are replaced by a system that is better (economically, socially, and psychologically) for both refugees and the Australian public. In it, special provisions are made to further protect children and minimise the stress involved in settling in Australia for them.

Introduction Background Health Schooling Shelter Food/nutrition Transport Interpreters Language Social Support Maternity Recommendations Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5

Everyone has a fundamental right to feel safe from all forms of violence, in all parts of their lives. Each year, however, too many Australians encounter violence, harassment and bullying because of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age. Addressing these forms of violence is the second of the Commission’s two priority areas of work.

Media Pack: PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING INDIGENOUS DISADVANTAGE INCOME Gross household income for Indigenous people increased by 11% between 1996 and 2001. In 2001, it was 62% of the rate for non-Indigenous Australians, compared to 64% in 1996. Median gross individual income for Indigenous people increased by 19% from 1996 to 2001, compared to an increase of 28.4% for non-Indigenous people. There has ...