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4.1 Overview 4.2 Consumer Representation 4.2.1 Consumers' Telecommunications Network 4.2.2 Telecommunications and Disability Consumer Representation 4.2.3 Deaf Telecommunications Access and Networking 4.3 Disability Equipment Programs 4.4 National Relay Service 4.5 Any-to-any Text Connectivity 4.6 Telecommunications Disability Standard 4.7 Mobile Phones 4.7.1 Hearing Aid Interference 4.7.2 SMS for Deaf people 4.7.3 Emergency services 4.7.4 Access by People who are Blind 4.8 Miscellaneous Issues 4.8.1 Videocommunication 4.8.2 Payphones 4.8.3 Research and Development

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that around half of the 50 million displaced persons in the world are children. Around 10 million of these children are under the care of UNHCR. Approximately 100,000 separated children roam Western Europe.(1) During 1999 alone, more than 20,000 separated children applied for asylum in Western Europe, North America or Australia.(2) Of those 20,000 unaccompanied children, 46 travelled to Australia to seek asylum. In the same year a further 202 children sought asylum in Australia with their families.(3)

Australian law requires the detention of all non-citizens who are in Australia without a valid visa (unlawful non-citizens). This means that immigration officials have no choice but to detain persons who arrive without a visa (unauthorised arrivals), or persons who arrive with a visa and subsequently become unlawful because their visa has expired or been cancelled (authorised arrivals). Australian law makes no distinction between the detention of adults and children.