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Submissions to the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention

<p> <a name="anchor" id="anchor"></a> </p> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="BodyText" --><blockquote><h4><br> <p> Evidence provided by ex-ACM staff </p></h4> <p>The National Inquiry </p> <p> into Children in Immigration Detention has received evidence from a </p> <p> number of ex-ACM staff. </p> <p>The following submissions </p> <p> and statements have been made by those staff who were willing to make </p> <p> their evidence public.</p></blockquote>

The young boy I visit is [words deleted]Afghani. When I first started to visit he was very distressed and in my opinion suicidal. He told me he was crying every day and all he did was cry and sleep. He also took part in a hunger strike and spoke of stitching his lips together. His words "one week two week I be dead, better if I dead no more cry no more thinking my mother my father." I spoke of this with a friend of mine who arranged for a mental health nurse to ring him. She is Iranian and was able to communicate with him in a language he understood better.

I am pleased to present herewith a submission on behalf of the Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies, addressing key issues for the Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention.

The adequacy and effectiveness of policies, agreements, laws, rules and practices governing children in immigration detention or child asylum seekers and refugees residing in the community after a period of detention.

This submission is made on behalf of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO). It addresses some of the terms of reference of the Inquiry.

Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that flow from his [sic] dignity as a creature. These rights are prior to society and must be recognised by it. They are the basis of the moral legitimacy of every authority; by flouting them, or refusing to recognise them in its positive legislation, a society undermines its own moral legitimacy … Catechism of the Catholic Church, n 1930

We appeal to the humanity, decency and sense of fairness of our fellow Australians in respecting the human rights of men, women and children escaping persecution.

4. The Impact of Detention on the well being of children and additional measures and safeguards required in detention facilities (Terms of Reference 4 & 5)

The National Federation of Organisations Representing Parents of Non-government School Students National Secretariat PO Box 1894 North Sydney NSW 2059 Telephone: (02) 9955 7091 Fax (02) 9923 2723 Email:director@austparents.edu.au

Catholic Welfare Australia is a Commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference and is the peak body that represents the social welfare apostolate of the Catholic Church in Australia at a national level. It is a national federation of Catholic social service organisations that operate in local communities. Membership of Catholic Welfare Australia is drawn from the Catholic social welfare organisations operating under the authority of a diocesan bishop or a religious order and from Catholic lay associations.

Comments are made from two perspectives; the first from Catholic chaplains who regularly visit the Villawood detention centre in Sydney's outer Western suburbs. The second perspective is that of the broader professional perspective of Centacare staff who provide care and protection to children