Australian Human Rights Summary of Children in Immigration
I recall years ago I had the opportunity to clown at the Maribyrnong Detention Centre with 2 other clowns. We came in to bring love and inclusion to the people. We hugged the refugees, the guards and the children We juggled, played, massaged, sung and clowned around. What I noted when there was that this was a prison and the inmates were refugees fleeing persecution. At the time the majority were from Iraq and Afghanistan. Clearly countries in crisis. When we were getting to the end of our time there I suddenly noticed they quietly returned to the jail. I organised a group hug with the guards, the Red Cross and other workers there. My aim was to rehumanise people.
I note The Australian Human Rights Commission Report regarding the health and wellbeing of children in detention. Below is a pdf and excerpt from the report.
I note Serco is the company who is responsible for refugees in detention. It is clear they have not provided adequate services and facilities for children in detention and that there is not the expertise to deal with mental health and community requirements. It follows that it is inadequate for adults. It appears they do not have expertise in the socio-emotional wellbeing of people.
It is the emotional disconnection from the humanity of people that has myself concerned. I can really see that they do not understand human needs. It appears that vulnerable people who are outside of protections can be wharehoused away from public scrutiny and abuses can arise given control and command culture in the absence of rights or citizenship.
This is the pdf of the report:
Excerpts are below:
Summary and recommendations
Through observation, interview and formal testing, we have confirmed that closed immigration detention in Wickham Point and Nauru is harmful to the health and mental health of young children and youth. We know that harm increases with increasing duration of detention, and most of these children have been in prolonged detention for over a year. We also confirmed a mismatch between the burden of mental ill health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder and development risks, and the availability of readily accessible and appropriate specialist paediatric and adolescent psychiatric services for children resident at Wickham point. We were deeply disturbed by the numbers of young children who expressed intent to self-harm and talked openly about suicide and by those who had already self-harmed. The only appropriate management of this situation is removal of children from the toxic detention environment which is causing and/or exacerbating mental ill-health.
Recommendations
We recommend that: All children be immediately removed from immigration detention to community detention in mainland Australia or granted a bridging visa. Under no circumstances should any child detained on the mainland be returned to or transferred to Nauru. Nauru is an inappropriate place for asylum seeker children to live, either in the detention centre or in the community.
Specific recommendations in relation to Wickham Point.
We recommend that:
Wickham Point should not be considered an alternative place of detention for children because the environment, educational opportunities, play and recreational and health services are inadequate for children.
Health services be augmented:
o Augmented Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Psychology services are urgently needed.
o Access to primary healthcare and dental services must be improved.
o Referral to specialist paediatricians at Royal Darwin Hospital should be made for all children with significant ongoing medical issues.
Play equipment and recreational opportunities be improved:
o Families and young children should be able to access the playroom at all times and not just for 1 hour during weekdays. This could be achieved by unlocking the doors and including windows to improve visibility from outside while maintaining the air conditioning.
o A range of age-appropriate toys should be available in the shop so that children can have their own toys to take back to their rooms.
o The oval should be made accessible to families in the Sand compound every day outside school hours. During school hours and in the evenings residents in Surf and Sun could have access.
o Children require additional spaces to ride their bikes and rules should be applied consistently by the Serco guards.
o A swimming pool should be installed given the health benefits, the extreme heat and the limited recreational opportunities.
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There be modifications to the build environment as follows:
o That consideration be given to creating a more appropriate environment for children in the Sand compound with less concrete and fencing.
o For families with children who require more than one room, connecting rooms should be made available so that the parents can adequately supervise their children in a safe environment.
There be some modifications to food provided, as follows:
o Food needs to be made accessible outside of strict meal times for young children who tend to “graze” rather than sticking to strict mealtimes. There is bread and some fruit available in a communal fridge but only chips, biscuits, chocolates and instant noodles in the shop.
o We recommend consultation with a paediatric dietician to improve the variety and suitability of the food provided in the mess, also in the communal fridge and the shop.
o We suggest surveying parents and children regarding their children’s food preferences and needs to give them some empowerment and choice.
That with regard to Serco guards
o The 5am and 10pm headcounts for families with children should be discontinued due to the disruption to sleep and the fear that this generates.
o Serco guards should be educated regarding the enormous burden of mental health problems being experienced by the traumatised children living in detention.
o Serco guards should refrain from wearing their uniforms when dropping kids off to school or taking them on excursions given the stigmatisation that ensues.
o Serco should permit families and children some pocket money when they take excursions to purchase small items such as ice creams or drinks.
That the management of Wickham Point surveys all families and children about how to improve the detention environment and thus provide them with some empowerment and choice. This could include questions about:
o Recreational activities.
o Excursions.
o Food in the mess hall, communal areas and shop.
o Internet access.
o Gym access
o Playroom access o Accommodation