Child Protection Campaign
ChilOut would like all children currently held in immigration detention centres reported to the state authorities responsible for child protection. You can participate in this campaign by sending the standard letters available for download on this page to report children in Villawood, and Port Hedland IDCs. Click on the links below for further instructions.
Reporting children in Villawood, NSW see also further information for Villawood visitors
Reporting children in Port Hedland, WA
Reporting elsewhere in Australia
You can also report your concern to the federal minister, Mr. Ruddock, and the shadow minister, Ms. Gillard. Our aim is to let both these MPs know that many people know DOCS in NSW has recommended that children in Villawood immigration detention centre be released, and also that DIMIA, the federal department responsible, is not allowing this. Please download, print, date, sign and post the letters below:
Many thanks,
for ChilOut
We have recieved formal letters from DOCS that State and Territory child protection bodies do not have power over detention centres as these are under Federal Government jurisdiction. Consequently DIMIA can choose whether or not to follow DOCS recommendations or those from the other child protection agencies. To date DIMA have ignored the repeated reports.
Helpline reports (see below) are helpful as they keep the issue alive and help the DOCS caseworkers to keep bringing recommendations to DIMIA to improve the conditions for the children.
The children in IDC Villawood have been reported to DOCS as a class of children who are at risk because of their situation. DOCS has recommended that they be released but DIMIA is not allowing their release. The case for them to be released can be made stronger if visitors report to DOCS any incidents which demonstrate that by being in the detention centre, the children are at risk of harm.
Our aim is to help DOCS caseworkers build a stronger case for the childrens release. We are fortunate in NSW to have a child protection agency which is prepared to fight for the rights of children in detention centres. They welcome our input and have commended us for caring about these children.
To make a report contact the DOCS Helpline on 132111.
The DOCS Helpline operates 24 hours a day and is a centralised intake, assessment and referral service.
Say something like: "I would like to report (name child) who is at risk of harm because of he (she) is in Villawood detention centre where his (her) basic physical and psychological needs are not being met."
Give address: Immigration Detention Centre, 5 Miowera Rd, Villawood
Phone number: 97521500 or 87189220
Visitors can report things like a young person expressing despair, fear, suicidal feelings, feeling unsafe, witnessing violence, mistreatment of by guards etc; anything that is not normal for a child to see and experience.
Conclude by requesting that your phone call will not lead to the child being removed from their parents as separation would cause further trauma. It is DOCS policy to keep children with their parents unless the parents pose a risk of harm to the children - we need to register our agreement with this policy.
Remember:
"If concerns regarding suspected risk from abuse or neglect are not reported to the Department of Community Services, the safety, welfare and well-being of a child or young person cannot be properly assessed and they may be left vulnerable to the risk of further abuse."
from the NSW Health Department
Protection is afforded to a person making a report or providing information to DOCS. Details of a report made to the DOCS Helpline, including documentation, are exempt documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (FOI).
In order to participate in the campaign for children held in WA:
- Download, and print the standard letters (links above), add the date, and sign them. Post each to the address at the top of the letter, and enclose a stamped addressed envelope to insure you get a reply. The envelope for acknowledgement letters can be addressed to Friends of Children in Detention PO Box 512 North Sydney 2059 so that copies can be kept in secure files for future court cases.
- Note the Cc (carbon copy) address at the bottom of the WA letters.
Please forward a copy of each of your letters to:
The Hon Sheila M McHale MLA
Minister for Community Development, Women's Interests, Seniors and Youth;
Disability Services; Culture and the Arts
12th Floor, Dumas House
2 Havelock Street
WEST PERTH WA 6005
The South Australian government recently completed a report after sending child protection workers into Woomera to investigate conditions. The South Australian social justice minister concluded conditions for children were intolerable.
Victoria is home to the Maribyrnong detention centre. Are you familiar with child protection legislation in Victoria? Please send an email to if you can help draft letters to lobby the relevant state government agency in Victoria.
