ChilOut's former campaign is described below. Children are no longer being held in mainland detention centres (read about the community detention arrangements).
Child Protection Campaign
ChilOut would like all children currently held in immigration detention centres reported to the state authorities responsible for child protection. Read about the harmful effects of detention on children to see why their detention amounts to state-sponsored child abuse.
You can participate in this campaign by calling the State's reporting phonelines or sending the standard letters available for download on this page to report children in Villawood, Port Hedland, Baxter, Port Augusta and Maribyrnong. Click on the links below for further instructions.
Please check the current numbers of children in immigration detention on our home page, to see where children are currently being held.
- Reporting children in Villawood, NSW
- Reporting children in SA
- Reporting children in Maribyrnong, VIC
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At May 2004 there are no children detained in WA
Reporting children in Port Hedland, WA
You can also report your concern to the federal minister, Amanda Vanstone, and the shadow minister, Stephen Smith. Our aim is to let both know that many people know that 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:
Reporting children detained in Villawood to DOCS in NSW
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 DIMIA 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 and 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).
Reporting children detained in SA
Report children in Baxter or Port Augusta Residential Housing Project.
Call the Family and Youth Services free 24 hour child abuse report line: 13 1478
Reporting children detained in Maribyrnong VIC
Call the Department of Human Services Western Region office (03) 9275 7000 and ask to be put through to child protection. After hours number: 131278
Reporting children detained in Port Hedland WA
Letter to report children in Port Hedland IDC: MS Word or PDF Format
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 811
Neutral Bay NSW 2089
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 -
E-mail:
Phone: (08) 9213 6900
Fax: (08) 9213 6901