DIMIA Annual Report 2001-02
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
On 11 January 2002, the Minister signed an instrument of delegation conferring his powers under the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 (IGOC Act) on State/Territory Directors and DIMIA Managers and Deputy Managers at detention centres.
This will help to ensure that the Minister's obligations under the IGOC Act are met.
The department has also continued the development of a more comprehensive framework of procedural advice and instructions to clarify the responsibilities of detention staff, both DIMIA and the service provider, that will help to ensure that detention centres are safe environments for all those within them, including detainees, staff and visitors.
ALTERNATIVE DETENTION ARRANGEMENTS
Within the mandatory detention framework the department has looked at innovative ways of supporting persons with special needs e.g. women and children.
During the year a number of alternative places of detention were established outside detention facilities, either on a formal or case-by-case basis.
In August 2001, the department instituted a trial of alternative detention arrangements for women and children in the Woomera township.
The Residential Housing Project enabled up to 25 volunteer women and children at any one time to live in family-style accommodation away from the Woomera IRPC, supervised by service provider staff.
An evaluation has recently been undertaken of the Woomera trial of alternative detention arrangements.
As the trial has been positively received, continuation of the current arrangements and possible expansion of the current project has been agreed.
Other arrangements are in place which facilitate the accommodation of some children especially unaccompanied minors in alternative detention locations.
These have been implemented as required, in response to the particular circumstances facing a child or a detention facility.
For example, individual children have been placed in foster care arrangements in consultation with State child welfare agencies.
PUBLIC SCRUTINY
The provision of detention services and the facilities have come under increasing scrutiny.
The number of ministerial representations increased from 2,635 received for the 2000-01 financial year to 7,003 for the 2001-02 financial year.
The number of HREOC and Ombudsman inquiries for this financial year compared with the previous financial year has increased by 35 per cent.
There have also been sustained high levels of interest in detention from the media, non-government organisations and International Organisations.
Considerable effort during the year has gone into maintaining productive relationships with these agencies including ways to assist in managing and scheduling the increasing requests for visits to the centres.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
The provision of detention services cannot take place without engaging external agencies that are either directly or indirectly involved in the provision of detention services.
It has been recognised that formal agreements are needed to clarify areas of responsibility and streamline processes.
There has been considerable progress made in the negotiations of MOU in the areas of child welfare, policing and corrections.
An MOU was signed with the South Australian Department of Human Services on child welfare and protection on 6 December 2001.
There is a generally cooperative relationship with South Australian Family and Youth Services and the MOU is working well in practice.
An exchange of ethics with the NSW Department of Education and
Training was finalised to enable detainee children access to local
schools.
