Detention conditions

The Mercury - 3 May 2002

Dear Sir

I write to clarify issues raised in the article Ex-detainee steers course to freedom (3 May) about the treatment of detainees and conditions in detention.

Conditions at Australia's detention centres have been developed to ensure they are consistent with Australia's international treaty obligations. Detainees are provided with religiously and nutritionally appropriate meals, religious services, educational programs, English classes, sporting activities, as well as having individual care needs met.

Australian detention centres offer a full range of health and psychological services. These are provided by fully qualified doctors, nurses and other health professionals and have been checked time and again by organisations such as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, UNHCR, and parliamentary committees. The level and range of these services are the same as those available to the wider Australian community and even exceeds those in some regional areas.

Procedures are in place to ensure that state agencies can be called upon to provide expert advice on matters including the psychological health and other issues relating to children.

Furthermore, the Department encourages children in detention, their parents and other detainees to access all available education and recreation services.

As well as televisions, videos and video games, centres have a variety of sporting equipment, playground equipment, toys and games available for children. Excursions are organised including trips to local tourist attractions, the movies, the beach, parks and swimming pools.

Kindergym and Playgroup are available for one to four-year-olds for motor skills and pre-school development. After School and Kids clubs support the education program.

Your readers should also keep in mind that a great proportion of Australians, including the residents of the township, live in climatic conditions similar to those found in Woomera.

Yours sincerely,

Stewart Foster
Director Public Affairs
Dept of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs