Support provided to family

The West Australian
30 January 2003

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you to convey my concern about some implications made in Andre Malan's piece 'Family pays price of our compassion', (The West Australian 30/01/03).

The Department is working with the appropriate authorities to make the necessary arrangements following this tragic event.

Mr Malan may also be interested to learn that only after consultations with the woman's family was it decided that the woman's body would remain in Australia, until she could be returned to Afghanistan with her family.

The children of the woman were flown to Perth to be with their mother before she died. Following her death, the Department also arranged for a registered nurse, who had been working with the family in Perth, to return to Christmas Island with the family while further arrangements were made for ongoing counselling.

Since 24 January 2003 a qualified psychiatric nurse has been counselling the family providing mental health support in their time of need.

Your readers can be assured that the Department has not spared any effort in supporting the personal needs of the family at this tragic time.

Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA