Public concern for the well-being of children held in detention in Australia has been revealed through a National Inquiry. Evidence indicates that children are detrimentally affected by the detention environment on many levels. The discussion here focuses on the question of education. A ‘dual strategic approach’ is advocated, which calls for the urgent needs of children to be met within a context of concerted measures to end mandatory detention.
Refugeee Council of Australia (February, 2002) Woomera Immigration Detention Centre Report of visit by HREOC officers. Media statement by A. Tay and S. Ozdowski.
6.
Melbourne International Health and Justice Group (2002) Submission to National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention, Section 1, Mandatory Detention of Asylum Seekers in Australia: Its impact on children and the need for alternative approaches, Phillips, S. [Web document] (16/8/02 updated). Available at: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/submissions/melbourne_international_health.html [2002, November 13].
