Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention

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Submission to the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention from

Social Action Committee (SAC) of the Conference Leaders of Religious Congregations of Victoria (CLRCV)

We, the Social Action Committee of the CLRCV, wish to make a submission to the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention. Our message is simple. We believe that immigration detention is profoundly bad for children.

Many of the members of the religious orders which belong to the CLRCV have many years of experience working with children in health, education, welfare and other fields. We know that for children to thrive, they need to be safe, secure and loved. We know from reports from members of our religious orders who visit the immigration detention centres, that they are not places that promote for children a sense of safety, security and love.

We ask the Inquiry to recommend that children spend an absolute maximum of two weeks in secure detention while their health and the identity of their families is checked. We ask the Inquiry to recommend that children, in the company of at least one parent, be released into the community where they can begin the process of healing after the trauma they have faced on their difficult journeys to Australia. We ask the Inquiry to recommend that children be supported through access to appropriate education and health care by Government agencies while they await decisions affecting their future and that of their families.

Signed: Social Action Committee, CLRCV

Sr Margaret Cassidy, CSB 

Sr Catherine Kelly, CSB 

Sr Joan Power, PBVM 

Br Brian Bond, CFC 

Br Matthew Beckman, OFM vocations@franciscans.org.au

Br Dennis Cooper, FMS dencoops@maristmelb.org.au

Sr Marie Kehoe, RSM mariek@mercy.org.au

Sr Kathleen Spokes, SGS 

Ms Kathryn Boyle, Columban Mission 

Last Updated 9 January 2003.