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Submission to the National
Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention from
Social Justice Group at St
John's College Dandenong, Victoria
We, the Social Justice
group at St John's Regional in Dandenong, Victoria, have discussed issues
relating to children in detention centres in Australia. We make the following
recommendations to your inquiry.
In light of the United
Nation's Declaration on the Rights of the Child we uphold the rights of
all children to happy and safe life.
- We believe that
all children have the right to live in a stable environment with their
parents and family.
- We believe that
no child should be subjected to trauma, fear, self-mutilation and violence
of any form, and that every child should be free from harm and from
the influence of those who incite trouble.
We urge your inquiry
to recommend the removal of families from detention centres in Australia
to other forms of residence so that the children may live safely.
- We believe that
every child has the right to an education, including proper facilities
and resources such as a well-designed curriculum and caring teachers.
We believe that there needs to be consistency in the employment of teachers
in Detention Centres so that the children may feel secure.
We urge your inquiry
to recommend the employment of well - qualified and resourced teachers
in detention centres in Australia, and who will undertake long term contracts.
We also urge your
inquiry to recommend to Education authorities the ready access by children
to English Language programs.
- We believe that
all children in detention centres should have opportunity for social
interaction with other children in the wider community and participate
in a range of sporting activities.
We urge your inquiry
to recommend that children in detention centres are given access to meet
and interact with children in the wider community on a regular basis for
sporting and other activities.
Submitted by members
of the Social Justice Group at St John's College Dandenong, Victoria.
- Sharlene Alexander
- Angeliki
Chimarios
- Mark
Elliott
- Duy
Ho
- Alister
Kelly
- Caroline
Majda
- Julie
Nguyen
- Holly
Benedetti
- Milika
Fernando
- Natasha
Goonetilleke
- Holly
Kokoszka
- Julie
Pham
- Jenny
Pham
- Sharon
Remedios
- Hans
Schumacher
- Ms
Tricia O'Brien (teacher)
Last
Updated 9 January 2003.