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Submission to the National
Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention from
Lyn. E. Bender
Psychologist/Consultant
To whom it May Concern,
I am a psychologist,
currently registered to practice in Victoria and South Australia. Australian
Correctional Management employed me as a psychologist, from March 7th
to April 16th. 20002
My role was that
of psychologist at Woomera Detention Centre. My duties included crisis
responding, counselling debriefing and psychological support for detainees.
During my six weeks
at Woomera I spent on average of 50 to 60 hours per week, on duty. The
greatest part of this time was spent listening to and assisting detainees
with distress depression anxiety trauma. Suicidal ideation and acts of
self-harm,. were common and constant features of the detainees concerns.
Another aspect of
my work at Woomera involved interaction and consultation with the medical
staff, detention management and staff, and DIMIA management and staff.
My work was located
at the medical center, in the compounds, and at various locations in the
Woomera Centre. I also visited detainees who were patients at the Woomera
Community Hospital, and children on site of the school at Woomera used
for detainees.
I also attended various
meetings of the Detention and Health staff and had informal and formal
conversation with Centre management, DIMA management, officers and other
staff.
The
Detention Centre Environment
My observations:
In my daily duties
I encountered the following:
- Daily acts of
self-harm,[ by adults and children] that included cutting, attempted
hanging, ingestion of shampoo, mutilation on the razor wire and hunger
strikes.
- Daily acts of
distress that included, hysterical uncontrolled wailing and crying,
smashing of windows and verbal threats by and to staff and detainees.
- Detainees being
forcibly physically restrained.
- Chronic complaints
from a majority of detainees of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis
of acute traumatic stress,[e.g. sleep disturbance , hyper vigilance
, eating disturbance, suicidal ideation, hopelessness and despair. The
severity and intensity were varied but consistently present in all detainees
that I interviewed.
- Somatisation;
this involves body pain and disturbance of body function that in the
broad community would be regarded as symptoms of stress. For example,
chronic headache, frequent digestive upset, muscular-skeletal pain.
- Verbal expressions
of intense despair and hopelessness and an obsessive fear about the
future.
- Extreme boredom
- This environment
was pervasively apparent, visibly, emotionally, and intrinsically part
of everyday interactions.
- Absence of adequate
play areas, and stimulation of toys or daily normal lifestyle events,
for children to learn and develop.
It would be impossible
to shield or protect children from its impact
A
Pernicious and Abusive Environment
In my view the environment
that I observed was a systemically destructive of the mental well being
of the detainees, particularly children. I draw this conclusion from the
following.
1. First and
foremost the high prevalence of self harm behaviors and depression.
This was far greater than in the normal community. For example from 40
to 60 detainees were on special observation for self harm.{ H.R.A.T.-
high risk assessment team}This was for a population of detainees of around
300. When I first arrived the Numbers of detainees were over 500 , but
these reduced to 300.
2. High incidence
of previous trauma and grief. All detainees reported fear of return
to the country from which they had fled. Some reported that they had suffered
incarceration and torture; others reported that they had witnessed war
atrocities including murder of family and threats to family. Many reported
extreme fears about the safety of family. This was often coupled with
not being able to contact or having no knowledge about the whereabouts
of their family.
3. Lack of information
and uncertainty about processes. The processing for VISAS was a depersonalized
and confusing experience for the detainees. They would wait for extended
periods with little or no information about the progress of their application.
The success or failure of other detainee's application increased their
confusion and anxiety. Some members of a family had been granted a VISA
while others were refused. Detainees found the experience of reporting
their traumatic experiences retraumatising Language difficulties and difficulty
in obtaining documents increased the confusion.
4. Excessive
periods in detention. Even detainees accepted as refugees by the first
application were held in detention for many months, some for 9 to 11 months.
Other detainee's applications took such a long time to process that they
were told that the application had failed on the grounds of political
change. This meant that in essence they might still qualify as refugees
but that further data now needed to be brought forward. This could mean
several months of waiting for the RRT and more time for the result and
for a VISA. There was a constant cycle of waiting and acceptance or rejection.
This meant that distraction was impossible. Self-harm and distress were
intensified at these times.
5. Cultural insensitivity.
Groups such as John The Baptist believers [mostly from Iran] were stigmatized
and taunted by other groups in the Detention Centre While some officers
sincerely and helpfully responded to detainees other .officers and staff
displayed a lack of understanding towards detainees. For example during
one religious ceremony an officer said in response to my query "oh
that is just some stupid mourning thing they do". I noted an officer
going through the clothes of a Muslim woman while her husband objected.
The officer ignored his concern. There was a pervasive attribution of
the distress that they exhibited as being due to "their culture"
6. Retraumatising
experiences. The stressful features of detention mirrored and re-enacted
some of the original traumatic experiences of the detainees.
- Open ended detention
- Legal processes
that seemed capricious and unclear
- Separation from
family and friends [eg Some.fathers were separated from wives and children]
- Forcible physical
restraint and isolation in the Observation rooms.
- Being seen as
inferior and less worthy and denied rights
- People 'disappearing'
overnight when granted their VISA and not being able to say goodbye
appropriately
- Not knowing where
they would go or how they would survive when released
- The environment
was experienced as punishing and blaming them for their desperate circumstances
- Intense fear and
despair about the emotional safety of the children in detention
- Little or no perceived
control over the present past or future,
- Terror of return
to their homeland and a repeat of the past traumas
- Perceived threat
to life as a result of VISA rejection.
- Hypervigilence
for the threat of suicide in others.
- Suicide attempts
of family.
- Riots
- Special riot security
guards.
- Lack of recognition
or rewards for compliance.
- Perceived invalidation
of their past experience or identity
7. Prison culture
that was a system suited to punishment of offenders. Staff and systems
were basically geared to operating a high security prison . The systems
focused on security not on health agendas. ACM training was 6 weeks for
officers. This was claimed to include cross cultural sensitization and
management of detainees. However the physical structure of the center,
with high security fences, razor wire restricted access and limited access
promote a culture of incarceration amongst detainees and staff.
8. Incarceration
Fatigue. Detainees frequently complained of a chronic state of tiredness
and fatigue that they ascribed to being at Woomera. They ruminated on
and spoke of a longing for greenery trees and flowers. On rare excursions
to Woomera township they referred to joy in being able to not see fences
and to touch grass. The children loved school "because there are
no fences" Other adults expressed despair that they may never leave
Woomera.This was particularly so for detainees who feared return to a
repressive regime. Those from Iran could not be involuntarily repatriated
and were afraid to return. Many complained about the monotony and sameness
of the environment and the isolation of the location. The center felt
"unreal" to many who felt dislocated and disoriented
9. Contagion of
despair. In an environment where a majority of people are distressed
or traumatized or depressed and where there is rampant self-harm; distress
and despair are highly contagious. Detainees also became concerned and
worried about the safety of fellow detainees and family members. In this
environment family units visibly broke down under the combined distress
of family members. In attempting to support each other each collapsed
further. Suicidality is also highly contagions
10. Lack of constructive
activity. Programs were sporadic and tokenistic Many detainees were
skilled or had enjoyed professional occupations in their country of origin
The program and work were often demeaning. For example a doctor from Afghanistan
was washing staff cars. A teacher had garbage duties. Despite this jobs
were coveted prized and sought after. Many detainees stated that it helped
them manage and nor think about their worries if they had something to
do. They were paid a dollar per day. Children were keen to go to school
despite a limited curriculum and lack of equipment.
11. Overstressed
staff. Many staff worked long hours, sometimes doing extended or double
shifts. Some expressed distress at the way detainees were treated. There
was a high turnover of psychological staff. Many staff were hostile to
and blaming of, the detainees This often extended to the children
Summary
The detention environment
was emotionally stressful and mentally destructive for all detainees.
This created an environment where adults were unable to create a safe
caring family space. Many parents and adults tried to care for their children
and to protect them. This was a common element of their distress. The
Detention Centre was particularly damaging to children and to families.
The environment was punitive penal and depriving of autonomy and stimulation.
Added to this detainees had frequently experienced prior trauma. Distress
and self-harm and talk of suicide were daily enacted Incarceration was
prolonged and uncertain .In these circumstances emotional breakdown is
inevitable. I observed what could be termed "Incarceration Fatigue"
or "Detention Syndrome" which was a combination of acute traumatic
stress symptoms and despair
Lyn Bender
M.AP.S.
Last
Updated 9 January 2003.