Detainee experiences in detention

Building on a previous visitor study, ASR worked with Immigration detention staff to develop a research program to explore detainees’ current experiences while in different forms of detention. The research project focused on Darwin, Villawood and Maribyrnong detention centres.

We interviewed detainees as well as detainee advocates and service providers, health professionals, detention centre staff, detention service provider staff, the Ombudsman and HREOC staff. The detainees were in detention centres, residential detention and community detention. In many cases interpreters were involved. Well over 130 people were interviewed for the study and clear conclusions were drawn.