DIAC Detainee experiences in detention

Building on the visitor study, ASR worked with DIAC detention services 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.

Detainee advocates and service providers, including two health professionals, DIAC detention centre staff, detention service provider staff, Ombudsman and HREOC staff as well as detainees were interviewed. The latter 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.