Click here to return to the Submission Index
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.
