This 2016 document is one of a number of submissions made by the APS since 2002 expressing serious concerns about the mental health, wellbeing and human rights of people seeking asylum in Australia.
The focus of this Senate inquiry was on serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre.
The APS submission incorporates feedback from APS members working directly with asylum seekers, including those within detention centres offshore. The APS is concerned that the detention environment itself constitutes a source of trauma and abuse. Further to previous submissions, and escalating the need for a just and lasting resolution to the current situations on Manus and Nauru, there are increasing reports of worsening mental health issues, abuse and self-harm, and these distressing events are often witnessed by others, including children, who are particularly vulnerable in traumatising environments. The APS is also concerned about recent reports of disturbing instances of sexual assault of women in Nauru and physical abuse of people seeking asylum.
The APS is of the firm view that offshore or remote detention of any kind is unacceptable and unnecessary. The APS submission recommends that such processing centres be replaced by community-based alternatives within Australia, especially for children, as part of a system-wide reform of the detention network and refugee policy more generally.
View submission