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Villawood Immigration Detention Centre

April 08, 2024

Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, originally Villawood Migrant Hostel or Villawood Migrant Centre, split into a separate section named Westbridge Migrant Hostel from 1968 to 1984, is an Australian immigration detention facility located in the suburb of Villawood in Sydney, Australia.

Villawood IDC.

Built in 1949 to accommodate post-war refugees from Europe, a section of the original camp was converted into an immigration detention centre in 1976.

History edit

Villawood Migrant Hostel edit

The site of the detention centre was previously known as the Villawood Migrant Hostel or Villawood Migrant Centre, built in 1949 to house migrants from post-war Europe to work in local industries.[1][2] The centre was run by Commonwealth Hostels Ltd, a non-profit company. By 1964 the centre housed 1,425 people, mainly from Britain and Europe.[3] By 1969 it was the largest migrant hostel in Australia, and was at that time housing migrants from Britain, The Netherlands, Denmark, West Germany, France, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Turkey.[4] In 1968 the centre was divided into two sections, one named the Villawood Migrant Hostel and the other named the Westbridge Migrant Hostel, which operated until 1984.[3]

Conversion to a detention centre edit

In 1976 a small section of the hostel was converted to provide security accommodation for persons awaiting deportation. This new section was named the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.[3][5]

In 2001 the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre was the subject of controversy when 40 asylum seekers escaped. A month later, a Four Corners documentary, "The Inside Story", revealed the plight of six-year-old Iranian refugee Shayan Bedraie, who had been refusing to speak or eat. Shayan and his family had been detained at Woomera IRPC for 11 months and Villawood IDC for at least 6 months, and had witnessed a number of riots and self-harm incidents. He was periodically taken to hospital to be drip-fed and rehydrated, and then returned to detention.[6]

 
Protesters at the detention centre as of 22 April 2011.

Management of the centre was outsourced to private company G4S Australia from 2003 to 2009.[7]

In January 2008, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) said the high-security section of Villawood Detention Centre was the "most prison like" of all Australia's immigration detention centres, and demanded it be closed immediately. The HREOC described the infrastructure as dilapidated, and conditions inside the detention centre as "harsh and inhospitable". [8]

Early in the morning of Thursday 21 April 2011, the centre was set alight by detainees.[9]

In 2020 the centre adopted various measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, but human rights organisations including HREOC have called upon the Australian Government to allow detainees to release detainees into the community to better protect themselves against COVID-19, as social distancing is not possible in the centre.[10]

In 2023 another man detained at the centre died in what is believed to be a suicide. The man, originally from Iraq, was found lifeless in his cell after living at the centre for five years.[11]

Description edit

Villawood Detention Centre is located at 15 Birmingham Avenue, Villawood.[12]

It houses a mix of asylum seekers, people who have overstayed their visas and Section 501 detainees who have had their visas cancelled following criminal convictions and are awaiting deportation after serving prison sentences. At 31 May 2021 it held 485 people including 278 Section 501 visa cancellations, 74 asylum seekers who arrived by boat, and 133 detainees in other categories.[13]

People refused entry into the country at international airports and seaports may also be detained there.[14] The centre has been the focus of much controversy, with accusations of human rights abuses.[15]

Since 2009 the centre has been managed by private prison company Serco.[7][15][16] with the Australian Border Force, an agency of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, responsible for the welfare of the detainees.[12]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "FIRM'S OWN HOSTEL AT VILLAWOOD". The Biz. 23 June 1949. p. 10. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Bathurst Migrant Camp". NSW Migration Heritage Centre. A Place For Everyone – Bathurst Migrant Camp 1948-1952 [exhibition]. 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Dunn, Mark (2010). "Villawood detention centre [history of site]". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  4. ^ "New look for Australia's biggest migrant hostel". The Good Neighbour. No. 181. Australian Capital Territory. 1 February 1969. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney (NSW)", Department of Immigration and Citizenship, retrieved 25 April 2013
  6. ^ Whitmont, Debbie (27 August 2001). . Four Corners. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 August 2001. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration Detention Network (12 April 2012). "Chapter 3: The Department's administration of its contract with Serco". Final Report. Parliament of Australia (Report). ISBN 978-1-74229-611-1. Retrieved 1 September 2021. PDF
  8. ^ "Villawood targeted as worst in country". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  9. ^ "Villawood Detention Centre: Riots, Fire & Protests". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  10. ^ "Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, Sydney". Oxford Law Faculty. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Iraqi man dies in suspected suicide at Villawood immigration detention centre". the Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Immigration detention in Australia". Australian Border Force. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Immigration Detention and Community Statistics Summary, 31 May 2021" (PDF). Department of Home Affairs. p. 8. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Villawood Immigration Detention Facility in Sydney (NSW) - Facilities - Detention Services". Immi.gov.au. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  15. ^ a b Hassan, Mohamed (5 April 2016). "NZer dies in Australian detention centre". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  16. ^ Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (2019). "Submission: The role of private military and security companies in immigration and border management and the impact on the protection of the rights of all migrants" (PDF).

Further reading edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.
 
Wikinews has related news:
  • Asylum seeker hunger strike enters seventh week
 
Wikinews has related news:
  • Child released after spending entire life in Australian detention centre
  • "Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Australia". Global Detention Project. 25 May 2020.

External links edit

  • Official website

33°52′28″S 150°59′22″E / 33.874424°S 150.989571°E / -33.874424; 150.989571

April 08, 2024
villawood, immigration, detention, centre, originally, villawood, migrant, hostel, villawood, migrant, centre, split, into, separate, section, named, westbridge, migrant, hostel, from, 1968, 1984, australian, immigration, detention, facility, located, suburb, . Villawood Immigration Detention Centre originally Villawood Migrant Hostel or Villawood Migrant Centre split into a separate section named Westbridge Migrant Hostel from 1968 to 1984 is an Australian immigration detention facility located in the suburb of Villawood in Sydney Australia Villawood IDC Built in 1949 to accommodate post war refugees from Europe a section of the original camp was converted into an immigration detention centre in 1976 Contents 1 History 1 1 Villawood Migrant Hostel 1 2 Conversion to a detention centre 2 Description 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editVillawood Migrant Hostel edit The site of the detention centre was previously known as the Villawood Migrant Hostel or Villawood Migrant Centre built in 1949 to house migrants from post war Europe to work in local industries 1 2 The centre was run by Commonwealth Hostels Ltd a non profit company By 1964 the centre housed 1 425 people mainly from Britain and Europe 3 By 1969 it was the largest migrant hostel in Australia and was at that time housing migrants from Britain The Netherlands Denmark West Germany France Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia and Turkey 4 In 1968 the centre was divided into two sections one named the Villawood Migrant Hostel and the other named the Westbridge Migrant Hostel which operated until 1984 3 Conversion to a detention centre edit In 1976 a small section of the hostel was converted to provide security accommodation for persons awaiting deportation This new section was named the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre 3 5 In 2001 the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre was the subject of controversy when 40 asylum seekers escaped A month later a Four Corners documentary The Inside Story revealed the plight of six year old Iranian refugee Shayan Bedraie who had been refusing to speak or eat Shayan and his family had been detained at Woomera IRPC for 11 months and Villawood IDC for at least 6 months and had witnessed a number of riots and self harm incidents He was periodically taken to hospital to be drip fed and rehydrated and then returned to detention 6 nbsp Protesters at the detention centre as of 22 April 2011 Management of the centre was outsourced to private company G4S Australia from 2003 to 2009 7 In January 2008 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission HREOC said the high security section of Villawood Detention Centre was the most prison like of all Australia s immigration detention centres and demanded it be closed immediately The HREOC described the infrastructure as dilapidated and conditions inside the detention centre as harsh and inhospitable 8 Early in the morning of Thursday 21 April 2011 the centre was set alight by detainees 9 In 2020 the centre adopted various measures in response to the COVID 19 pandemic in Australia but human rights organisations including HREOC have called upon the Australian Government to allow detainees to release detainees into the community to better protect themselves against COVID 19 as social distancing is not possible in the centre 10 In 2023 another man detained at the centre died in what is believed to be a suicide The man originally from Iraq was found lifeless in his cell after living at the centre for five years 11 Description editVillawood Detention Centre is located at 15 Birmingham Avenue Villawood 12 It houses a mix of asylum seekers people who have overstayed their visas and Section 501 detainees who have had their visas cancelled following criminal convictions and are awaiting deportation after serving prison sentences At 31 May 2021 it held 485 people including 278 Section 501 visa cancellations 74 asylum seekers who arrived by boat and 133 detainees in other categories 13 People refused entry into the country at international airports and seaports may also be detained there 14 The centre has been the focus of much controversy with accusations of human rights abuses 15 Since 2009 the centre has been managed by private prison company Serco 7 15 16 with the Australian Border Force an agency of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection responsible for the welfare of the detainees 12 See also editList of Australian immigration detention facilities We Can Be Heroes Finding The Australian of the YearReferences edit FIRM S OWN HOSTEL AT VILLAWOOD The Biz 23 June 1949 p 10 Retrieved 15 February 2017 Bathurst Migrant Camp NSW Migration Heritage Centre A Place For Everyone Bathurst Migrant Camp 1948 1952 exhibition 2011 Retrieved 1 September 2021 a b c Dunn Mark 2010 Villawood detention centre history of site Dictionary of Sydney Retrieved 15 February 2017 New look for Australia s biggest migrant hostel The Good Neighbour No 181 Australian Capital Territory 1 February 1969 p 4 Retrieved 15 February 2017 Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney NSW Department of Immigration and Citizenship retrieved 25 April 2013 Whitmont Debbie 27 August 2001 The Inside Story Four Corners Australian Broadcasting Corporation Archived from the original on 27 August 2001 Retrieved 1 September 2021 a b Joint Select Committee on Australia s Immigration Detention Network 12 April 2012 Chapter 3 The Department s administration of its contract with Serco Final Report Parliament of Australia Report ISBN 978 1 74229 611 1 Retrieved 1 September 2021 PDF Villawood targeted as worst in country The Sydney Morning Herald 10 January 2008 Retrieved 10 January 2008 Villawood Detention Centre Riots Fire amp Protests The Sydney Morning Herald 21 April 2011 Retrieved 21 April 2011 Villawood Immigration Detention Centre Sydney Oxford Law Faculty 4 June 2020 Retrieved 1 September 2021 Iraqi man dies in suspected suicide at Villawood immigration detention centre the Guardian Australian Associated Press 29 January 2023 Retrieved 29 January 2023 a b Immigration detention in Australia Australian Border Force Retrieved 1 September 2021 Immigration Detention and Community Statistics Summary 31 May 2021 PDF Department of Home Affairs p 8 Retrieved 26 July 2021 Villawood Immigration Detention Facility in Sydney NSW Facilities Detention Services Immi gov au 29 October 2008 Retrieved 31 October 2013 a b Hassan Mohamed 5 April 2016 NZer dies in Australian detention centre Radio New Zealand Retrieved 12 February 2017 Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility 2019 Submission The role of private military and security companies in immigration and border management and the impact on the protection of the rights of all migrants PDF Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre nbsp Wikinews has related news Asylum seeker hunger strike enters seventh week nbsp Wikinews has related news Child released after spending entire life in Australian detention centre Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Australia Global Detention Project 25 May 2020 External links editOfficial website 33 52 28 S 150 59 22 E 33 874424 S 150 989571 E 33 874424 150 989571 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Villawood Immigration Detention Centre amp oldid 1215789571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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