This report by the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce identifies problems with and makes recommendations for improvement of the current system of guardianship and care of unaccompanied children in Australia, which is inequitable and lacking in transparency and accountability. Unaccompanied children arriving in Australia have been separated from their families or orphaned due to violence, fear and persecution. Upon arrival to Australia, these children receive vastly different treatment and care depending on a multitude of factors. Some children are even sent to detention camps. This report summarizes six key problem areas and proposes solutions to improve the care of these unaccompanied children:
- The Minister for Immigration is the guardian, judge and jailer of unaccompanied children.
- Solution: Replace the Minister with someone who is an independent guardian and advocate.
- The Australian Government is failing to provide institutional child protection and welfare, thus causing individual and generational damage.
- Solution: Incorporate fully the UNCRC into the updated Guardianship Act and make the best interest principle central.
- Children who are on their own cannot navigate the Australian system.
- Solution: Independent review of the claims process and support provided to navigate through the system.
- The standards and qualifications of the carers and care frameworks provided by the various agencies differ wildly.
- Solution: There is a need for a national policy framework and consistent standards of care.
- Failure in the implementation of policy and procedures of the Department of Immigration with regard to unaccompanied children in closed detention.
- Solution: Ending closed detention of children and provide a transparent system with clear and public accountabilities.
- Australia "dumps" unaccompanied children off-shore, inflicting life-long harm.
- Solution:The Government must immediately end the forcible removal of unaccompanied children to off-shore detention.
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