Villawood Immigration Detention Centre

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Villawood Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) is an Australian immigration detention facility located in the suburb of Villawood in Sydney, Australia. The purpose of the facility, according to The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, is to "mainly accommodate over-stayers, people in breach of their visa conditions, or people refused entry at Australia's international airports”. It has been the focus of much controversy, with accusations of human rights abuses.

1 Villawood Immigration Detention Centre History
2 Villawood Facilities
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Villawood Immigration Detention Centre History

Villawood Immigration Detention Centre was opened in 1976.

In 2001 it was the subject of controversy when 40 asylum seekers escaped. A month later, a Four Corners documentary, The Inside Story, revealed the plight of 6 year old Iranian refugee Shayan Bedraie, who had been refusing to speak or eat. Shayan and his family had been detailed 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.

As at 20 October 2004, the centre accommodated 551 people. This number comprised 405 adult men, 105 adult women and 41 children.

[edit] Villawood Facilities

According to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs web site [1], Villawood centre has

Children's playgrounds, medical facilities, televisions, videos and DVDs, computers, computer games and stereo hi-fi music systems, various Australian and foreign language papers, sports facilities including aerobics, gym equipment, basketball, volleyball and cricket, leisure activities including yoga, women’s group, meditation classes, massage therapy, bicycles, table tennis, gardening, art and craft activities, library, sewing, hairdressing, pool, excursions, and a variety of musical sessions. [2]

Detainees and refugee advocates have often complained that, while detention centre facilities look good on paper, in practice they are often not appropriate, and deceive the Australian public into believing that Australian immigration detention facilities are nice places in which to live.

The centre is located at 15 Birmingham Avenue, Villawood NSW 2163.[3].