Detention for Detention – Australian Students to Take Detention in Solidarity with Asylum Seekers

Young person campaigns for YCS

Media Statement from Australian Young Christian Students

Australia is facing a crisis against children our age.

1000 children are without proper access to education

1000 children are being imprisoned.

1000 children are without their basic human rights, outlined in the Conventions Of The Rights Of The Child, a UN document Australia signed in 2000.

1000 children are currently being held in immigration detention in Australia and just off our coast.

As a high school student of Australia, I find this totally unacceptable.

YCS is standing with Catholic Mission, Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, Uniting Justice, Catholic Religious Australia and Chilout collectively in the Coalition- End Child Detention Australia- to show solidarity with those facing immigration detention. This May, we are all inviting you to undertake a ‘Detention4Detention’ doing a voluntary lunchtime detention with other high school students all around Australia to provide asylum seekers with a message of hope, and a welcome to our country. We will be asking students to take action by signing a petition and taking photos in support.

We have produced a resource that we ask you use and can access at http://www.cathyouthadelaide.org.au/media/files/5290.pdf

On this site you will find

1) a Detention4Detention Information Booklet

2) an accompanying resource which uses the See-Judge-Act to guide students and teachers

3) seven business sized entry cards. They are explained on page 3 of the accompanying resource. These can be printed and given to students before their detention begins.

This resource has all the information about the action! If you have any problems accessing these, let us know.

We will be meeting politicians from around the country in the coming months to let them know about our action and what we think. Every voice, photo and conversation is making change so we urge you to pass this resource on to as many people as you can!


For media enquiries, contact Elise Ganley
Australian Young Christian Students
National Co-ordinator
Mobile: 0407514283 Phone: 08 8301 6109