Immigration residential housing is one of several types of alternative immigration detention available, subject to people in detention meeting eligibility criteria. Participation is voluntary. It provides a less institutional, more domestic detention enviroment for eligible people in detention who are a low flight and security risk.

Participants are provided with housing or family-style accommodation within a community setting, with the opportunity to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle. They are able to undertake frequent trips to town or other locations for recreation and shopping (under supervision of the detention services provider).

Location

Immigration residential housing is currently located at Port Augusta near Baxter Immigration Detention Centre, in Sydney adjacent to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre and at Perth near the Perth Immigration Detention Centre

Eligibility criteria

Families and low-risk singles are eligible for accommodation in immigration residential housing subject to:

• places being available
• health and character checks, an assessment on whether or not the person in detention is likely to abscond
• any operational issues particular to the person in detention or effective management of the immigration residential housing.

Port Augusta Immigration Residential Housing

The Port Augusta Immigration Residential Housing is located in suburban Port Augusta, two kilometres from the town centre and 10 kilometres from the Baxter Immigration Detention Centre. It consists of eight houses with three bedrooms each and an adminstration building. The houses have gardens and recreation areas. The maximum capacity is approximately 40.

Sydney Immigration Residential Housing

The Sydney Immigration Residential Housing is located adjacent to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. The centre comprises single storey dwellings capable of accommodating different family compositions. Each duplex is fully self-contained to enable independent living. The backyards of the houses are integrated as a single large landscaped area.

Perth Immigration Residential Housing

The Perth Immigration Residential Housing is located in the community at Redcliffe, less than two kilometres from Perth Immigration Detention Centre. The accommodation comprises two single-storey five-bedroom houses capable of accommodating different family compositions. Each house is fully self-contained to enable independent living. The backyards of the houses are integrated as a single large landscaped area.

Visits

People in detention are free to visit each other within the immigration residential housing site and transport is provided to enable visits to friends or family in the nearby detention centre.

Members of the public intending to visit people in detention in immigration residential housing must be invited by the person in detention and are strongly advised to contact the relevant immigration residential housing at least 24 hours in advance. All visits are conducted during specific visiting times under the supervision of detention services provider staff.

Recreation and activities

There are organised recreational and activities programmes for people in detention. The programmes are developed in consultation with people in detention and the detention services provider. The programmes include picnics and trips to local shops and other facilities, such as the library, swimming pool and cinema. Regular trips to the supermarket are organised so participants can purchase groceries and personal items.

Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia