Submission to the Working Group on the Protection System

Social workers encounter asylum seekers in many different areas of practice. As frontline practitioners their views are important to consider at a time when the protection and Direct Provision systems are being examined in detail. Drawing on their professional expertise and experience, social workers in this study identified numerous ways in which the Direct Provision system proves detrimental to child development and child welfare, to family relationships and family life, and to individual mental health and wellbeing. In light of concerns that the system will have consequences for children and individuals for generations to come, social workers were strongly of the view that significant changes needed to be made in order to prevent these problems and ensure that children, families and asylum seekers generally are treated humanely and respectfully by the state and by all involved in providing for them.