22. Children

22.22. Teachers and educators are appropriately qualified and screened as to their suitability.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.19. Where the age of a detainee is disputed or otherwise in issue, the detainee claiming to be a child is treated as such until proven otherwise, the State bears the burden of proof, uses reliable assessment methods, and age determinations are subject to independent review.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.13. The decision to detain a child, including in the company of a parent or guardian, is subject to regular and expeditious review procedures.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.14. Health screening of children is provided on arrival by a suitably qualified doctor with the permission and involvement of a parent, carer or guardian and an individual care plan is developed.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.15. Initial health screening of child detainees is attuned and sensitive to the possibility that a child detainee or members of his/her family may have been a victim of torture or trauma.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.12. The decision-making process recognises that the extreme vulnerability of a child is decisive and takes precedence over any considerations of the migration status of the child.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.09. Separation by the authorities or their agents of children from their parent(s) or guardian(s) only takes place in accordance with law and is subject to expeditious judicial review processes.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.10. Children held in immigration detention are separately detained in family accommodation including, if appropriate, in the event that they turn 18 while in detention.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.11. There is a protocol for addressing situations where groups of adults and children claiming to be families may not be related, which gives due regard to cultural considerations, disruptions arising from irregular migration or flight, protection considerations and the best interests of the child.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.02. The decision whether to detain a child’s parent or guardian takes into account the best interests implications of that decision for the child and the right of all family members to a family and private life.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care