The following reflections are from our High School students who recently visited the Villawood Detention Centre. We are grateful to Emanuel parent, Shira Sebban, who attends together with our students and helped make this meaningful experience possible.

Rabbi Daniel Siegel

Cade Collins – Year 10

On Thursday morning I woke up with feelings of trepidation. Rachel, Jack, Mrs Sebban and I were heading to Villawood Detention Centre to both visit and hear the stories of the residents there. I had no idea what to expect. 

We arrived to what looked like a prison from the outside, with barbed wire surrounding the whole compound, and walked through doors into a semi-modern and semi-dysfunctional lobby space. My shaking hands were giving away my nervousness. 

We put our belongings into the 1 locker that we could find that worked and then I watched as every single person in our group failed the metal detector test. Once the officers determined we weren’t bringing anything illegal into the Centre, we were allowed in; passing through 2 large metal doors we walked into the medium security sector. As soon as we came in there was a flurry of people rushing to meet with Mrs Sebban like their saviour. 

After a little bit of shuffling around we began to hear their stories. There was a man who had been in Villawood Detention Centre for over 8 years and the only reason he had not been let out was because there was no one who could take care of him outside. There was another who left his country with his brother when he was my age and hasn’t seen his parents since. 

We ended our time at this sector by playing a card game with 6 of the residents. There was one person to my side helping me play and another next to Rachel helping her play. I could not get over that the people I was playing with were the same age as my brother, except they were being detained here for reasons I couldn’t understand, while my brother was at home painting on the back porch. 

Eventually we had to leave to go to the low security sector where I met a man who was in the process of studying for his medical degree while the Australian Government told him he was going to be deported. He is now choosing a place to go other than his home country. There was another woman who came to Australia when there were still permanent visas for refugees, and who now is now in detention after getting into some small trouble with the law. She has no idea what will happen to her and now only sees her children once a month. 

The experience overall was eye-opening. At the end of the day I felt horrible for leaving these people there when I get to go home, but there is no system that says I can’t go again. It was heart-breaking and heart-opening at the same time. I’m so glad I went.

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Rachel Turtledove – Year 11

As I write this, 24 hours has passed since I walked out through the doors of Villawood Detention Centre, back out into what one would call, “the real world.”

But what I have realised, after this confronting but highly important experience, is that the stories and people confined within Villawood Detention Centre are more a part of the real world than I may ever be.

Hidden behind metal detectors and endless doors lies the real struggles of our world today. They are hidden so deep in Villawood’s industrial centre that it is almost impossible to find. And under all this, there are people, just like you and me, and all they want is a life free of detention.

I attended Villawood Detention Centre with Mrs Sebban and 2 other students. Mrs Sebban is an incredible advocate for Refugees, especially in Villawood, and for human rights in general, which I find extremely inspiring. During our time in Villawood, we were extremely lucky to meet so many different people living in 2 seperate compounds.

We listened to countless stories of different people trying to protect their families and themselves from the rising dangers of their home countries. A large number of the detainees we met were aged 19-22 years old, some of them having spent as long as 8 years in the Centre. We spoke and played cards in the small reception area of the compound, learning more and more about the lives of the detainees. The young men were some of the kindest people I have ever met and were so open to sharing their stories, despite their immense struggles which majority of us could not even imagine.

During the visit, we met a 19 year old man, Jamal, whom I spoke to for the majority of our time at the Centre. Jamal was born in Burma, now Myanmar. When he was 9 years old, his family decided that Myanmar was not safe for him and his brother and they were sent away to seek refuge in another country. They travelled to Indonesia, working for their lives until they were able to come to Australia. At the age of 17, Jamal was placed into detention. Jamal’s story of hardship and determination is one that I will never forget.

It is hardships like these that are unimaginable for our community but make up a large portion of reality in our world today. I believe that these stories need to be shared and spoken about, in order to make a difference in our world. We cannot and should not ignore these people and their stories, rather, we must come together as a community to help these people who are suffering.

This experience was truly the most eye-opening and important experience which I highly recommend for everyone. Thank you to Mrs Sebban and Rabbi Siegel who organised this visit.

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Jonathan Mane – Year 11

Thursday last, myself and 2 other students together with Mrs Sebban made a visit to the Villawood Detention Centre. Holding numerous detainees, individuals who have suffered severe hardship and pain, none of us knew what to expect. Little to our surprise, we were greeted by some of the most amazing individuals with journeys that expanded beyond any of our expectations.

I met an Iranian man who has now been in Villawood for several years. He has a grandchild, can speak 3 languages including Japanese, was a barber for over 40 years and, in my opinion, is being unfairly held in this detention centre. Whilst most of these people expressed great interest in meeting us with amazing attitudes, an overwhelming sense of gloom would occasionally smother us, knowing that these individuals, having suffered immeasurable amounts of hardship, are now being forced to unfairly be held in conditions, far primitive to that which Australia has to offer and substantially limiting their freedom.

While it remains an extremely valuable experience that has popped my eastern suburbs bubble, it has left me with an urge to seek more information on this important issue.