SOCIAL WORK SERVICE

The JRS social work service was developed in early 2003 to respond to new needs arising from a sharp increase in the number of undocumented migrants arriving by boat in 2002.

Until then, there were only a few immigrants, usually adult men, in detention. Suddenly, there were hundreds of people, including families with children, unaccompanied minors, unaccompanied women and people with physical or mental health problems. Most were detained for months, not just days or weeks, even if they were obviously vulnerable, because there was no other solution/nowhere else to put them.

In 2003, the JRS social worker focused on supporting government efforts to establish the first residential facility for unaccompanied minors in the community. Nowadays, the JRS social work service caters almost exclusively for detained asylum seekers, identifying those who are in some way vulnerable and ensuring they receive the necessary protection and assistance. Since detainees face great difficulties when it comes to getting medical treatment, a priority is facilitating access to healthcare. The social worker supports and follows up vulnerable asylum seekers in detention.

During 2005 and 2006, Baxter International Foundation financed this project, which will be funded by FAI – Fondation Assistance International during 2007.

HEALTHCARE SUPPORT SERVICES 

In 2007 JRS aimed to further enhance detainees’ access to medical care through the services of a qualified nurse who has been released from government service to work with JRS for a year. Based at Lyster Barracks, Hal-Far, because there are many vulnerable detainees in that centre, the nurse supported the existing medical service and worked with the JRS social worker to ensure that vulnerable detainees are able to obtain the care they require.

In 2008 the JRS nurse will be focusing more on following up vulnerable asylum seekers in hospital and offering medical assistance to vulnerable asylum seekers living in open centres or in the community.

Sexual and gender based violence Project  (SGBV)

The aim of the SGBV project was to meet the existing needs of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as well as to work on prevention and strengthening existing capacities to respond to this phenomenon in the long term. The project, which started in April 2007, was partly funded by UNHCR. 

As a result of the findings of this project, during 2008, the JRS psychologist together with the JRS nurse will continue to offer support to victims of sexual and gender based violence. Prevention of SGBV will also continue with the organisation of group sessions in detention for both men and women.  JRS will be publishing a number of information leaflets and organising a seminar about human trafficking.

Click on the link below to read the project report
SGBV Project [PDF]

If you are interested in volunteering or otherwise supporting this project, click on the link below to see how you can help.

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