5 | Post-Release Support from hotel APODs. The SRSS program has been described by the Department as the ‘primary tool’ for supporting detainees who were released from held detention (including hotel APODs) into community detention.106 enough to do the basics to establish themselves in the community’ with caseworkers ‘only able to do a bare minimum’ in the time that is allocated’ and the individuals themselves left feeling ‘dumped and abandoned after a few weeks’. At the time of the inspection visits the Commission was advised by the Department that transitional support under the SRSS program was initially provided to recipients for three weeks, with scope to expand to six weeks support in certain The Commission reiterates the observations on this issue that have been made in previous inspection reports, and considers that they are equally applicable with respect to people detained in hotel APODs, namely: circumstances. Community service providers described difficulties in seeking extensions beyond the initial three weeks, and uniformly described the duration of support as being insufficient. The duration of SRSS support available for people who have been subject to lengthy periods of detention has now been expanded. This development is welcome, but highlights the need for a wider review of the SRSS program to ensure that eligibility criteria are appropriately defined and that an appropriate duration and level of support is being provided. 54 People in immigration detention are a particularly vulnerable cohort, and many face difficulties articulating their needs or understanding complex processes. As a result, the Commission considers that unnecessary barriers to the delivery of services should be eliminated. This includes ensuring that all people in immigration detention have the opportunity for regular, face-to-face contact, initiated by a status resolution officer. This would assist individuals [to] understand their options, reduce some uncertainty and ensure status resolution officers are aware of a person’s individual circumstances. This should A common theme when speaking to community service organisations and individuals receiving SRSS support was the significant variability in the support provided by the SRSS program. While some individuals reported being satisfied with the support they were offered, many others indicated that they felt this was lacking and that they had effectively been left to fend for themselves. The variability in the support provided to individuals appeared to be largely dependent upon the It is the view of the Commission that the provision of three weeks support (with a possible expansion to six weeks) is insufficient given the particular circumstances and vulnerabilities of the individuals being released. We welcome the recent increases in the duration and level of support that is provided, but believe that this highlights the need for a wider service provider and individual case worker that they were allocated. One community service organisation described the short-term casework support provided through the SRSS as being ‘barely review of the SRSS program to ensure that eligibility criteria are appropriately defined and that an appropriate duration and level of support is being provided. occur irrespective of any legal developments in a person’s case.107