6.4 Meaningful activity The staff at YHIDC highlighted the Program and Activities (P&A) schedule as an example of good practice, noting that it exceeds the minimum contracted hours required. Both the Commission and Commonwealth Ombudsman have, in the past, commended the efforts of Serco and the ABF to deliver a wide range of activities at YHIDC. For example, in 2022, the Commonwealth Ombudsman said the P&A schedule at YHIDC provided ‘constructive and well-attended activities which provided detainees with a genuine opportunity for meaningful engagement’.64 allocation of weekly points and receive additional points based on participation in structured P&A. Serco management advised that engagement in P&A was good and that they understood that keeping people in detention occupied is important for behaviour management. They try to offer more activities as the need arises. Several people in detention confirmed that Serco was proactive in seeking their input to revise the P&A schedule and its offerings. Similarly, the Commission’s 2019 Risk Management in immigration detention report suggested that YHIDC could provide a possible model to improve activities at other immigration detention centres.65 During this inspection, the Commission was told that YHIDC runs a seven-day-a-week schedule for P&A and has 17 dedicated staff. The P&A schedule includes education, outdoor activities, cooking, and music classes. There is a hairdresser three days a week. Volunteers attend YHIDC to deliver religious studies classes. Vocational skills delivered include woodwork, sewing and leatherwork. The centre P&A infrastructure includes a range of dedicated facilities, a large canteen containing seating, televisions, and recreation equipment (such as pool tables), an art room, a workshop, a large purpose-built kitchen, classrooms, and a wellstocked library. A prayer room is also available. The Commission observed that these facilities were spacious, well-maintained, and well-equipped for activities. People in detention are encouraged to participate in structured activities to receive points in exchange for items through the centre’s canteen. The point Figure 4: P&A activity board While many people interviewed during this inspection reflected positively on the activities provided; a majority reported that they are unhappy that they lose access to programs they used to have in the prison system or in the community, such as anger management programs and other programs to learn skills that will be useful to them upon release. One person said that he just went to the gym and walked around all day. He said that there was more to do in prison which allowed him to constantly keep busy. Several others informed the Commission that because they were not working towards qualifications, they did not see any point in participating in activities. system allows people to obtain a default minimum Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Inspection Report • 2024 • 31