Villawood Immigration Detention Centre VIDC is a large, high-security detention facility located in the western suburbs of Sydney. It has undergone extensive refurbishment since 2011, with much of the previous infrastructure demolished and replaced with new accommodation and facilities. VIDC is used to detain adult men and women across several compounds. La Trobe and Lachlan are lowersecurity compounds that accommodate adult men. Hotham, Mackenzie and Mitchell are self-contained, medium to high security compounds that also accommodate adult men. They each contain an outdoor courtyard, a full-size soccer pitch, a half-size basketball court and other facilities such as a small gymnasium and an educational classroom. The Hotham compound, located closest to the medical facilities, typically accommodates people with significant health conditions and/or other significant needs. The Hotham compound also contains 12 High Care Accommodation rooms used for single separation. Hume A and Hume B are high security compounds that also contain high care accommodation rooms. Women are currently detained across two compounds, Cowan (former Lima compound) and Bryce (former Lachlan 3 compound), which was established in February 2024. Prior to the introduction of the two women’s compounds, women at VIDC were housed in a single compound. Detention centre staff told the Commission that a separate compound was needed to manage women with patterns of disruptive behaviour and to provide stability and safety for the general female population. The Commonwealth Ombudsman has previously noted concerns that ‘drug use has particularly affected the women’s compound in terms of conflict, tension, and physical assaults. This was exacerbated by the fact that as there is only one female compound, and no one can be moved out’.187 More recently the Ombudsman has again noted that due to infrastructure limitations it has been ‘challenging to separate women from one another if there are security or interpersonal concerns. This in turn increases the risk of security incidents.’188 The Department advised the Commission that since the establishment of the two compounds, in February 2024 to 30 April 2024, there had been no critical incidents and 6 major incidents (including use of fire equipment/false alarm, use of force and weapon in possession) among the detained female population at VIDC.189 While the Commission did not have access to the relevant data before this period we were told by staff that there had been a significant decrease in incidents since the introduction of the two compounds. Many of the woman who had been at VIDC when there was a single female compound spoke positively about the introduction of a new compound. One woman told the Commission ‘the separation of Cowan and Bryce has been good, but it needs to be managed by the officers who have day-to-day experience of the dynamics and relationships’. The women in both Cowan and Bryce compounds have scheduled times in Community (an enclosed communal area shared by the compounds) which provides access to a gymnasium, indoor basketball court, shop, barista, classroom, music room, barber, library and green space for walking. Both compounds have 24/7 access to computers. Cowan has a small gymnasium, basketball court, and garden beds for gardening. Bryce has some exercise equipment but is a more contained, low stimulus environment. Both Cowan and Byrce have shared laundries, bathrooms, lounge and kitchenette. The Department advised the Commission that movement from Bryce and Cowan is contingent on a period of demonstrated prosocial behaviour, engagement with detention centre staff, participation in P&A and several other factors. When someone is placed in Bryce (either due to a triggering incident or based on security intelligence before someone is transferred to VIDC) their placement is reviewed every 28 days. Some of the women we spoke to in Bryce found the restrictive environment difficult. For example, one woman stated, ‘Bryce is worse than jail’. Villawood Immigration Detention Centre 51