Ali was 7-years-old when he was held in immigration detention in Australia. He and his family were later released into an alternative, non-custodial program, where Ali could live in a regular house and attend school.
Ali's story - Artwork by Filippa Edghill
“I want to get out.” – Ali
Ali was seven years old when he was detained with his parents and older brother in the MITRE immigration detention centre in Australia. His father became depressed, and the family struggled with the emotional toll of confinement.
Ali didn’t play with the other children in the detention centre. He cried often and repeated the same words: ‘I want to get out.’
After seven months, the family was released into an alternative community-based program. Through the program, they had access to a case manager and could live in a regular house in the suburbs while their immigration status was being resolved.
Ali and his brother were able to attend a local school. Ali loved playing football with his new friends and over time, he began to get to know people in his neighbourhood – Graham, who worked at the supermarket, Jerry, who ran the newsagent and Mrs Jones, the neighbour with a brown dog and kind eyes.
