Western Australia
Three Youths Locked In Solitary for 167 Days
In July 2023, WASC ruled that three children detained at Banksia Hill and Unit 18 were unlawfully subjected to extreme lockdowns amounting to solitary confinement. One boy was locked down for 133 days, another for 22 days, totaling 167 days of unlawful confinement.
HRW Calls on WA to Ban Solitary Confinement
In 2024, HRW publicly urged the WA government to enact an immediate and permanent ban on solitary confinement for all children and individuals with disabilities in detention settings.
17-Year-Old Died by Suicide After Self-Harm
In September 2024, Human Rights Watch reported that a 17-year-old died by suicide at Banksia Hill. An inquest revealed that children in Unit 18 were routinely kept in solitary-like conditions, some in cells without any running water, raising grave concerns about their basic health and safety.
Amnesty Demands Closure of Banksia Hill
In May 2023, Amnesty International called for the urgent closure of the high-security unit at Banksia Hill, citing the excessive use of solitary confinement on young people and its damaging effects on their mental and physical health.
WA Child Placed In Solitary After Self-Harm
Human Rights Watch documented that children at Banksia Hill were subject to ‘routine solitary confinement.’ One child was placed in solitary immediately after a serious self-harm incident, compounding trauma rather than providing care.
WA Children Confined for 133 and 22 Days Each
As part of the 2023 WASC case, it was confirmed that two of the young plaintiffs had endured 133 days and 22 days in solitary-like conditions. These were ruled unlawful and excessive by the court.