00:00They locked me in my room like a dog.
00:05It makes you feel like you deserve it, like no one cares what happens to you.
00:10These are the words of children at Adelaide's youth detention centre, describing being isolated in their rooms.
00:16They told their stories to the centre's independent watchdog, who says the experience is common.
00:22Feeling alone, feeling like they didn't have anyone there to support them,
00:26feel like they weren't able to access the services and programs that they needed, missing medical appointments.
00:31Shona Reid says ordering children into isolation has become too common at Adelaide's Kalanatapa Youth Justice Centre.
00:38The watchdog's report tabled in Parliament claims it's being used as punishment, which could be unlawful.
00:43And that is why I'm making those very strong claims that we need to be mindful of the law
00:49and our international obligations towards children's rights in these settings.
00:53The report documents a 50% increase in isolation incidents recorded last year.
00:59The state government says it's already made changes to address the issue.
01:03I have every confidence that the law and the regulations are being followed.
01:07The government also says the average time children spent in isolation last year was only 14 minutes.
01:14It's brief. It's not recurring. It's as isolated as it can be in terms of the event.
01:21But it's as supported and as comforted as it can be as well.
01:26The state government is investing tens of millions of dollars into upgrading Kalanatapa and boosting staffing,
01:32measures which should decrease the use of isolation.
01:35But it's also exploring tougher youth crime laws regarding bail and street gangs.
01:41The watchdog fears these reforms could increase the number of children detained at the facility and the reliance on isolation.
01:48The government says it will respond to the report's recommendations as quickly as it can.
01:53Thomas Kelsall, ABC News
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