Communications minister Mitch Fifield said he doesn't think there is anything "systematically wrong" with Australia's offshore detention system despite recent disturbing reports about the experiences of detainees on Manus Island and Nauru.

On ABC's Q&A on Monday night, Tracey Donehue - a former teacher who said she worked on Nauru until November 2015 - described "appalling" instances of death threats levelled to students by guards. In one case, she said a "very large guard" lifted a student and threw them to the ground with force.

Ms Donehue said some of the reports she filed about the incidents were included in "The Nauru Files", a cache of more than 2000 leaked reports published by Guardian Australia.

"The government has again tried to absolve itself of responsibility," Ms Donehue said. "What do you think is the responsibility that the Australian government has for the refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru?"