Winola
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
‘I know a lot of people who were doing sexual abuse but it never got to the police.’
Winola lives with an intellectual disability and identifies as culturally and linguistically diverse.
For 30 years she was employed by an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE).
When Winola was 16, her supervisors from the ADE took her on a number of holidays.
‘I was sexually abused when I went on these holidays,’ she told the Royal Commission.
The supervisors threatened to fire her from her job if she told anybody.
The abuse continued when she was at work and other girls were also sexually abused.
‘They were sexually abusing girls in the workshop during working hours, lunch time hours, morning tea hours. It happened. I’ve seen it.’
Two male co-workers with disability also sexually abused some of the girls.
Supervisors, some of them in relationships, began inviting Winola and at least one other girl to their homes.
‘I wasn’t earning much when I started working there and they knew my pay was low. So they gave me … a pay rise, a lot of money.’
Winola was paid for sex.
‘I had to do sexual acts with these people then they’d give me the money. They also gave me gifts cards as well. They gave me a lot of gift cards.’
This continued for many years.
‘I shouldn’t have gone. It was a secret you see.’
One of Winola’s friends became pregnant and had twin daughters, another had a miscarriage. Winola didn’t want to get pregnant.
‘I had a hysterectomy and now it’s ruined my life. I thought one day I wanted to get married and have kids but now I can’t.’
One friend committed suicide.
‘Kind of affected me a lot because they were my friends … They’ve been sexually abused … committed suicide because nothing was done. So I’m really angry about this.’
Eventually Winola left the ADE and did go to the police. But they didn’t believe her and told her she didn’t have enough evidence.
‘But I’ve seen people being abused. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.’
Since she’s left the enterprise she’s been followed and stalked by her former supervisors.
‘When I was at the shops, in the park … following me around and beeping their horns at me … in my street, in front of my house when I was watering the garden.’
Winola is sure they’re stalking her because they want to continue the abuse.
‘Every time I see them following me I’m having flashbacks.’
Recently Winola has found an advocate and has approached police to stop the stalking.
But the police have again asked for evidence. She said the police are very disbelieving so she’s gathering evidence by filming and taking photos with her mobile phone.
She’s also trying to get access to her employment records to find evidence but each time she requests a record she has to pay large fees.
She has tried to escalate her complaint but authorities refer her back to the police or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. But because Winola wasn’t a client of the NDIS at the time the abuse occurred, they are unable to assist.
Winola is concerned some of the people who abused her continue to work with vulnerable people. She is determined to stop the abuse.
‘I want to stop it everywhere,’ she said.
‘I just would like people with disability to have a happy life, not a bad life getting sexual abuse.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.