Nadira and Lyn
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.
Nadira is in her late 30s. She has an acquired brain injury, diabetes and needs help with personal care and day-to-day activities.
A couple of years ago, Nadira started receiving supported independent living (SIL) funding through the NDIS. She lives by herself and a SIL provider manages her support needs. But Nadira is unhappy because the support workers don’t listen to her.
Lyn, her mum, told the Royal Commission that when Nadira is agitated she can be difficult to understand. ‘But the thing is you need to just take time and let [Nadira] talk, and then once you let her talk you can then work with her and work through her problems.’
If certain support workers are rostered on, Nadira doesn’t like staying in the house and either roams the streets or goes to Lyn’s house.
Lyn asked the public guardian if Nadira could change providers but the guardian refused.
‘The public guardian said it was my fault, that I should be taking her back every time she comes over. I took her back four times in one day … And every time I took her there she'd walk back. And it's a two-hour walk!’
Not long ago Lyn asked the public guardian if she could take Nadira on holiday, but they said no.
While Lyn was away, Nadira came to Lyn’s and stayed.
The provider rang police who rang Lyn. Lyn said they should contact the public guardian.
Neither the public guardian or provider came to see if Nadira was okay the whole time Lyn was away. The provider continued to charge for 24/7 care.
Nadira loves bowling and is very good at it. Lyn has encouraged the support workers to take her bowling to help them form a relationship, but they refuse. Sometimes they drop her off at the bowling club and leave her to find her own way home.
Nadira complained to Lyn that the support workers use their mobile phones when they’re driving. Lyn raised it with the public guardian and provider. Nadira spoke to police officers about it. No-one believed Nadira.
Nadira kept complaining, saying she didn’t want to drive with them. Lyn suggested she take a photo with her phone the next time it happened.
Nadira did take a photo and told the support worker what she’d done. The support worker grabbed her arm and demanded her phone. Nadira managed to get away and told the support worker to tell the truth or she’d show the photo.
The support worker finally admitted she had been using her phone while driving. The next day Nadira was badly bruised, so much so that Lyn took her to the doctor. Nobody ever apologised to Nadira.
After this, Nadira didn’t want to be at the house anymore. When she walked in, she would get very upset. ‘She’s traumatised,’ Lyn said.
‘[Nadira] has lost trust in everyone ... She's lost trust in the police, she's lost trust in the [public guardian]. She's lost trust in everyone because in the time she's been crying out for help, no-one has listened to her.’
Although Nadira is not living in the house, Lyn says the provider continues to charge for support.
Nadira went to the public guardian’s office and asked to see her NDIS plan. Lyn said after this, the guardian agreed to change providers.
Lyn’s been cleaning Nadira’s house, getting it ready for the new provider.
‘She needs stability and consistency.’
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.