Rena
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.
Rena is a First Nations woman in her 40s who has physical disability. She uses a wheelchair and has difficulty expressing herself.
A couple of years ago Rena moved from an aged care and disability facility, where she had 24/7 care, to a group home. She told the Royal Commission she is unhappy there as staff at the home ‘control everything’. They have taken away her freedom to do activities she likes.
‘I want to do my own stuff. Those people stop me. More shoppings. I like doing shopping.’
The public trustee manages Rena’s finances and allocates weekly funds for ‘petty expenses’. But staff at the home ‘hold onto it’ and refuse her money to buy gifts for her sons. ‘They always tell you “no money”,’ she said.
Her counsellor told the Royal Commission that this is denying Rena a big part of her Indigenous culture.
‘You know, [her sons] are still young … and when [Rena] can't support them, that's big feelings of shame for her … And [the staff] have taken quite a lot of control over her life with that. But they make lots of different excuses as to why [Rena] shouldn't have her own money.’
When the counsellor visits the home, the manager complains about Rena ‘over and over’.
‘Obviously [Rena] got upset. She knocked on the door. She said, “She's my counsellor. She's coming here for me.”’
The counsellor removed a ‘dos and don’ts list’ staff put in Rena’s room. It included ‘certain words she shouldn’t use’.
‘Because according to them it's not white enough,’ the counsellor explained. ‘And I said, “She's got freedom. It's her room at least.”’
Once, she said, staff uninstalled social media apps on Rena’s phone, preventing her from ‘connecting with her friends and family’.
Rena has no choice over the foods she eats either.
‘Instead of building her up, they've taken complete control, to the point where she is stuck. She doesn’t have much choice and control over anything in her life when they're around.’
If Rena complains about anything, staff say, ‘It’s not your house.’
One of Rena’s support workers is verbally abusive and racist, which makes Rena feel unsafe.
‘She had told me I'm a black bitch and she said, “You think you're an Aboriginal” and I said, “Of course I am Aboriginal.”’
Rena said workers abuse another resident as well.
‘They always fight and they always shout at him … And he can't even talk.’
When Rena wants to go on Country, staff discourage her or insist on going with her.
‘It's almost like they think they're a parent or something, and they're taking control over her,’ Rena’s counsellor said. ‘And it's so wrong.’
The counsellor believes the service provider is misusing Rena’s NDIS funds. The provider applied to manage her plan and, since then, ‘money has been disappearing’.
‘We have no idea where it's going … because [Rena] doesn't use a lot of money.’
Sometimes support workers ask Rena for money for their lunch and never pay it back.
The counsellor fears the neglect of Rena’s health and dietary needs is impeding her chances of ever walking again.
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.