Nina and Frieda
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.
‘This experience … has brought us heartbreak beyond belief.’
Nina is in her 40s. She has an intellectual disability, little communication and a range of medical issues.
Nina’s mother, Frieda, made a submission about what happened a few years ago when Nina moved into a new home, organised by a disability organisation.
The family had spent five years planning and searching and getting Nina ready to go into supported accommodation.
‘But it has taken [them] 5 months to destroy our hopes and dreams, for [Nina’s] future and ours,’ Frieda said.
The home had a high turnover of inexperienced staff – 20 new staff, in a house with only two residents, in the five months Nina stayed there. During that time, Nina had two falls, bruises on her arms and lots of big mosquito bites that became infected. The meals were poor quality, usually frozen food.
Nina was traumatised by the lack of care. Frieda said staff routinely failed to give Nina her medications on time and would not follow her routine. This would make Nina angry and confused to the point where she started banging her head on the walls.
Meanwhile, Frieda felt like an ‘unwelcome guest’. The service provider seemed to expect her to dump her child and ‘let them deal with it’.
The family removed Nina from the home one day when they found her sick with vomiting and diarrhoea. They wrote to the senior management of the organisation explaining why she wouldn’t be returning.
After that they went to the state disability complaints office. The office took on the complaint but, as Nina had left the accommodation there was little in the way of resolution. There was no apology.
Frieda said that Nina is still affected by the trauma of what happened to her in that home.
‘My husband and I were also traumatised with this experience. As we are ageing, we had hoped that we would find somewhere [Nina] could be cared for and have a good life.’
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.