Pearl and Miriam
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.
Pearl and Miriam are sisters. Pearl has cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, epilepsy and reduced vision. Pearl has been living in a group home for more than 30 years and for much of that time, Miriam and her family have been fighting to get the organisation that runs the group home to provide appropriate care for Pearl.
‘They seem to be able to run it without meeting the disability standards,’ Miriam said.
Miriam told the Royal Commission that staff negligence, inexperience and lack of training has resulted in numerous falls and accidents, jeopardising Pearl’s health and safety.
For example, inconsistent staff supervision of Pearl when she was using a walker resulted in her falling. Instead of improving supervision, staff now won’t allow Pearl to use a walker and she has to stay in a wheelchair.
Once, staff failed to read handover notes relating to Pearl. They sent her in a taxi to the wrong day program when she was sick, highly contagious and supposed to stay home.
Pearl has had to have numerous procedures on her teeth – losing four teeth at her last dental appointment – because staff aren’t helping Pearl brush her teeth.
Miriam said the family has made ‘endless’ formal complaints to the service provider.
‘They say they will action things but inevitably issues keep reoccurring. So frustrating that you have to keep fighting for our sister to receive a basic level of care, not [even the] high level which we expect.’
‘Our biggest worry is all the people living in this organisation … [who] have no family to advocate for them like we do for our sister. They are the silent wounded with no-one to give them a voice or fight on their behalf.’
Pearl’s family would like to see better restrictions on employment in the disability sector and better training of health professionals dealing with people with disabilities.
‘My hope for the future, says Miriam, ’is that people with disabilities are valued in the community and genuinely treated equally’.
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.