Thomas and Hope
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.
Hope told the Royal Commission her son Thomas is a victim of domestic violence and ‘is not safe in his own home’.
Thomas has been attacked in his own bedroom, assaulted numerous times and king-hit on at least two occasions. His attacker is Vince, a co-resident in supported accommodation. Hope believes Thomas isn’t the only victim.
Thomas is in his mid-20s and is the youngest resident in his house. He is non-verbal and is completely dependent on others to care for him and keep him safe from harm.
As with most young people, said Hope, Thomas had been looking forward to leaving home to gain some autonomy for himself. He settled in happily, appearing ‘proud of his place in his new home’. Staff managed his anxiety levels well and his behaviours were improving.
The first attack happened a week after Thomas moved in to his new home. At the time Hope thought Vince may have been jealous of the ‘new boy’, and wasn’t too concerned as Thomas seemed to recover quickly. But the assaults continued.
During one of these assaults Vince ran into Thomas’s bedroom and king-hit him. Thomas was hospitalised and the incident was reported to the police. But the police advised they were unable to do anything because Vince would not understand the consequences of his actions.
Hope believes this violates Thomas’s human right to live free from fear of being physically assaulted.
Hope would like Vince to be relocated but management says this would make Vince homeless. When she tries to understand why this would be the case, they say they can’t fully brief her on the situation because of privacy and confidentiality concerns.
Instead, management rosters additional staff to work when it anticipates Thomas is most at risk from Vince, and Vince is isolated at the back of the house. Thomas can no longer freely move around his home.
The situation became even more distressing when Thomas recently experienced his first seizure. The hospital neurologist believed it was the result of ‘tiredness, stress and anxiety’. Hope is certain this stress and anxiety is about Vince.
The situation remains unresolved. Hope has written to the ombudsman, state and federal ministers and peak organisations in her quest to keep Thomas safe.
‘As a parent of a disabled child, we live with a constant fear of how he’s being treated by others. We have to trust our community and its leaders that [Thomas] will be treated with the respect and dignity he is entitled to, and that this basic human right is not ignored because of his disability. The lack of an adequate response from [the home] has been absolutely heartbreaking and demoralising. The fact that [Thomas] is not safe, even in his own bedroom, is horrifying.’
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.