Jen and Kay
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.
‘I am angry with myself that I did not advocate more strongly for our daughter, but due to limited choices I was too scared that she would have nowhere to live.’
Kay’s daughter Jen lived in a group home in a regional area with three other residents.
‘We complained continually about neglect over the years,’ Kay said. She told Royal Commission this was her ‘last chance … to have a say about how badly [Jen] was treated by … staff’.
Jen has cerebral palsy, a mild intellectual disability and epilepsy. The other residents in the home had higher support needs and staff often left Jen to look after herself. Kay said this was evident in Jen’s personal care and hygiene. ‘She would often smell or she would not be dressed appropriately.’
One time Jen was having mild seizures throughout day. Staff decided to leave her at home and take the other residents to an evening event. The seizures became worse and Jen rang Kay who immediately came to the home and organised an ambulance. Jen was admitted to hospital.
Another time Jen was catching a bus home from her day program and began having a seizure. She rang the home who told her no-one was available to come and get her. ‘They did not ring an ambulance or contact us her parents.’
There were other instances when Jen, unwell and distressed, asked staff for help. They told her they were not her servants. ‘We explained they are not servants but are support workers who are supposed to support her,’ Kay said.
Left alone, Jen explored internet dating sites. One night a man arrived to take Jen on a date. He asked the staff member about the group home and said ‘it wasn’t what he expected’. The staff member allowed Jen to leave with the man.
The man violently raped Jen. She was admitted to hospital with internal injuries. Police found and charged the man, who later pleaded guilty and was jailed.
When Jen returned to the home, Kay attended a meeting with home managers. She expected an acknowledgement about what had happened and a discussion about how they might help Jen.
‘Instead we were told that [Jen] had placed all the house at risk and that the staff were scared now to do the night shift in case someone phoned or attended the home and [they] have had to install security cameras outside the house.’
The day before the trial Jen was very anxious and asked to speak to one of the staff members. But the staff member was too busy and suggested Jen go and have a sleep. When Jen refused to leave the kitchen the worker told Jen she had had enough of her and pushed her over. The worker then pushed one of the residents in a wheelchair into Jen.
‘We received a phone call from the house manager stating that they thought [Jen] was not coping with the events of court and asked if we could care for her for a few hours.’
When Jen returned to the home a few hours later she asked the same staff member if she could talk to her. Again the worker said she was too busy. After asking a few more times Jen got angry and tried to hit the worker. Another worker grabbed Jen and pinned her against the wall. The worker stood on Jen’s feet and held her arms down. Jen spat in her face. The two workers pushed Jen to the floor and dragged her by her feet into the laundry, locked the door and called the police.
Following an internal investigation, management told Kay the home wasn’t suitable for Jen. However there were no vacancies in the area and Jen was moved to another home almost four hours away from her mother and her other service providers.
Jen now has depression and takes antidepressants.
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.