Tabitha and Valerie
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.
Tabitha is in her late 20s and has autism. She is trying to find employment so she can be independent. She and her mother, Valerie, told the Royal Commission about their frustrations with job placement services.
‘The centre refuses to match me with an appropriate job that suits my needs,’ Tabitha said. ‘This has happened several times.’ She feels like the agency is exploiting her to get funding from the government.
Valerie agrees, and says job placement services are an in-name-only service that do little to provide for the unique job needs of people with disability. She believes the financial incentives they receive encourage rorting and inappropriate activity.
Valerie helped Tabitha submit a complaint to the job centre about its ongoing inability to secure her a suitable position.
Tabitha said, ‘We were fobbed off and told “a job is a job”.’
Valerie too was ‘very unsatisfied’ with the outcome. ‘It seems the job provider is more interested in the number of people on their books rather than what those people need.’
Valerie would like to see improvements in the regulation of job service providers so they are not simply acting on financial subsidies.
‘And the same goes with employers.’ Valerie said she is yet to meet a client who has had a positive experience with their placements.
Tabitha says the ongoing experience has left her emotionally vulnerable.
‘Too many unsuccessful job interviews and applications make for a negative impact on mental health both for the client and their family,’ said Valerie.
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.