Deborah
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.
Deborah is in her 70s. She had a stroke in her early 20s.
When Deborah’s husband became ill a few years ago, she used a home support service to provide registered nurses and support workers to support her and her husband.
Deborah told the Royal Commission that about a month before her husband died, she noticed money missing from her wallet on several occasions.
She started tracking her cash withdrawals and noted exactly how much money she had at any one time. She put her small bag and wallet in her desk drawer. ‘I was very careful about this.’
But despite her care and caution, over a couple of months more than $500 was stolen.
One morning, several months after her husband’s death, Deborah was certain she had $120 in her wallet. The support worker arrived around 7.30 am and helped her with her shower and breakfast.
At about 11.30 am she noticed two $50 notes were missing. She only had $20 left.
Deborah immediately rang the agency and told them what had happened.
The operation manager from the agency came to see her late that afternoon and the next day the support worker was sacked.
Deborah also reported the incident to the police and made a statement.
But Deborah never heard anything further from the police. She wonders what happened to the worker. She fears that without any police follow-up, the worker will simply move on to another agency and another vulnerable client. This is a terrible situation especially if the client is ‘confused or demented’.
Deborah would like to see police follow up all complaints and a police check done when support workers change jobs.
She said hers may be ‘a small matter’ compared to others, but it highlights problems in the system.
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.