Ollie
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.
Ollie, a First Nations man in his early 40s, is autistic.
A couple of years ago he was living in supported independent living (SIL) accommodation operated by an independent provider.
Ollie lived with people with physical and cognitive disability, people with complex psychosocial disability and people with substance abuse issues.
‘You’re living around people who have massive problems with drugs. And they’re not getting any help that they need. But they’re housed in with people who are just really, really quiet and just trying to live life. And you spend most of your mental energy trying to live around that instead of trying to develop yourself and then be a part of the community and integrate yourself.’
Ollie told the Royal Commission the accommodation was in disrepair and there were rats and rat faeces near the food.
At one stage Ollie slept in a garage and had no choice but to sleep on the floor.
Ollie said the provider took 85 per cent of his disability pension. They also made him do manual maintenance work, building tasks and lawn mowing in exchange for a reduction in his rent.
After a while Ollie realised the arrangement wasn’t fair.
‘I used to be able to be manipulated very, very easily. Or at least, I’d just be very quiet about it … It’s not employment because I was a resident. I was a client, so it’s exploitation.’
Ollie told the provider he didn’t want to do the work anymore and they threatened him with eviction.
The provider’s lawyers said they would ‘bury’ him in legal costs if he ever told anyone what was happening.
Ollie reported the provider to the police, but they didn’t believe him.
He also made a report to the NDIA, who told him that the conduct was in the past and the provider had changed their practices.
Ollie made a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission but said they passed his complaint back to the provider.
Ollie is frustrated no-one has taken any action and feels as though he has not been listened to.
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.