Amaranth and Avianna
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.
Amaranth has an intellectual disability. She is funded by the NDIS and lives independently in her own home, with assistance from support workers several times a week. Her financial affairs are managed by the public trustee, and her older sister is her guardian and medical treatment authority.
Avianna is a close relation of Amaranth. She believes Amaranth’s sister is abusing her. She has reported her concerns to different authorities but no-one has taken any action.
She told the Royal Commission that Amaranth’s sister has unorthodox medical views which she imposes on Amaranth, including about vaccination. This makes it difficult for Amaranth to join support programs or find work. Avianna said the sister is bullying, controlling and verbally abusive, and Amaranth lives ‘in fear’ of her.
‘She is powerless and unable to stand up to her sister.’
Avianna is worried that the sister is isolating Amaranth from other members of the family. She sought to make legal changes to Amaranth’s affairs from which she would benefit, but fortunately the lawyer refused to accept these.
In trying to find someone to intervene on Amaranth’s behalf, Avianna has found that Amaranth herself has made complaints about her sister in the past. The public advocate has also received complaints about her from other agencies involved in Amaranth’s care. Yet these other agencies are reluctant to initiate any intervention or to support Avianna in her formal application to have the current guardianship arrangements set aside.
She believes their lack of support constitutes a failure to comply with mandatory reporting obligations.
‘It seems as though it is up to me as a concerned [relative] to pursue this matter,’ she said.
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.