Andy
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.
‘They don’t … understand the language of Auslan, and how to book an interpreter.’
Andy is Deaf and uses hearing aids. His first language is Auslan, his second is English.
A couple of years ago Andy said hello to Carl when they were waiting outside a grocery store. Carl told him he was homeless. ‘He said that he was trying to support his family because they had no money, that they were poor, and they needed food and petrol,’ Andy told the Royal Commission.
Carl pleaded with Andy for money and asked to ‘borrow’ Andy’s bank card and PIN. ‘He kept asking me to give him money so many times.’ Andy couldn’t say no.
Over a short period of time Carl withdrew $25,000 – most of Andy’s savings. When Andy realised what he was doing he was ‘shocked’. He asked Carl to return the card. ‘I said to him … please, stop doing it. This is my money. But he kept taking it. And then he got angry and got frustrated.’
Andy went to his bank and asked them to ‘lock the card’. The bank immediately cancelled the card. ‘If I need money now, I go into the bank and I ask for cash, and I just pay for everything with cash now.’
Carl continued to message Andy trying to ‘manipulate’ him. At one point he asked Andy to put cash into his bank account.
Andy’s disability advocate was worried Carl would take more money from Andy and encouraged Andy to report the stolen money to police. Andy told police officers he was Deaf and needed an interpreter. They told him they don’t have interpreters. ‘I was shocked. It was awful. It wasn’t fair.’ Instead they gave him a piece of paper with writing he couldn’t read. He believes police expected him to lip-read to understand them.
Andy’s advocate made a complaint and after several months police finally arranged an interview for Andy with an interpreter. Unfortunately, on the day, Andy couldn’t attend because he had injured his back. His advocate unsuccessfully tried to reschedule the interview.
Despite Andy having threatening and intimidating Facebook messages from Carl, police refuse to investigate the complaint. They believe there might have been ‘some sign of a financial agreement or friendship’ between Andy and Carl.
Andy is ‘frustrated’ and ‘still needs [Carl] taken to court’.
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.