Bonita
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.
Bonita is a First Nations woman. She is a survivor of domestic violence and has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Bonita’s been living in the same public housing flat for more than 30 years. A few years ago she ticked a box declaring she has disability.
‘I ticked that box. Like I didn’t previously … I didn’t want to be labelled as living with a disability.’
Bonita said after ticking the box, a public housing officer searched her home for the first time.
‘He went through my house. My daughter was very sick in the first room … I said to him, “My daughter’s in that room and she’s asleep and she’s sick,” and he went into that room … and I feel sick because I allowed that man to be in a room with my daughter. And I’m not saying anything happened, but I’m saying it’s wrong.’
Bonita fears the man will return looking for reasons to move her because she has a disability.
‘So yeah ticking a box. What does it actually mean? Does it mean that then they come in twos?’
Bonita is a social worker and said a few years ago she was applying for a new job through Centrelink when a Disability Employment Service (DES) contacted her.
‘Obviously they’re linked to Centrelink and they saw that I live with disability. They said to me, “You’re on the wrong stream,” you know. “Let us support you.”’
Bonita said even though she had a job in mind, the DES told her she’d lose her Centrelink benefits if she didn’t sign a contract with them. The DES also insisted on seeing every payslip from the new job she lined up.
‘I said, “I don’t get it.” I said, “I get my job and you’re stealing my life.” And then they said “We’re going to call you every fortnight.”’
Bonita said the DES kept calling her at work and she felt so intimidated she quit the job to try to escape them.
‘I’m not stupid. I got another job and then off I went.’
She said the DES continued to call demanding she sign a new contract with them for the new job she’d found and asking to see her payslips. When she declined they sent someone to her home.
‘They came to my place several times and a big bloke too and you’re a survivor of domestic violence. They don’t know, but still they should be mindful of that.’
Bonita said the DES is still threatening to send people to her house until she signs another contract.
‘I get their emails. “We will not leave you alone until you call.” Like, “This will be unresolved until you make contact with us.” And then I get another one. “Do you want a hundred dollars?”’
Bonita said she locked her gate to stop the men coming to her door.
‘I changed jobs [again] because they said to me they were going to come to my workplace,’ Bonita told the Royal Commission.
‘They were going to come to my workplace and they were going to talk [to my boss] and I was just like, “No you’re not” … I felt threatened … It’s still carrying on today. I don’t know what I’m going to do.’
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.