Braden
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.
Braden is a First Nations man. He was a volunteer firefighter for almost 20 years and, as a crew leader, risked his safety protecting others. He ‘suffered several injuries and … helped save hundreds of homes’.
Now, he told the Royal Commission, his ‘future looks grim’. After a serious workplace accident he has multiple injuries and lives with significant pain.
Braden has arm, shoulder and leg injuries, muscle wastage, weight loss, headaches and depression. His has ‘trouble lifting objects, typing and maintaining his property’.
Braden was unsuccessful in his applications for a Disability Support Pension and for NDIS support, so he has been relying on the job seeker payment, Newstart. This payment is conditional on Braden undertaking a number of job-seeking activities and appointments each month.
Braden has trade qualifications, but since the accident ‘cannot physically undertake the work’.
‘I have retrained and gained some non-trade based qualifications but my body is holding me back.’
Braden’s payment has been cut multiple times because of his condition.
‘My benefit was cut 2 years ago for a 3-month period because I was attending a psychologist appointment, and cut for 6 months last year as Centrelink chose not to recognise the doctor’s opinion.’
Braden’s doctor advised Centrelink he could only complete eight hours of activity each week. Centrelink ignored this advice. ‘I have been pushed to do 16 hours,’ Braden said.
Braden appealed the decision. When he rang requesting an update, he was told no appeal had been received. After further investigation, a Centrelink employee told Braden the appeal request was on his file but ‘there was no information on the appeal process’. Braden believes this ‘indicates gaslighting by phone staff’.
After Braden complained to his federal MP, Centrelink accepted the medical certificate stating he was unfit to work for three months.
Centrelink resumed payments, but gave no back-pay, ‘creating massive financial pressures and stress’ for Braden.
Then Centrelink rejected the next three-month medical certificate.
Braden is currently ‘suspended … without income’.
‘[I am] suffering from slow starvation, my peace of mind is under attack and my health is suffering in other areas also due to the cruel, heartless, inhumane and punitive treatment from the federal government and its welfare contractors.’
Despite volunteering as a firefighter, giving up hours of his own time, spending his own money getting to and from fires, Braden feels the government ignores him and treats him ‘like a burden on society’.
Braden believes that until there are ‘policy changes at a government level’, people will continue to be ‘unfairly treated, financially and mentally abused, ignored, negated and pushed to the edge of their existences’.
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.