Brenton
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.
‘I own this … I felt like no-one could make me homeless. If I end up somewhere else, there goes my little protection from being homeless which is just terrifying for me.’
Brenton, early 30s, has bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and paranoia.
He told the Royal Commission that as a child he was sexually abused by his father, and did not receive any assistance from his mother.
As a young man, Brenton lived in a campervan. He had a number of negative dealings with police and is wary of them. He said a police officer accused him of selling drugs and broke his arm.
Brenton now owns a caravan and lives in a caravan park.
Recently, his caravan needed repair and he wanted to fix it from the ‘ground up’. He was working at night digging out dirt from underneath the van. He wanted to get under the van to remove the flooring.
‘Stupidly, I was dumping the dirt and I wasn't doing it clandestinely, I wasn't trying to be sneaky about it.’
The caravan park manager became suspicious. He accused Brenton of ruining a garden bed – Brenton described it as a ‘patch of dirt’.
Benton believes the manager told police he was burying a body underneath the caravan.
Police arrived ‘under the guise of a welfare check’ and ‘[bullied] the hell out of [him] for about 15 minutes’. They threatened to arrest Brenton if he did not disclose his mental health diagnosis.
‘Keep in mind my embarrassment and shame about having to [talk about my mental health diagnosis] in front of my neighbours.’
Brenton felt this was a breach of his privacy.
‘It was not a welfare check. There was not one instance where I was asked, "Are you okay? Do you need assistance?"’
He said the police officers made comments and joked about his disability.
‘The policeman also bragged about not having mental health issues. He also insinuated that I should be medicated.’
Police cautioned Brenton and told him to stop the work.
‘They went on their merry way, and I went and vomited up my breakfast and had an adrenaline seizure.’
A short time later, the caravan park manager cut off all amenities to Brenton’s caravan. He then tried to enter the caravan without any notice. He took photos and tried to force Brenton to sign a document without giving him the opportunity to read it properly.
Brenton believes this was an attempt to have his caravan declared uninhabitable, which would have left him homeless.
Brenton started using the shared amenities until management locked him out, blaming COVID-19.
Brenton receives jobseeker payments and can’t afford to rent anywhere else.
‘I cannot form a plan to get out of there. I don't have the mental capacity to form a plan … I don't understand how I can get an in-between place to put all my stuff.’
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.