Bruce
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’ve been well and truly punished by the system.’
Bruce is in his 50s and lives with undiagnosed mental health conditions.
‘I’ve been on disability pension without even being diagnosed with anything since I was 20 years old,’ he told the Royal Commission. ‘Mine is not a very good story about the system, the way they – they – they abused it. Like, I’ve just been left for dead, and I’ve had to deal with it all on my own.’
Doctors have never properly assessed Bruce for mental illness.
‘That’s why I can’t get any help. All I’ve been assessed with is uncontrollable anger that’s it. End of story. I’ve been to that many psychiatrists it’s not funny. I’ve been – I’ve been to all the social workers and all the deal. I tell them first that I – I’ve got a mental disability and I’ve got a frustration problem. Because that’s the only diagnosis anybody’s given me.’
Bruce wanted to be a tradie but has been hamstrung all his life in his efforts to work.
‘When I first got on the pension, you’re not allowed to work at all. Unless you’ve got a doctor’s clearance. And every time I’ve tried to get off the pension and do my own thing … they more or less laughed at me.’
Bruce ended up in the criminal justice system about two decades ago. He blames the system, for neglecting his mental health.
‘Fines, more fines, more fines, more jail, more jail … Because I was violent.’
On his release, service providers wouldn’t help him get ‘a real job’ or help him ‘get back into society’.
‘The system isn’t set up to help people. It’s only set up for the people that want to give up,’ he said.
‘And I don’t understand that behaviour. If people want to try they should have a chance to get to where they want to go. My life’s got no better, you know what I mean. I have no family, no nothing, and I’m dealing with violence and trying to keep myself in control. I spent the last 10 years just isolating myself. I don’t talk to anybody. Because I was that frightened of getting in trouble all the time.’
Health professionals fob Bruce off ‘as a bad-tempered upstart’ and deny him supports, so he’s been left ‘just trying to fix’ himself.
‘Because nobody else could apparently. Like, I tried it the doctor’s way … but nobody takes responsibility. I’ve done anger management eight times, stress management, I’ve done everything you could possibly think of.’
Bruce hasn’t been able to get housing assistance and was recently ‘kicked out’ of his accommodation so he’s ‘got nowhere to go’. He does, however, have a caravan.
‘I’m a warrior. A survivor. I know I’ve always got that caravan sitting somewhere. If all hell break down, I’ve got a home.’
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.