Buster
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.
Buster, late 40s, is autistic. He has cognitive disability, anxiety and trouble reading and writing.
Buster’s been working for an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) for more than 20 years. He loves his job and told the Royal Commission he used to feel proud working for the organisation.
But in the past couple of years things have changed.
Buster’s team has had to work without a supervisor or qualified first aid person.
Some days, he has turned up for work only to be sent home because it was raining. One time, his employer offered him alternate work at a different site, but he hadn’t been trained to do that work and wasn’t confident it would be safe.
Buster discovered his employer wasn’t paying him for the days they sent him home.
‘We are supposed to be offered training or alternate work on those days or if alternatives are not available, to be paid full pay.’
Buster had to use his personal and annual leave.
He made a complaint to his supervisor, but she refused to answer questions about the training, pay or conditions.
Soon after, Buster’s employer told him they were thinking about selling the organisation. Buster asked about his job and pay but they wouldn’t tell him anything.
‘It caused my mental health to deteriorate and I had to seek regular counselling.’
Buster contacted the union who confirmed his employer was in breach of the employment agreement.
Buster’s family and NDIS planner supported him to make a formal complaint.
Sometime later, his employer invited him to a meeting.
A senior manager apologised for taking so long to respond, and handed him a letter to read. She wouldn’t get involved in a discussion, but could answer certain questions.
‘I tried to read the letter, but I can’t read well.’
Buster asked if his support person could come to the meeting, but the manager declined.
He asked the manager to tell him what was in the letter.
She read some information about the organisation’s wet weather policy, and told him they would transfer him to a different job.
‘I repeated many times that I didn’t understand.’
‘I stated that I should have my support worker with me to advocate for me. [The manager] stated something along the lines of, “That’s it, we need to finish.”’
Buster had to go back to work.
‘The meeting left me feeling completely confused. I cannot read or write properly and have anxiety. I was put on the spot without my support worker and felt shocked.’
About a week later, the employer told Buster his job was ending.
‘We were advised that we were being given two weeks’ pay and not to return to the site.’
They told him he could apply for a different job at another site. He felt pressured into accepting a job he wasn’t trained to do.
‘[The organisation] did not treat me with the respect I deserve after being a loyal employee … and should have kept us all informed of what was happening with our jobs. … It seems that [the organisation] is all about the money and has forgotten the people they are supposed to be supporting.
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.