Cathie
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 felt like I was just going through the washing machine of abuse and neglect. And I don't want to say it destroyed my life. It felt like it did, but it has made me see life through a different lens.’
Cathie is a First Nations woman in her 20s living with anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder.
‘All [my] family members [have] been diagnosed with mental illness and intellectual disabilities,’ Cathie told the Royal Commission. ‘There was a lot of stigma with regards to disability in my family … A lot of neglect and Stolen Generations in their lives that made it hard for them to value me.’
Cathie worked in a restaurant for many years before a First Nations organisation offered her a traineeship.
‘I felt really proud to work for a black organisation, being a proud strong black girl.’
Cathie said she declared her disability, but the company increased her workload and made no reasonable adjustments.
‘I chose to accept a role in a higher level, stressful, confidential environment. So, given my pre-existing issues that I had, it was up to me and it was my own responsibility [to deal with them].’
Cathie said she often worked 12-hour days.
‘I sort of drowned in the workplace … They weren't compassionate or caring at the time … I just, at the time, wanted support from strong Aboriginal executive at an organisation that I thought I worked at. But I never got it.’
Cathie said, instead, she was given performance assessments where she told her manager she was feeling overwhelmed. Her manager told her to ‘just get on with it’ and later began criticising her work. Not long after disclosing that she was also a victim of family violence, the organisation dismissed her.
‘It essentially broke my heart, because I had a dream to run that place in, like, 10 years time.’
Cathie said she became homeless for two years.
‘I just moved into my own house, like, five days ago,’ Cathie told the Royal Commission. ‘But it's just been hard. I guess that the level of abuse that I endured in my life, I don't know how I'm still standing today to be speaking to all of you.’
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.