Chantal
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.
Chantal, early 40s, has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, asthma, osteoporosis, arthritis and recurring tendonitis. She uses a wheelchair and needs help to dress, prepare meals and clean.
About 15 years ago, Chantal moved out of her parent’s home into disability accommodation.
She told the Royal Commission the house manager and a support worker were ‘emotionally and mentally abusive’.
The support worker would tell Chantal everything was her fault and she hated working with her.
Chantal didn’t know how to stand up for herself and would get upset.
‘She used to tell me that I used to bring it on myself and I was a difficult client and no-one wanted to work with me.’
The support worker was always changing the roster and Chantal didn’t like it.
One time, Chantal was getting ready to have a shower and asked about a roster change.
The support worker got annoyed and left the room.
Chantal was able to walk short distances at the time, and got herself into the shower.
Soon after, she heard the front door slam.
‘I knew that I was going to be on my own and I was still in the shower. So I tried to get out of the shower and because it was wet I slipped and I fell. I tried to ring [the house manager] and her response was, “Well, what did you do to piss her off?”’
The support worker refused to complete her weekend shifts and the manager was unable to find anyone to fill in.
‘I had to sort of deal with it and try to get myself up for the rest of the weekend and whenever. But by Monday, I was unable to walk.’
Chantal was admitted to hospital and doctors treated her leg. However, support workers failed to attend to the injured area during the recovery period and her leg deteriorated.
‘Now I've got a lifelong condition and use an electric wheelchair because I can't walk anymore.’
Chantal made a complaint to the CEO, but the house manager and the support worker said she was lying about what happened.
Chantal made a complaint to the department.
‘I wanted to end the silence and speak up and say hey, look, I don't want this to happen to anyone else.’
Sometime later Chantal was able to change providers and move to a different house.
‘I was again labelled a difficult client because all my shifts were all over the place and sometimes I didn't get shifts at all.’
One of the support workers accidently sent her an email meant for the regional manager.
‘It was four little words saying, “Can we hit her?” and I was absolutely horrified.’
Chantal said it is hard advocating for herself.
‘I get worried, you know, am I going to get labelled again? If I don't do anything or if I don't say anything am I going to get labelled?’
Since the NDIS, the rostering of support workers has become a lot better. But Chantal has to jump ‘through a lot of hoops’.
At the moment she lives in an unsafe area in a public housing unit that is falling down. She wants to move to a unit in a disability complex closer to her work.
The public housing body refuses to move her because she has NDIS supported independent living (SIL) funding. But Chantal says her SIL funding is inadequate.
Chantal has had to make a number of submissions and applications to the public housing body and the NDIS to work out a solution.
It is taking a lot of time and effort and she is ‘tearing out her hair’.
‘It's a lot of stress and it's a lot of worry when you don't get the right allocation for what you need. It's a lot of heartbreak for people with disabilities as well as their families or their support workers who really want what everyone else wants – to live as comfortably and independently as you can.’
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.