Darren
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 have been out of work now for six years. In that time, I have seen a lot of things that shouldn’t happen to people with disabilities.’
Darren has a hereditary disability that, after a 20-year career, finally ‘got so bad’ he had to stop working. He found himself unemployed and in financial difficulty.
He then had a three-year struggle with Centrelink to qualify for the Disability Support Pension (DSP). He told the Royal Commission that at no time during that process did Centrelink, or any of other government bodies Darren dealt with, tell him that advocacy support was available to him through the DSP appeals process.
‘I feel really upset by this process of fighting for the Disability Pension alone, without advocacy support,’ he said.
‘I had spent 20 years paying income tax on time, but then, Centrelink wouldn’t pay me for 3 years. They said you’re not getting any money … Centrelink made it difficult for me because my disorder was rare, and they refused to accept my application, so I suffered and had to wait for 3 years.’
During his long ‘fight’ for the DSP, Darren was also dealing with chronic health problems related to his disability. ‘I could not afford and still find it hard to afford private doctors,’ he said.
Darren was in a queue in the public health system for four years before he received treatment. He suggested the health department should liaise with the NDIS to set up a support coordinator to advocate for people with disabilities in his situation.
Meanwhile, at home, Darren feels that he and a neighbour who also has a disability are being victimised and bullied by the other owners in the apartment complex.
Darren has raised objections to some of the changes they want to make to their properties that encroach on common land and negatively impact his property. In retaliation they have made legal threats. He believes their ‘exploitative behaviour’ stems from his disability and subsequent loss of income.
Darren suggested that people with a disability should receive additional legal support to prevent their rights from being jeopardised by the exploitative behaviour of other property owners.
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.