Dylan and Megan
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.
Dylan is in his early 20s and has lived on a rural property by himself since he was a child. He keeps sheep and chickens and sells meat and eggs to the local shops and people in the community.
Dylan’s advocate, Megan, told the Royal Commission he has a lot of energy and wouldn’t cope if he had to live in town. He has an intellectual disability and is supported by two support workers 24/7.
A couple of years ago, a support worker – Casey – assaulted Dylan. Another support worker witnessed the assault.
Dylan wanted to put his chickens back in the barn and put the lambs in the paddock and asked Casey to help him.
Casey snapped, ‘I’m not your slave, use your manners and put the chickens away yourself.’
Dylan turned towards Casey and swore under his breath, telling him to shut up.
Casey demanded Dylan repeat what he said. He did, and then walked to the paddock.
Casey followed and shouldered Dylan, turned him around and pushed him in the chest with both hands.
Dylan stumbled. He didn’t say anything – Megan thinks he was probably in shock.
Casey then grabbed Dylan around the throat and squeezed. The other support worker intervened saying, ‘that’s enough.’ Casey turned on him and asked him ‘do you want a go?’ He told his colleague, ‘you’re bad for him, you’re babying him’. Casey then got in his car and left.
Dylan had red marks on his neck. The support worker who witnessed the incident took photos of the bruising and reported the assault to the police and the disability service provider. The service provider immediately dismissed Casey and reported the incident to the NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission.
Dylan had not done anything to provoke the assault, but Casey told police Dylan had behavioural issues, ‘trying to use his disability to get out of the charges,’ Megan said.
Police took statements from the other support workers and charged Casey.
Megan expected the prosecutor to be on Dylan’s side but she said they were ‘tough … questioning Dylan’s behaviour and whether he was a credible witness’.
Initially Casey decided to fight the charges, but pleaded guilty the day before the trial. Dylan didn’t need to go to court but the process was very stressful, Megan said. ‘I don’t know if it was a game from the support worker … it caused more trauma to a young man who had trauma from issues related to childhood.’
The judge fined Casey and made him promise not to work in the sector again. The safeguard commission said it would revoke his yellow card. Casey has since moved states again and Megan has her ‘fingers crossed’ he’s not working with vulnerable people.
Dylan wanted Casey to go to jail but told Megan he’s ‘glad that people heard’. She said, ‘I know when he was younger he felt people never listened to him.’
Since the assault Dylan had come along ‘in leaps and bounds behavioural wise,’ Megan said. ‘He’s like people actually do listen to me and I am being heard.’ She feels he’s confident that if there is an issue, people will follow through.
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.