Gayel
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 feel they tried to put me down because of my disabilities.’
Gayel, mid-40s, has intellectual disability, anxiety and depression.
A few years ago, Gayel’s social housing unit started to flood. She contacted the housing agency and told them sewerage water was leaking into her unit.
‘I was told because of my disability I was having delusions and things weren't real about me living in six inches of sewerage water. It couldn't have happened.’
Gayel had to keep reporting the problem.
‘When you try to follow-up they put you back at the bottom of the list again.’
Some of Gayel’s furniture and other items were destroyed because of the water.
Gayel contacted a lawyer who helped her take the matter to the state administrative tribunal.
The tribunal ordered the housing agency to fix the problem. Gayel had to move out while they did the repairs.
Soon after she returned, the unit flooded again. Gayel had at least six inches of water over the floor.
‘There's pictures of me living in that water.’
Gayel became unwell and developed an infection in her foot and her arm.
‘I had to have a vaccination which helped prove it was from the sewerage water, walking around in the house.’
She discovered the housing agency only painted over the water damaged wall because they couldn’t find the problem.
‘It's like I didn't exist, it didn't happen. Just swept under the carpet.’
Gayel had to go back to the tribunal.
The housing agency tried to argue Gayel had refused to give their tradesperson access to the property. But the tradesperson only tried to contact her by phone, which she can’t use because of her disability.
The tribunal ordered the housing agency repair the property and pay Gayel compensation for her damaged property. They also ordered the housing agency communicate with Gayel by methods other than telephone and give her reasonable notice when attending the property.
Eventually, the housing agency determined the cause of the leak. Inspectors believe it is fixed, but Gayel and her lawyer are concerned that the plumbing may not have been properly repaired because of cost.
Gayel believes there is still a leak.
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.