Imogen
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 put her in her cot and let her cry it out for a bit (I’d say no more than ten minutes) and it was not loud otherwise my bellman flashing alarm would have alerted me to let me know if she is crying.’
Imogen is a young Deaf mum in regional NSW. After settling her unwell child for a rest she returned to her desk in the kitchen, as she was working from home that day. A short while later Imogen detected a movement behind her and turned.
‘I was startled and confused because I could see three police officers, two ambulance officers and one Australia Post postie held my daughter in her arm … they all appeared very shocked to see me working at my desk.’
Imogen jumped up and grabbed her daughter and the postie ‘bolted out the door’. The police told Imogen someone had called saying the baby had been crying for 30 minutes and no-one was home. Imogen showed them the baby monitor was working; the police asked some routine questions and then left.
‘I was completely upset and distressed during the process,’ Imogen told the Royal Commission. The next day she went to the police station to ask exactly what had happened and why the attending officers had allowed the Australia Post worker into her house.
Imogen was told the postie had made the Triple-0 call.
‘The authorities had told her not to enter the house,’ Imogen said, ‘but she entered the house anyway, proceed to grab my daughter out of her cot, and walked … outside and waited for the police.’
Imogen told the policeman she wanted to report the Australia Post worker for unlawful entry and kidnap.
‘He specifically told me, “We can’t do anything about it, because she acted in good faith.”’
The policeman suggested Imogen report the matter to Australia Post, which she did. At the time she wrote to the Royal Commission, Imogen had not yet received an apology or any response.
Imogen says her privacy was violated and that she was discriminated against because of her disability. She feels the police brought into question her ability to parent her child as a Deaf mother.
‘Australia Post and Police … need yearly deafness awareness training and disability awareness training.’
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.