Jaden and Mattie
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.
Jaden has anorexia, which his sister Mattie describes as a ‘slow death’. He has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and is non-verbal. Mattie said he has an eye gaze device, and if you take your time you can have a ‘regular’ conversation with him.
Now in his early 50s, Jaden has spent most of his life in institutions and group homes.
Mattie told the Royal Commission his ‘entire life in care has been terrible, he’s been abused so many times’.
About five years ago Mattie accessed some of Jaden’s files. She discovered he has had medical procedures without his or his family’s consent and his image has been used without consent. One home deliberately took him out on the days his mum would come and visit.
Jaden has been assaulted multiple times. One time a support worker hit Jaden after he laughed at him. He had red welts across his backside. Another resident witnessed the assault but the worker ‘got away with it’ because police refused to interview Jaden. Mattie remembers police told her interviews ‘could be very upsetting for “these kinds” of people’.
A few years ago Jaden moved closer to Mattie so she could better support him.
A short time later when Mattie visited him, he ‘looked like a prisoner of war’. He was so thin, barely 40 kilograms. ‘It was just awful,’ she said, ‘extremely difficult to watch’. Jaden told her he thought he was going to die.
Mattie consulted Jaden’s GP who told her there was no medical reason for his weight loss. She then spoke to the CEO and accused the staff of neglect. The CEO was adamant this wasn’t the case.
Jaden didn’t improve and told Mattie he ‘was going to bed hungry’. The CEO disputed any resident would be going to bed hungry.
Jaden has been admitted to hospital twice because he was malnourished.
Jaden’s mum thinks his anorexia may be linked to trauma. He has a history of refusing food and drink when he is distressed and frustrated.
Mattie asked the home if they could organise some mental health support but nothing happened.
When COVID-19 forced everyone into lockdown, Jaden suffered. He is very social and became frustrated because he couldn’t see his family or go out. He began to self-harm.
The home promised Mattie they would help Jaden face-time his family more, but they didn’t follow through. One time she organised a pavlova for Jaden and staff promised to pick it up. A week later she discovered no-one ever did. Jaden can only sleep with his TV on. When it broke the home didn’t inform Mattie until more than a week later. Jaden’s dental health deteriorated. Mattie said he ‘went in there with a mouthful of teeth that were perfectly fine’ but has had to have ‘every tooth ripped out’.
Mattie spoke to Jaden’s support coordinator. The coordinator insisted the home employ a dietician to help Jaden gain weight during lockdown and he gained 20 kilograms. Mattie said this proves ‘he was absolutely being neglected’.
Now lockdown has ended and normal life has resumed Mattie is worried staff will not have the time to feed Jaden properly and he will lose weight. When she visits, his eye gaze device is rarely set up.
Mattie asked Jaden if he wants to move to a different home, but he said he doesn’t.
‘He feels like he’s been with so many organisations and they’ve all been pretty much the same.’
Moving forward, Mattie wants Jaden’s life to improve. ‘I just want to make sure that he’s fed, that when he’s funded for one-on-one support he has access to that … I’d really like for him to be heard.’
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.