Jeff and Alec
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.
Alec worked in a factory with supported employment, supervising employees with disability.
‘There were many good people trying to do a professional job with no resources,’ Alec told the Royal Commission. ‘I began to understand that the supported employees had nothing to aspire to.’
The factory packed and labelled cartons. Soon after Alec started, he met Jeff.
‘I liked [Jeff]. He was a bit of a stirrer and got into the odd fight or two, but did a great job. He was in another group and was constantly being disciplined.’
Jeff had worked at the factory for 40 years, packing cartons, wrapping pallets of cartons in shrink-wrap plastic, and labelling them. He was highly skilled, moving the pallets with a trolley jack and operating machinery.
‘[Jeff] was, unfortunately, covered by the [employer’s] supported wage system.’
Alec said the employer paid Jeff $3.30 an hour. The highest pay rate under the wage system was $6 an hour.
‘I was given training on this wage system and quickly discovered its aim; to keep wages low.’
Alec said the employer linked Jeff’s wage to his behaviour.
‘Unless his behaviour improved, he could keep getting paid $3.30 an hour. I have seen worse behaviour in open employment with no consequences … Even the employees that behaved well received little reward.’
Alec said one new employee, ‘highly skilled and highly intelligent’, who had once run his own business, ‘was offered $4 an hour as a starting wage’.
Alec asked why the employees weren’t given regular pay rises and was told that they weren’t entitled.
Alec also questioned the employee superannuation payments. He wrote to the ombudsman, which told him it would not investigate his allegations.
‘They quoted privacy. I find it hard to believe that someone who tells the [ombudsman that] over 100 people with disabilities have received less than they are entitled to under workplace laws, is not even talked to.’
One day, Alec was told to give the group of employees he supervised a new, unsuitable job.
‘I knew [it] was not good for the group’s skills. I pointed out to my supervisor that most of the group had behavioural issues and this would upset them.’
Alec felt his supervisor was bullying him and his group.
‘I went in my office and almost cried.’
He resigned the following week.
Alec told the Royal Commission that businesses and governments should overhaul the supported employment industry.
‘Don't put 100 people in a supported workplace together, and give them meaningless work and no hope. Put them in an open workplace, with the right support and 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.