Kirsty
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.
‘Since the NDIS has come in it’s been a lot more difficult to access health care because of the diagnoses that they have on my file. They have misinterpreted what’s going on.’
Kirsty is a mental health advocate in her late 20s who lives with physical and psychosocial disability.
‘[I have] a lot of chronic health issues and things like global developmental delay and speech issues, and a lot of psychosocial issues,’ Kirsty told the Royal Commission.
She has been an NDIS participant for about three years. Initially it ‘opened up a lot of doors’ and helped her function better.
‘I had all of these supports and all of these things that were really helping me. I was really improving.’
Kirsty had a support worker four days a week to help with housework and personal care, to take her to appointments and help her be ‘able to live independently’.
‘It helped me so much that I actually got promoted … at my work … [helping] people with mental health issues, which is something that I always dreamed of.’
But then Kirsty got a new plan and ‘everything went awry’.
‘All that support that was helping me to get to where I was … got taken away. And I was like, left to try and carry this all on my shoulders.’
The NDIS planner found Kirsty ‘only had a psychosocial disability’ and cut her personal care hours from 15 hours a week to three.
‘Even though I submitted all of the evidence to show that I always had issues with my mobility.’
Her support coordinator left and was not replaced, so Kirsty missed ‘the opportunity to appeal’. She has been dealing with ‘adversarial’ and ‘unskilled’ support workers for several months.
‘I have experienced very extreme neglect and dereliction of duty of care. There were many times that I felt like I was a neglected dog.’
Kirsty said that during this time she has had a ‘decline in health’ and been to hospital several times.
‘I’ve been in severe and persistent pain. I hurt my foot … because I was alone. I haven’t been able to walk since.’
As a result she has ‘not had proper access’ to the bathroom, shower, her balcony or kitchen.
‘And I’ve lost almost all of my independence, and it’s caused me a lot of harm again.’
The NDIA was aware she’d ‘suffered an acute episode’, but was still ‘unable and unwilling to change her support’.
‘It’s all been diagnosed as mental health so it’s very difficult to get that support.’
Now, with the help of an advocate, she is ‘collecting evidence’ for a review of her plan.
Meanwhile, Kirsty feels ‘lucky enough to have a very, very great boss [who] lives in and works in mental health’. His support means she can continue to work.
‘For the last few days it’s all been about, “We want to help you.”’
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.