Kole
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 cannot remember a time in my life that I have not experienced some level of abuse, neglect or violence.’
Kole is in his late 30s. He told the Royal Commission that when he was a child his father verbally and physically abused him daily for ‘the smallest of things’. Born with a cognitive disability, Kole said he acquired short-term memory loss, a vision impairment, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his father’s abuse.
At school, teachers ridiculed Kole for answering questions incorrectly or being ‘too slow’ to answer. They ignored his ‘pleas for help’ and ‘turned a blind eye’ when students verbally and physically abused him. He went to school ‘fearful and apprehensive’ about what might happen to him that day.
Kole felt like ‘a second-class citizen’ at school and never properly learnt to read or write. He said he’s too frightened to trust someone to teach him these skills now.
Neighbours have abused and belittled Kole. One neighbour regularly swore at him, calling him ‘bludger’ and ‘loser’. Whenever he reported the abuse to property managers over the years they ignored him or told him, ‘he was the problem’.
A support worker recently ‘rough handled and assaulted’ Kole. He reported the abuse to the support coordinator but Kole said they did not take his complaint seriously. The coordinator gave him a new TV and told him to ‘forget about it’.
Centrelink has accused Kole of misreporting his living arrangements. They told him they had a letter signed by him proving he was living with another person. As Kole can’t read or write he said he couldn’t have done this. He was forced to repay a debt that was ‘not his to pay’ and he feels his reputation has been badly damaged.
Government could lead the way in changing the way people view and treat people with disability, Kole said, by increasing the amount of the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
Living on the DSP is akin to living on the 'poverty line’. ‘I cannot afford many of the things that others regard basic … like eating a steak … not to mention having enough to visit friends or take part in the community.’
Kole has no savings and struggles in emergencies. He cannot afford to go to the major retail stores and was unable to buy shoes when thrift shops closed during COVID-19. ‘Where I am meant to go?’
Kole contacted his local member of parliament to raise his concern about the DSP and the cost of living. He expected ‘a listening ear and maybe even compassion’ but was told to budget better.
‘All I am asking for is to be given "a fair go". The NDIS is good step towards achieving this but the daily struggle trying to live on a pension that is not linked to a standard of living enjoyed by most Australians is a major barrier to a fulfilling and productive life.’
Kole feels government policies contribute to people with disability feeling devalued, rejected and isolated. Government could choose to ‘make things right’ for them.
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.