Lisette
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.
Lisette is in her 50s and has agoraphobia and other mental health issues. She has mobility issues and ‘can’t stand up for too long’. She is on a Disability Support Pension and has lived in the same social housing block for three decades.
‘And at the beginning it was great.’
But for the past few years living conditions have ‘deteriorated dramatically’, and so has Lisette’s psychosocial disability. ‘On the basis of severe neglect that I have encountered,’ she told the Royal Commission.
The housing department knows Lisette has a disability, but stopped helping her with repairs and maintenance at her home. This has left her in a stressful situation trying to deal with it herself.
‘I almost had a nervous breakdown doing all the work. You know, I have an anxiety disorder. I don’t want to be dealing with more anxiety than I have to.’
She has to endure ‘rude staff’ when she calls the department. They just sound ‘annoyed’.
Lisette’s concerns escalated with the arrival of new neighbours.
‘They’re extremely aggressive and belligerent and abusive and it’s just – on the Richter scale of 1 to 10 it’s a 22. The situation has gone so severe that lives have been threatened.’
Lisette is too scared to leave the flat.
‘Basically, I'm housebound. So, I have been forced to endure this distress at an alarming level to the detriment of my mental health and physical health. And housing has done virtually nothing. “Yeah, yeah, we’ll look into this matter,” I've been told repeatedly for two years.’
Even after dozens of incident reports and police involvement, the department has failed to act.
Recently, Lisette took the housing department to a tribunal for ‘neglecting to do their job’. She says the agency has failed on its duty of care by letting her live in a ‘violent, aggressive, hostile’ environment and ignoring her disability.
‘The fact that I have to resort to legal matters, you know … They need to be held accountable.’
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.