Maddison and Karen
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.
Maddison is in her 20s and has cognitive disability and autism. She is living in supported accommodation in a regional area.
Maddison’s mother, Karen, told the Royal Commission she recently discovered that two support workers physically assaulted and emotionally abused her daughter.
Karen said the support workers bruised Maddison’s arm, legs and foot and caused ‘bleeding to her nose’.
In one incident, a staff member grabbed her under the arm, lifted her off the couch, and put her in her room, closing a door on her hand. On another occasion a different staff member stood on her foot and put her in a room with loud music.
‘These are only the ones we know about,’ said Karen. ‘Her injuries were severe enough to warrant police investigation on each occasion.’
Karen said she first learnt of the abuse when the house manager was replaced.
‘I got informed about the abuse by phone with the mention of the manager that the assaults had been occurring for a while … As there was “no evidence”, they let it go on for a few months. [Maddison] lived in fear every time this person was allocated to her care, most of the time at night.’
Karen said she asked for copies of the incident reports, but another carer told her that ‘crucial incident reports have been destroyed’.
‘Poorly trained staff, quick staff turnover, bullying from the top down contributed to the abuse.’
Karen said the police investigated, but suspended the investigation because they ‘could not get a consistent statement’ from Maddison about when the incidents happened.
‘This is despite her telling a consistent story about the assaults to four different people. The nature of police investigation procedures are not appropriate for people with an intellectual disability.’
The care provider also investigated, but Karen said she wasn’t told the outcome for the staff involved ‘due to confidentiality for the staff members’.
Maddison now self-harms and ‘is anxious around men in her care environment.’ Karen said she is looking for new accommodation for her, ‘staffed with people who are appropriately trained in doing their job’.
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.