Mikey and Ander
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.
Mikey is in his 30s. He has an intellectual disability and is autistic. He has been working most of his adult life and he lives by himself. Ander, his dad, told the Royal Commission that Mikey’s employer is financially exploiting him under the Supported Wage System (SWS) – a ‘slave system’ that is jeopardising his ability to live independently.
Mikey began working in a local store around 15 years ago. For the first 10 years or so he was doing ‘the same or similar job as any other able-bodied co-worker without any extra support or supervision’. He worked for full pay.
About five years ago, the business embarked on a restructure. The employer told Mikey they had to reduce his hours and, to keep him employed at all, would have to move him onto a government-supported program, the SWS. The employer said this new program would provide Mikey with training and the opportunity to learn new skills.
‘They advised me at that meeting that if you get on this system – the SWS – the government will pay for his wages,’ Ander said. ‘They will actually pay for his wages, for lost wages and whatever, and their retraining and support. So it was a win-win we thought.’
Ander explained that under the SWS, employers pay their employees according to a yearly assessment of their productivity. ‘The whole assessment process is proven to be unfair and biased, lacking transparency,’ he said.
In Mikey’s first assessment, his productivity was deemed to be low.
‘It wasn't because he was a bad employee … [he worked] full pay, full-time. Never had one problem with his work performance, only that they want to save money, that's all. It's just a cost-cutting exercise.’
Immediately Mikey’s wage decreased by almost half. His Disability Support Pension did not make up for this loss in wages.
Furthermore, within a few weeks of commencing in the system, the employer pressured Mikey to take his long service leave – but they would only pay it at the new ‘below the poverty line wage’.
Ander believes employers and disability employment service providers both make ‘a huge financial gain’ by ‘coercing’ employees with disability ‘into the system and keeping them on the system’.
‘This employment service was not working to improve [Mikey]'s skillset or productivity and it’s more focused on supporting the employer to continue offering a wage which is grossly under the award.’
Ander says that since Mikey has been on the SWS, he can barely cope financially.
‘He couldn't afford it and nearly had to come home, so we've been supporting him with meals and stuff, and using his savings to keep him independent, living by himself, to have a quality of life and be a valuable member of the community.’
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.