Myla
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.
‘It is difficult to find an appropriate NDIS service provider if you live in a small rural town.’
Myla has a rare form of dwarfism and lives in a remote, rural area. When she transitioned to the NDIS, her provider ‘was based in a small city around 50km away’. The assistance she received initially ‘was sufficient and working reasonably well’ and her case manager was supportive.
However the case manager was soon replaced. She told the Royal Commission, ‘From this point I felt [the provider] was no longer understanding or caring for my specific needs.’
Myla explained she is supported to go shopping in her plan but the support worker ‘appears disinterested and unmotivated’. She just stands there and watches while Myla packs the shopping.
She suspects the reason the workers behave as if Myla is a burden and ‘a lower priority than their other clients’ is because of where she lives. She said it takes a half day out of their schedule to support her to shop because of the travel time. Workers are often late which affects her other appointments.
Myla was also shocked when she discovered a new support worker the provider sent to her home had ‘failed the police check’. This was the explanation the provider gave Myla when the worker didn’t show up the following week. She felt anxious she had ‘let a person into my home under the impression that they were a vetted and safe employee’.
This situation left Myla so fearful she suspended her agreement with the provider. But finding a replacement is difficult because of where she lives. COVID-19 is making ‘finding a provider even more difficult’.
‘I believe the NDIS could be a very good scheme if appropriate services were funded to cover all areas. However, it feels like this is not in place where I live, leaving me with difficulty finding the right provider to meet my needs.’
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.