Naomi
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.
Naomi has a range of disabilities, including cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. In her submission she told us she has lived in a variety of supported accommodation settings where she was bullied and psychologically abused.
One of the places she lived in was a hostel that accommodated about 50 people. Naomi told us she was bullied and socially isolated – staff would tell everyone to stay away from her. Naomi would be ‘told off’ and sent to her room for things that she couldn’t help – things that were part of her disability. Staff would repeatedly threaten Naomi, saying, ‘we will call your family’, when they knew Naomi didn’t want her family involved because of ‘what [she] grew up with’.
Naomi told us that the residents were warned if they reported anything going on at the hostel they would be evicted, so no-one did. Eventually she did speak up – and, just as they had warned, they evicted her.
Naomi became homeless, couch surfing and staying in hostels. It took six months to find appropriate accommodation. As a result of being homeless, she ended up in abusive situations that affected her physical and mental health.
Naomi is moving to supported disability accommodation, and she’s optimistic about the new living arrangements she is moving to. She hopes this set-up will give her ‘more choice and control’ and she’ll be treated with ‘dignity and respect’.
Naomi reflects on her experiences: ‘Nobody should have gone through what I went through.’ She has a lot of ideas about how things can get better. She believes organisations and individuals should be held to account when they have done something wrong. There should be faster timelines for NDIS funding − especially when a person is about to become homeless. Also, staff should receive better training on different types of disability.
Naomi also told us she thinks people with disability should have more affordable accommodation choices. ‘People with severe disabilities,’ said Naomi, ‘should still have a choice of where they would like to live.’
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.