Nina and Saffron
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.
‘The things that I have seen happen to my daughter have been atrocious.’
Saffron’s 27-year-old daughter, Nina, is autistic, has intellectual disability and is non-verbal.
A few years ago, Nina went to live in her first group home.
Saffron, an experienced support worker, thought she knew what to expect but was shocked by the things she saw.
In one home, Nina lived with a person who would ‘get a razorblade and slice themselves or try and strangle themselves’. Saffron told the Royal Commission that Nina, who had already experienced ‘so much trauma’, couldn’t process this behaviour.
‘If you place someone in the house that self-harms, you have someone with autism that has not witnessed that type of behaviour before, you’re causing possible trauma to those clients.’
Saffron removed Nina from the home.
At another home, Saffron arrived one day and there was ‘this awful, putrid smell … like a dead animal’. She tried to work out what it was and, as she moved closer to Nina, she realised it was Nina.
‘Her private area was just matted in just horrible faecal matter and whatever else, and I had to cut that away. The doctor said she could have died.’
Saffron removed Nina and reported the provider.
Over the years, support workers have locked Nina in a car on a hot day by herself, overmedicated her and incorrectly medicated her. Support workers have used illegal drugs and dealt drugs while working.
One time, instead of giving Nina her asthma medication, staff put bowls of boiling water in her room to create steam and locked the door.
At Nina’s last home she was ‘showing signs of being in fear’. Saffron spoke to staff who fobbed her off and told her Nina ‘was happy’.
Nina’s distress increased, and Saffron asked to see recent incident reports.
‘The first thing I read was, “[Nina] was strangled to the point of turning blue. Staff had to remove the other client off her by hurting the other client. No medical intervention given to [Nina].” Another incident through the same provider, [Nina] was king hit to the back of the head by the client. A 10-centimetre haematoma was noted, no medical intervention given.’
Saffron reported the provider to police and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, to no avail.
Saffron said staff don’t report incidents ‘to the higher-ups’ because there is no accountability and they fear repercussions. As a support worker who has reported incidents herself, she has lost work or ‘had to resign because of bullying’.
‘I was locked in a room and threatened, due to the fact that what I’d seen I reported. I then took it further … and I was told to shut my mouth and not say anything or I wouldn’t have employment anymore.’
Since bringing Nina home, the NDIA has been trying to reduce her package by $100,000. ‘They said because I’m mum, I can do [the work].’
‘I want to try and get [Nina] into her own home so she can have that independence and it goes back to being mum and daughter, not daughter and a carer again.’
Saffron refuses to send Nina to another group home and has been trying to find a private rental for her. ‘But we are being knocked back and I believe it’s because of her disability,’ she said.
‘I’ve offered above market rent. So, a place that was worth $300 I offered up to $380 and they still refused her. And their response is, “We do not legally have to tell you why we are refusing you.” So, I can’t get a place for [Nina] at the moment.’
Saffron said it is difficult to keep being knocked back.
‘It’s putting a strain on my marriage because, [Nina]’s behaviours can be quite full-on. She does not sleep, so she’s awake throughout the night. [She]’s got a lot of trauma.’
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.