North, Keegan and Tilly
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.
Tilly is a support worker in several group homes. She is concerned about two of her clients – North and Keegan – who she believes are being financially abused by their families.
North’s debit card is kept by a member of his family. Tilly says this person makes ‘regular transactions including food, alcohol and personal items for themselves’. North has no access to his own money and isn’t aware of the transactions made be the family member. Tilly is concerned because this ‘appears to be happening for a very long time’.
In Keegan’s case, Tilly told the Royal Commission, ‘the family member had spent board and lodging costs [required] to pay the organisation’. This ‘resulted in considerable debt’ which Keegan ‘has to slowly pay back to the organisation’. Tilly suspects the organisation is not telling Keegan ‘the full extent of the financial abuse’ because it wants to ‘try and maintain the connection with family’.
Tilly has spoken with the organisation about her concerns a number of times, but it has not reported the matter to the bank or any other authority. Management told her they are ‘trying to work directly with the family to resolve the issues’ and ‘reporting is the last resort for them’.
This ‘sits uncomfortably’ with Tilly. She believes people with disability ‘should have full access and participation to decision-making pertaining to their finances’.
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.