Quenton and Wallace
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.
Quenton, now in his 20s, was born with a chromosomal deletion syndrome, which caused severe intellectual and physical disabilities.
After Quenton’s mother died his father, Wallace, struggled. He ended up putting Quenton into voluntary placement care.
‘A voluntary placement does not have any court orders. It is used to provide support for a family to ensure that, in this instance, [Quenton] is receiving good supports,’ said Wallace.
Wallace remained in constant contact during the decade in which Quenton was in care. He always intended to reunite with his son.
When Quenton transferred to the NDIS about five years ago, his former service provider ended the voluntary placement agreement. The NDIS appointed a new service provider to find a new voluntary support worker.
That’s when the financial abuse started, Wallace told the Royal Commission.
‘The commencement of NDIS has allowed for the abuse of my son, by his carer, to go ahead with no responsibility taken by [the state health department] or NDIS.’
The flow of information to Wallace stopped.
‘The carer was abusing the power of plan nominee to prevent family inclusion and to prevent Quenton’s doctor providing current medical information to myself as Quenton’s father.’
Wallace said the new voluntary support worker kept all Quenton’s pension, but failed to use it all for Quenton’s benefit.
‘The management of the placement for my son went unmonitored and when I thought I was following process to have my son returned to my care, I was denied access and information.’
Wallace successfully applied for guardianship of his son. The day he took him out of the voluntary support worker’s home, Wallace said they kept some of Quenton’s property, claiming it as their own.
‘[The] past 2 years’ events … have resulted in a struggle which caused trauma to our family and placed my son at risk,’ said Wallace.
He said safeguards for voluntary placement no longer seemed to exist after the introduction of the NDIS.
‘I am now able to advocate for my son, but my concern for others is very real.’
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.