Rosario
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.
‘These people have to change. People have to be brave enough – when someone calls out, “I need help, I am being bullied” – to do something about it. What I found is that people are scared of losing their jobs.’
Rosario, early 60s, lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
About 10 years ago, she worked for the Australian government dealing with confronting and extreme situations in overseas countries. When she returned to Australia, she was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of her work.
Her employer provided psychological support, but it was ‘useless’, Rosario told the Royal Commission. She experienced a complete breakdown a short while later.
‘I was crashing and I didn’t realise it. I crashed.’
After she recovered, Rosario returned to work. But her employer and colleagues ‘ignored her’ and ‘walked on eggshells’ around her as if she was ‘a danger’. ‘They moved me from room to room, from team to team … It was horrible.’
Then out of the blue, Rosario’s employer ‘ambushed’ her, accusing her of privacy breaches. Her employer gave her 20 minutes to formally respond to the accusations. ‘They put me in a fight or flight mode.’
Rosario believes it was an intimidation tactic to traumatise her further, and an excuse to take her security pass and work computer from her.
While the employer investigated the accusations against Rosario, her colleagues and supervisors bullied her. ‘[They] were openly demeaning and degrading to me … treated me like I was a piece of dirt.’
Rosario believes her employer used her PTSD against her to make it seem like she was of ‘unsound mind’.
Rosario was eventually charged, ‘frogmarched out’ and formally dismissed. The charges, however, were later dropped.
Rosario lodged a fair work claim against her employer for unfair dismissal. ‘I didn’t have money for a lawyer. I couldn’t get advice.’ She ended up representing herself. Two barristers and several solicitors represented her employer.
‘They offered me a pittance with a gag order,’ Rosario said. She felt she ‘couldn’t compete’.
‘I dropped the case for health reasons. I needed to make a stand and put it behind me. Now, I want to find a job and get on with my life.’
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.