Roslyn
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.
Roslyn is in her 30s and is autistic. She told the Royal Commission she was diagnosed in high school and was ‘doing very well’ until she was admitted to a hospital mental health unit.
‘The people put an estate guardianship and trustee order on me … I don't know who asked for the trustee and guardianship order.’
Roslyn was then moved into a group home.
‘I didn't want to live in a group home. I couldn't have my cat in the group home and my cat was my best friend for a long time, because I didn't have many friends in school. So, that didn't help.’
The group home provided little support to Roslyn.
‘They didn't understand me, and I went to hospital a lot and even ended up in jail, and that was scary because I didn't know why I was in jail for a week.’
Roslyn was told she’d assaulted someone, but has no memory of the arrest. She was given no advocate in jail. At that time, the public trustee and public guardian were making decisions for her.
‘One time, I remember I wanted to go to the dentist … and the trustee said yes, but the public guardian said no, I couldn't go to the dentist.’
Another time, when doctors tried to discharge Roslyn from a mental health unit, the public guardian wouldn’t let them.
‘The public guardian said that I had to stay in the mental health unit longer, and I don't know why I had to stay there longer, but the doctor said I was allowed to go home … Then the doctors wouldn't let me go home after that.’
Roslyn said when her father became guardian, he took her out of the group home ‘because he didn't like one of the support workers in the house’.
‘I moved back with my mum and dad and they started putting rules on me … like I can watch TV only for an hour … I can only see Christian people, Christian counsellors, and I didn't use a behavioural management therapist because there wasn’t a Christian one.’
Roslyn said she ‘got sick of the rules’ and moved out of her parent’s home. Her sister is now her guardian.
‘That was a better decision. My sister's done really great with all the handing over and everything. So, it's been really good.’
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.