Rya and Anisa
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.
‘There is nothing worse than being a victim of sexual abuse and not being believed.’
Rya, Anisa’s youngest child, is autistic and mostly non-verbal.
A few years ago Rya, then six, started behaving in an oversexualised manner.
Rya communicated to Anisa that her disability support aide at school was sexually abusing her.
Anisa made a complaint to the school and police. She told the Royal Commission that the school denied the allegations and wouldn’t investigate. Police attempted to interview Rya without any support from Anisa or a disability support person.
Anisa took Rya to a psychologist who worked with her for several months. Rya disclosed graphic details of the abuse and said the disability support aide was also sexually abusing other students.
Despite this, police refused to investigate further.
Anisa said police believed she was manipulating Rya into telling people she was abused.
The department of child protection became involved.
‘Child protection were clearly gunning for me and treating me like I had done something wrong, while at the same time I struggled to rehabilitate my child with zero support … All government-funded agencies fobbed me off, fobbed off her autism.’
The department of child protection told Anisa her story was ‘fantastical’. They accused her of being ‘mentally ill, a drug abuser and a child abuser, with no evidence’.
The department removed Rya from Anisa’s care. Anisa has no visitation rights and can’t see her daughter until she is 18.
‘I spend many waking hours regretting having stood my ground. There have been many times where I just want to die.’
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.