Stewart
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Stewart is in his 50s and lives with complex cognitive disability, schizoaffective disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and oppositional defiance disorder.
‘I have a history of childhood sexual abuse from different adults,’ Stewart told the Royal Commission. ‘The reason I'm here is to create an awareness of complex cognitive disabilities. The biggest problem for me is the need to be needed. I was in a lot of dependent relationships where people will take advantage of me.’
Stewart said his disability made him ‘a poor decision maker, especially with finances, business and employment’, and the target of con artists.
‘I've done a lot of jobs. I found, because of my low confidence, I've been in a lot of industries that I suppose are what we call “dead end”. I worked in the cleaning industry for many years … I bought a cleaning franchise and got ripped off $20,000 … I seem to be on the up and up, and suddenly that self-destruction kicks in.’
Stewart said he is especially vulnerable when he’s under financial pressure. For example, a few years ago a man approached him to start a cleaning business together.
‘I was totally taken in by him.’
Stewart said the man also claimed to be a member of the mafia and tricked him into paying him hundreds of dollars a week for several years.
‘I was catfished into believing that things happened. And he would introduce me to people who would say they were with the mafia … Then eventually, I met his housemate … who said, “No, he's a conman.”’
Stewart said one time when he was out of work he used a disability employment service. It sent him to low-paying jobs where he was often bullied.
‘I was making certainly less than $20 an hour.’
When he found a better job himself, he said the employment service rang his new employer and got him sacked.
Stewart now receives a Disability Support Pension. He told the Royal Commission he’s ‘probably lost nearly half a million dollars’ to people who’ve taken advantage of him at work.
‘I feel that there really needs to be a lot more done regarding assisting people with [complex cognitive disability] in holding down jobs.’
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.