Teena, Polly and Helene
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.
Teena is in her 20s and lives with an acquired brain injury, depression and chronic pain. She has two children – Polly, a toddler, and Helene, who’s in primary school.
Teena told the Royal Commission that, when she was a teenager, her boyfriend’s family forced her to marry him. She said she was made to clean for the family and look after their other children.
‘Looked after two lots of kids, basically. And my ex was like a kid, so all my life I’ve been raising kids.’
Teena’s ex has an intellectual disability and is violent.
‘He’s got anger management. He’s got anger management really bad. I still can’t sleep because of him. And all the trauma I’m still going through.’
She said Helene is also scared of him, and can’t sleep.
‘He used to drug me and my daughter.’
Teena moved away from her former husband and his family several years ago and into a refuge. Recently, she moved into her own house with assistance from NDIS support workers.
‘I’ve got the oldest [daughter] living with me permanently. I just want my youngest one to live with me permanently.’
Child protection officers removed her youngest daughter, Polly, a week after she was born and placed her with a member of her former husband’s family.
‘Child protection still won’t let me have my kids here, my youngest, and I hate it. Because I’ve done nothing wrong.’
Teena sees Polly several times a week, but only if there’s an NDIS support worker with her. Sometimes support workers aren’t available, which means Teena can’t see her daughter.
‘That worker quits and it’s another worker, and then we go back to square one again. And all the other workers are saying I’m doing everything fine, and next minute I get told that, behind my back, it’s different.’
Teena wants Polly and Helene with her all the time.
‘My main concern is my kids. That’s what they keep telling me. But they want to take my kids away.’
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.