Thelma
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.
Thelma, late-50s, has a disability and is mother to an adult with disability.
Thelma and her adult child have been looking for work for a number of years. She told the Royal Commission they have registered with several different Disability Employment Services.
None of the services has been able to help her or her child find a job.
Thelma turns up for meetings week after week but there is ‘no clear plan of how to get a person a job’. The consultants never offer any concrete suggestions that would help her find work.
‘There only seemed to be a requirement to turn up for the appointment, no results were required or forthcoming.’
Thelma believes Disability Employment Services are exploiting people with disability.
‘The system is completely flawed in that there seems to be no incentive for those agencies to actually get participants off their books and into work,’ Thelma said.
‘A fee for service structure does not work. People who work in trying to get people into the workforce should be paid for results not appointments.’
Thelma believes Centrelink should be expanded to return to the role of helping people find work.
‘I hope that employers can see the value in having a diversified workforce and give everyone a chance.’
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.