Tobias
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.
Tobias is a disability support worker and a whistleblower.
When he would start his shift at the group home where he worked, Tobias often noticed bruises on one of the clients.
Tobias told the Royal Commission that when he reported the bruising and his suspicion of abuse to management, they reduced the number of shifts they gave him. The same thing happened to other workers who reported the bruises.
Those suspected of the abuse were given more shifts. They also began to threaten Tobias.
Tobias said that one of the managers had a ‘conflict of interest’ with one of the staff who was suspected of abusing the client. This manager began to make visits to the house when Tobias was on his shift and then began to make false allegations about Tobias.
Meanwhile, in team meetings, the staff who were suspected of abuse would ‘talk about practicing judo on the person in care’ and how they would alter the approved restraints to make it easier to restrain the client.
Tobias provided texts, pictures and audio to the HR department. In addition to Tobias’ evidence, many of the body mapping reports outlined bruising of the client on a weekly basis. But the HR department said there was insufficient evidence to support the claim of abuse.
At a team meeting the public guardian of the client acknowledged that she was aware of the abuse but that the client ‘needs to be put in their place to behave’.
Tobias recorded audio of the public guardian saying this in front of support workers and management, and shared this with the HR department.
He also shared his information and concerns with managers and the regional director of the organisation. There was an internal investigation, but no abuse or neglect was found to have occurred.
Tobias believes he has sufficient evidence to show that the client was being abused by support workers and that management failed to protect people in its care and whistleblowers.
‘Reports of abuse need to be taken more seriously by management and HR,’ Tobias said. ‘It's frustrating that these claims can be ignored and whistleblowers are penalised for reporting concerns.’
‘I would hope that people with a disability have more of a voice so they are able to feel safe in their own homes.’
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.