Zacharie
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.
‘A lot of changes need to be made in this industry because there’s a lot of things that aren’t right.’
Zacharie, early 30s, is autistic. He has Tourette syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disability.
As a teenager, he occasionally stayed in respite accommodation. One weekend, a male staff member sexually assaulted him.
Zacharie didn’t tell anyone.
His mum, Jackie, noticed changes in his behaviour, particularly before and after staying at the respite centre. She thought he was just being naughty.
Sometime later, Zacharie told his mum what happened. He told the Royal Commission his mum helped him report the assaults to police.
‘Nothing much happened,’ Jackie said, ‘because it was too far down the track, after the fact. There was no actual physical evidence. So he didn’t get charged.’
The provider sacked the staff member but he continued to work in the industry.
A few years later, Zacharie moved into supported accommodation. He said most providers and staff are ‘an absolute disgrace’.
For the last few years he has been living by himself in a community residential unit (CRU) attached to a group home.
‘I’ve gone through a lot of harassment and bullying since I’ve been in CRUs. And most has been harassment and bullying by staff members.’
Jackie believes staff target Zacharie because he’s ‘a great advocate for all the other residents who are non-verbal and high needs’.
‘If [he] sees something not right, he’ll report it immediately.’
Not long ago, Zacharie saw a staff member use unnecessary force with one of the residents. He immediately reported it and the staff member was dismissed.
But the harassment and bullying escalated.
‘I’ve had staff that make false allegations against me to try and get me arrested for bullshit,’ Zacharie said.
Jackie said staff antagonise Zacharie ‘to the point where they escalate behaviours of concern’.
‘Then they call the police. They’ve very good at doing that.’
She believes staff are not properly trained and don’t understand how to work with people with complex disability.
‘There’s no consistency … The other house handed over a very large document for his behaviour support plan. I guarantee not one of the staff read it. They didn’t do anything that we suggested that they should do to avoid behaviours and to have a harmonious-type house.’
Jackie is concerned staff are not giving Zacharie his medication.
He is supposed to have 20 hours of community access support, but staff refuse to be proactive and leave him ‘to meander around’.
Recently, staff started spiking his food with chilli. When he complained they stopped making his meals.
After another complaint, they told him he could eat what everyone else is eating – most of the other residents eat soft or pureed food.
Lately, the provider has been trying to get him to move out of the unit and into the house because of a funding cut.
Zacharie doesn’t want to leave his unit and his mum says she ‘will not agree for him to go into those sorts of homes again’.
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.