Zaida
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.
Zaida is the parent of a child with disability. She told the Royal Commission she wants to see changes to income support for those who care full-time for a person with disability – changes that will ‘make it less stressful for carers’.
Zaida’s husband earns about $50K a year. Zaida told us that on her carer’s pension she gets ‘roughly $240 a fortnight’.
‘When you add all the medical bills, paediatrician appointments, diagnosis costs, medicine, etc, and so much more. It’s beyond a joke the support that you get.’
Zaida suggests increasing the carer’s payment to $1500 a fortnight. She says this is a realistic supplement to giving up full-time income in order to give full-time care to a person with disability.
Zaida would also like to see ‘more … options for kids with special needs before they start education, and when they are at school. There’s not enough special programs and social programs.’
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.