Whistleblower raises horrific abuse claims at NDIS Ipswich care home

‘Someone needs to be their voice’: In shock claims a disability support worker alleges their past employer physically, mentally, and financially abused clients at an Ipswich NDIS support home. SEE THE VIDEO

A disability support worker has spoken out with explosive allegations of abuse at an Ipswich care provider and claims more must to be done to protect the community’s most vulnerable.

The woman, who wishes to stay anonymous, said while working for Palmville Group Homes she witnessed physical, mental, and financial abuse.

Palmville Group Homes operates three National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) support facilities for residents with mental illness, alcohol related dementia, brain injury, intellectual impairment, and the homelessness.

Palmville Group Homes recently faced Ipswich Court and pleaded guilty to conducting a residential service at an unregistered premises between 23 July 2018 and 22 February 2021.

The company was fined $19,500.

The court heard the charge came to light after an investigation in January 2021, which followed alleged complaints from a resident who did not have access to their own money, a phone, or adequate food.

The woman claims the allegations heard in court only scratched the surface of what allegedly occurred at the facility.

On one occasion said claims to have witnessed an assault on an intellectually impaired man with schizophrenia because he had eaten outside of scheduled feeding times.

“The man’s neck was grammed and he was rammed him into a box of cameras and yelled, ’see this?! This is here for you because you do nothing but steal from us and I’m sick of it!

On another occasion she claims to have heard threats to the same man about him being sexually assaulted.

”If you keep misbehaving I’m going to take you back to the park and they are going to rape you at that tree again’,”.

“It breaks my heart just talking about it,” she said.

“They’re vulnerable, they don’t have anyone else to speak for them, or family to check in and see if they’re okay.

“We as support workers are their voices and if it was me and my family I would hope that someone would do the same.”

She said she first had a gut feeling that something was off when she was allegedly directed by another staff member to yell and physically handle the residents if they weren’t listening to directions.

“I hated leaving… still to this day I worry about those guys,” she said.

“When (one resident) first started showing me the bruises or marks on his arm I was gobsmacked.”

The disability care worker made complaints to the NDIS Commission, and claims she heard nothing back.

However, the NDIS Commission confirmed with The Queensland Times that they were aware of “matters raised”.

NDIS providers are required to comply with a code of conduct, which includes providing support and services in a safe and competent manner, and registered providers undergo compliance checks.

A NDIS Commission spokesperson said the, “NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission takes all complaints it is made aware of seriously”.

“The NDIS Commission works with both the participant and their family, carers or advocates and the provider to address the issues raised,” the spokesperson said.

“The NDIS Commission is also making further inquiries in light of the (recent) court proceedings.”

The Queensland Times asked the NDIS Commission what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of Palmville Group Home residents.

“To respect individuals and their privacy the NDIS Commission does not comment on individual complaints,” the spokesperson said.

A family who had a relative who spent their last months at a Palmville Group Home said they were shocked, appalled and traumatised by their experience and have made a number of complaints to the NDIS and were told an investigation found nothing untoward had taken place

The man’s daughter, who wishes to remain anonymous, said her terminally ill father claims he was left without his morphine for up to eight hours at a time.

“It was the worst time of my life, dad was the most caring person, he was genuinely amazing and he didn’t deserve to live like that,” she said.

The woman said she started noticing mould in the bed, residents not having access to their money, a phone or airconditioning in 40 degree heat.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” she said.

“We tried to get dad out but he didn’t want to rock the boat or burden anyone, he was the most humble man.”

The ex-wife of another terminally ill resident said she visited often and had the impression residents were living in fear.

“(The residents) don’t really know any better, a lot of them don’t have family and think it’s for the best, but deep down we all know they’re being treated like an animal,” she said.

Palmville Group Homes was contacted for comment and have not responded to the allegations.

The above allegations are in relation to the care at the North Ipswich facility at Edith Drive which was bought by Palmville Group Homes in 2018 and ran unregistered until February 2022.