Disability Royal Commission: Physical abuse, ‘failures’ in Lismore

The boss of a care organisation has told a Disability Royal Commission “the sexual misconduct by a staff member is completely unacceptable, and I acknowledge the pain and trauma”.

Ronald Sackville, chair of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

The CEO of an organisation that managed an East Lismore group home where significant issues arose has apologised on behalf of the service provider.

Life Without Barriers CEO Claire Robbs addressed the Disability Royal Commission on Tuesday.

Ms Robbs addressed issues including those which arose in relation to a particular resident of the group home, referred to by the pseudonym Sophie and another, known as Natalie.

“It deeply saddens me that for the people who have shared their stories with the disability Royal Commission, our organisation has not met this promise,” Ms Robbs said.

“The physical abuse Sophie experienced is unquestionably not in keeping with Sophie’s right to feel safe and respected in her own home.”

“I do not condone the violence towards Sophie, and I offer Sophie and her family our sincere apology for the harm caused to her, including for the manner in which our investigations into the matter was undertaken.”

She has condemned the misconduct toward another resident, known as Natalie.

“For Natalie and her family, the sexual misconduct by a staff member is completely unacceptable, and I acknowledge the pain and trauma that has caused Natalie and her family,” Ms Robbs said.

“Our priority should have been to protect Natalie earlier.

“I offer this apology to both Natalie and her family with a full understanding that our delay in offering a genuine and human response was also unacceptable.”

Ms Robbs is continuing to give evidence before the commission in relation to multiple abuse, mistreatment and neglect allegations relating to homes run by Life Without Barriers.

The organisation’s director of policy reform and business development, Stephen Doley, appeared before the commission on Monday.

Mr Doley was the director of disability and aged care for NSW and the ACT at the time of the incidents in Lismore but was also questioned about the cases of residents in a Melbourne home.

In relation to Sophie, Mr Doley told the commission there were “a number of things that ... needed to be done better”.

He said there were “some complexities at play” in that Sophie wanted to explore her sexuality, intimacy and relationships.

He told the commission her desire to have a boyfriend visit at the house should have been addressed and allowed.

Regarding Natalie, Mr Doley acknowledged there were disclosures to Life Without Barriers staff between 2012 and 2014 which “they should have acted on immediately”.

The commission heard court proceedings and a sexual misconduct finding came after a further disclosure in 2015.

Mr Doley acknowledged there was also a failure regarding Natalie’s finances and receipts and providing reassurance to her family in relation to those.

“The family’s expectation was clearly that communication should have been better,” Mr Doley said.

When asked by counsel assisting the commission about the possible reasons for those failures and deficiencies, Mr Doley said he had identified a number of changes that were necessary.

“It’s very much my view we need to be listening to people with a disability and led by people with a disability,” he said.