'My son's care costs $2m, and it's still not enough'

“Providers can charge up to $150 an hour yet pay under qualified people far less than that to provide inappropriate, dangerous, harmful, neglectful care."

Joel Erickson

3 min read

June 6, 2024 - 10:22AM

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A severely disabled Adelaide teenager has been the subject of 500 ‘critical incidents’ in less than two years, including five near-death experiences.

These shocking numbers come despite taxpayers forking out $2m a year for the intellectually disabled boy’s care.

The Herald Sun reports one emergency saw the 15-year-old boy steal the keys of his carers’ car and drive it for an hour before smashing into the side of a building.

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Other emergencies include a near-miss electrocution, attempting to swallow glass, and running onto a busy freeway.

Taxpayers are forking out $2m a year to look after the boy, but his care is failing him catastrophically.

"Providers can charge up to $150 an hour for inappropriate care"

The boy’s distressed mother told The Herald Sun his lacklustre care - despite the enormous bills charged by agencies - shows how broken the NDIS system is.

Two taxpayer-funded carers are responsible for the boy, who has a chromosomal deletion disorder, low IQ, autism, ADHD, intermittent explosive disorder, and a gross motor delay.

The Herald Sun reports the boy is one of just a handful of Aussie kids who is cared for in his own hardened house rather than the family home due to a complex disability.

His $2m annual bill is made up of a $1.2m NDIS package and $800,000 in funding from the South Australian government for housing, utilities, food, hardening, health, mental health, emergency services, and school support.

Despite the hefty bill, his mum claims there are still routine failures from providers with “absolutely no ramifications”

“Providers can charge up to $150 an hour yet pay under qualified people far less than that to provide inappropriate, dangerous, harmful, neglectful care that is a denial of basic human rights,” she said.

The boy and his mum, who is fighting for him to have some semblance of a normal life. Picture: Herald Sun

"They failed to report 19 critical incidents of neglect"

Since August 2022, the boy has been subject to more than 500 critical incidents, where emergency services or doctors are required.

From December 2023 to March this year, he was involved in more than 100 critical incidents.

One alleged incident saw his carers drop him off at a skate park while he hung around with a group of youths who were allegedly drinking alcohol and smoking.

On another occasion, the boy was out alone and missing until 1am in the morning.

“The carers failed to report 19 critical incidents of neglect within the first six weeks caring for him,” the boy’s mum said.

The teen’s distraught mother says the neglect her son has been subjected to highlights how broken the NDIS system is. Picture: Herald Sun

"I was so worried he was going to kill someone"

The incident with the car took place in February, and happened during peak hour traffic.

“It was terrifying, and could have resulted in members of the public losing their lives,” the boy’s mum told The Herald Sun.

“They allege they didn’t see him get the keys. I was so worried he was going to kill someone or himself.”

The boy is one of an estimated 600 children across the country in voluntary out-of-home care, but authorities in many states have repeatedly raised their concerns over the dangerously low quality of said care.

“They are paid for a high-intensity service, and they bill at a high-intensity level, but there are no checks and balances, and no one checking that this is what is being provided,” the boy’s mum said.

“Now it’s left up to the police, the fire brigade and ambulances, and he ends up in hospital because there’s no one else.”

The boy was able to obtain the keys to a vehicle and drive around for an hour on busy streets, at 5pm in weekday peak-hour traffic. Picture: Herald Sun

An NDIS spokesman said the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) was “committed to working with state government systems to make sure participants like (the boy) are safe and supported”.

“Children and young people with complex needs and behaviours of concern, as well as their families and carers, rely on a support network across federal and state government systems that meets their needs,” they said.