By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
JANINE Greening wants to ensure some of the most vulnerable in Australia’s society never get forgotten.
Founder of the Forget me Not Foundation and a Casey resident, Ms Greening has been an advocate for victims of crime since 2005 – and she is the reason behind the Casey Council’s push for a Royal Commission to investigate the abuse and neglect of people in disability care.
Councillor Amanda Stapledon, whose son Pete is looked after in disability care, seconded Ms Greening’s request in council, and The City of Casey will write to the Prime Minister and state premiers to seek their support for a Royal Commission.
“There needs to be stronger legal protections for people with a disability, mandatory reporting and zero tolerance,” Cr Stapledon said.
Ms Greening is known for speaking out after her mother was brutally raped and murdered in front of her disabled brother in 2000, and is passionate about giving a voice to victims of crime.
In light of a recent parliamentary inquiry into abuse in disability services, which made 49 recommendations for reform, Ms Greening said: “It’s the first time I’ve tried for a Royal Commission, but it is the right time.
“We need to get it right because we’ve had so many inquiries into abuse in disability care and so many recommendations – it’s a waste of time, because nothing gets done,” she said.
The inquiry found abuse in disability services is widespread in Victoria.
The Family and Community Development Committee heard abuse took many forms, including neglect, physical and sexual assault and financial, verbal and emotional abuse.
The committee heard physical violence towards people with a disability was normalised.
It’s something Ms Greening has felt first-hand.
Her brother, Peter, 62, who has been in care since their mother was murdered, has been assaulted in care.
“I nearly lost Peter twice because of carers’ incompetence around medications,” Ms Greening said.
“The United Nations has human rights for disabilities – why are we allowed to have people being treated like this?”
Cr Stapledon mirrored Ms Greening’s sentiments.
“From a personal point of view I’ve had numerous friends whose children with a disability have suffered neglect, abuse and death of their children while in disability facilities and care.
“I placed my son into respite on one occasion and they told me they couldn’t have him anymore.
“One carer told me that feeding my son was like trying to feed a rattlesnake, that’s how little regard this person had for my son,” Cr Stapledon said.
“In one instance one of my friends also from the Casey area had their son in care and when she visited him she saw he had severe bite marks all over his body that had gone unreported and the response when she reported it wasn’t what it should be.”
Ms Greening said an overarching, collective response such as a Royal Commission would be able to deliver a system that could be rolled out across Australia.
“While these inquiries go on there are more unexplained deaths, more people are being abused and neglected in care,” she said.
Holding back tears, Ms Greening said: “My mother before she died asked me to never forget my brother.
“We have to make sure it’s a safe environment for people with a disability to be in – we owe it to them, to the ones that have suffered and the ones it’s happening to now, we owe it to them.”
