Anglicare took three years to apologise for failing to report the sexual assault of young woman with a disability to police, a royal commission has heard.
After voicing their concerns during an audit last year, Niky* and her family received a written apology from the organisation for the mishandling of the assault, which occurred in 2018.
“It was on paper, but it didn’t feel very genuine,” Niky’s mother told the royal commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability on Thursday.
Niky – who lives with a developmental disability – was sexually assaulted by another person with disability at an Anglicare facility, the commission heard.
Niky told the hearing that after the assault occurred, she was met with disbelief by some of the workers at the facility.
“They were begging to know what happened … it made me feel unsafe,” Niky told the commission
“One [worker] tried to tell me it didn’t happen at all.”
Niky’s mother told the commission that when she and her husband met with staff at the facility in 2018, they were told to contact authorities as the incident was “a police matter”.
Her father later reported the assault to police and the perpetrator was charged with – and later pled guilty to - carnal knowledge of a person with an impairment of the mind, the commission heard.
“There was nothing from anyone who was in charge at the same time or nothing from the overriding organisation,” Niky’s mother told the hearing.
An Anglicare staff member broke into tears after telling the commission that the centre failed to provide counselling for Niky and her family, or report the alleged assault to the authorities.
They told the hearing that the facility’s response directly contravened the organisation’s procedures, which she said she wasn’t aware of at the time, despite them being written in 2015 and reviewed in 2017.
“We acknowledged that what happened to Niky and the impact on her and her family is devastating,” they told the commission.
“We didn’t have the policies and processes in place to support Niky and her family and … I carry that regret.”
The hearing also heard there was only one security camera at the facility and it did not capture the assault.
They said Anglicare would review its procedures and ensure there was “robust education” for staff and clients.
“I have learned that when we do have something happen, we will go and review the policy or the procedure,” they told the commission.
“I just want to offer my sincerest apologies to Niky and her family for not engaging and not supporting them as they required.”
The royal commission continues.
*Name has been changed to protect the individual’s identity
In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
