Minister Mary Wooldridge - Missing in Action

The destruction of a family.

24 November 2014

This is our beautiful son, James.

What is wrong with him you may ask? Nothing - unless the Department of Human Services can be
classified as a disease.
Our son has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Despite our attempts to protect him throughout his life, the
authorities we entrusted with his care have caused him trauma throughout his life. From being locked
in an empty courtyard at Bulleen Heights School, to being shackled in a hospital, James has rarely
had the benefit of the expertise our health system, disability system and school system claim.
In September 2013, from sheer exhaustion due to the lack of support from DHS, we asked DHS to
accommodate James. At the end of August 2014, still without permanent accommodation, DHS told
us that at the end of the week the house he was staying at would close and he would be transferred
to a house that we had already deemed unsuitable. When we objected, DHS gave us three days
notice that they would be bringing James home. Three days notice of a major life change for a person
with severe Autism. Three days notice for parents who both worked and had to prepare a house.
Did DHS support the transfer? DHS immediately applied for guardianship of James. The reason?
Had there ever been any criticisms of the level of care provided by us? No. DHS simply reacted like
children, because we disagreed with their decision. Realising they had made a mistake, they withdrew
the guardianship order, and instead simply withheld, once more, the support James and we needed in
order for him to have a successful placement.
Another parent had already rejected the same house as being unsuitable for their daughter, and DHS
had also applied for a guardianship order over their child. This seems to simply be a standard
response of victimisation against parents who don't disagree with their decisions.
James support was completely inadequate. We warned DHS in writing repeatedly that James was
self injuring, so destabilised due to the different staff members sent in that he was becoming more
distressed as time went on. We warned DHS again and again, in writing, that the placement would
break down if they failed to support James adequately.
After having to give up employment to stay at home, reducing our income, increase our expenses in
order to supervise carers adequately, and after being brought to depths of exhaustion and despair we
could not imagine, we gave up, as did James.

James was returned to DHS "care" for respite, and within a short time found himself handcuffed and
in hospital. This is where he continues to be.
The DHS response? While our family was being brought to their knees, DHS staff from Northern
Division, Preston simply sat back, ignored our e-mails of distress and waited for the placement to fail.
The psychological and physical injuries sustained by all members of the family were and are, of no
interest to them.
We keep a vigil over James in hospital to try and lessen his distress. DHS refuse to fund his care.
James will be 21 years old on Wednesday.
Bronwyn and Allan Pascoe
****************
In September 2014, it was reported that DHS refused to release data revealing the number of sexual
and physical assault incident reports that have been filed in Victoria's disability care system during the
past four years.
Families with members who have disabilities and who choose to live together, have the same rights
as other families to do so. Given the abuse in state care presided over by DHS and their funded
contractors, it is important that families who want to protect their members from such abuse are
supported to do so.
It is clear that under Minister Wooldridge, DHS has no accountability whatsoever, and the secrecy
surrounding deaths and abuse in state-run homes cannot be defended.
Minister Wooldridge does not deserve to have our trust, or the responsibility for the care of our most
marginalised members of the community. Think about this when you vote.

If you want to see James Pascoe spend his 21st birthday at home with his family, rather than lying in
a hospital bed, please help us. Send an e-mail to those responsible. Tell them to get James out,
return him home and support him. We know this may take some of your time, but as a community we
are one, and if we want change, we must support each other and act together. Thank you.
Louise Ennis, Key Worker DHS Louise.Ennis@dhs.vic.gov.au
Minister Mary Wooldridge minister.wooldridge@dhs.vic.gov.