‘I WON’T BE ABLE TO GET MY GROCERIES, I WON’T BE ABLE TO SEE MY PARENTS’
THE collapse of FSG Australia is affecting some of society’s most vulnerable people.
While they can apply for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), they have no idea of how long it will take to be accepted and, if successful, how long it will take to actually receive funding.
Long-time client Michael Jenner claimed he has been attempting to lift the lid on FSG for years after experiencing poor management first hand.
His ailments are both physical and mental.
“I’m a client of the mental health section, which was formerly Envision,” he said.
“I have type two bipolar, complex PTSD, Crohn’s disease and chronic back pain.
“The PTSD is linked to a lifetime of abuse, especially as a child.”
FSG promotes personal support, meaning clients within their disability, mental health, aged care, family and children’s services can expect individualised programs specific to their needs.
Mr Jenner said not only were his requests for personalised care ignored, FSG’s failure to take them into consideration was detrimental to his health.
“We’re meant to get individual support and they send a form every year asking for our preferences,” he said.
“I always put down that I need female carers because the abuse I suffered was by males.
“It affects my PTSD being around males and especially males who have power over me.
“But they kept sending males, one in particular who one day publicly humiliated me and abused me not even 10 minutes after visiting my niece’s grave.
“I put in a complaint, days later because I was so shaken up, and (was told) he’d be fired but this was many years ago and he’s still with the company.”
Mr Jenner fully acknowledges many FSG clients have had extremely positive interactions with their long-term carers, and even substandard care is better than no care at all.
“With the nature of my illness it comes in fits and bursts and when I get knocked down I’m stuck in a depressive funk for six months at a time,” he said.
“I’ve been to the NDIS and applied for a funding package through them but who knows how long that will take? I don’t.
“I won’t be able to get my groceries. I won’t be able to see my parents.
“I have no idea how bad I’ll get.”