Yooralla under pressure at Disability Royal Commission – ABC’s PM radio program
By Julia Holman on PM, Reported by Rachel Mealey
Today the institution at the centre of sexual abuse allegations fronted the Disability Royal Commission. Yooralla is Victoria’s oldest and largest disability provider, receiving millions in state and federal funding.
But in 2012 it was revealed a staff member who had been accused of grossly inappropriate behaviour was allowed to continue working there, and residents and their families were never told.
That staff member was later jailed for 18 years for rape and sexual assault of four of the vulnerable people in Yooralla’s care.
More Information
Featured:
Dr Sherene Devanesen, CEO of Yooralla
Kate Eastman, Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission
Ron Sackville, Chair of the Royal Commission
Transcript:
RACHEL MEALEY: The institution at the centre of sexual abuse allegations has fronted the Disability Royal Commission.
Yooralla is Victoria’s oldest and largest disability provider, receiving millions of dollars in state and federal funding.
But in 2012 it was revealed a staff member who had been accused of grossly inappropriate behaviour was allowed to continue working there, and residents and their families were never told.
That staff member was later jailed for 18 years for rape and sexual assault of four of the vulnerable people in Yooralla’s care.
Today, the head of Yooralla was pressed on how much the institution has changed since the abuse came to light.
Julia Holman is covering the Royal Commission, and prepared this report.
MOREEN LYONS: I have no faith in Yooralla, absolutely none.
JULES ANDERSON: I can’t tell you the amount of friends I lost because people just weren’t believing me.
JULIA HOLMAN: These are the voices of residents and advocates who blew the whistle on the horrific treatment that took place at Yooralla.
A 2014 investigation by 4 Corners found that inside the group homes housing people with disabilities, a suspected predator called Vinod Johnny Kumar was allowed to work as a casual staff member – even after repeated complaints about his behaviour.
JULES ANDERSON: I call him ‘the monster’, because that’s what he is.
JULIA HOLMAN: In 2013, Vinod Johnny Kumar was sentenced to 18 years in jail for crimes committed against 4 Yooralla residents.
He pleaded guilty to a dozen sexual assault charges, including eight counts of rape.
Today, the CEO of Yooralla, Dr Shereen Devanesen, fronted the Disability Royal Commission
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: On behalf of Yooralla, I deeply regret the abuse to people with a disability.
JULIA HOLMAN: Yooralla works with 4,000 Victorians with disabilities, and employs nearly 2,000 staff.
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: Yooralla has undertaken a program of reform and change; and as we continue this journey, it is our hope that we will build trusting partnerships with people with disability.
JULIA HOLMAN: Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission, Kate Eastman, was keen to test how sincere Yooralla has been during its journey of reform.
She asked Dr Devanessen why, in her statement to the Royal Commission, she described Johnny Kumar’s attacks on residents as sexual “acts” rather than sexual “crimes.”
KATE EASTMAN: Were you seeking to downplay the seriousness of Mr Kumar’s offending?
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: No.
JULIA HOLMAN: Commissioner Roslyn Atkinson also pressed the Yooralla CEO on her description of the rapes as “acts of a sexual nature.”
ROSLYN ATKINSON: Now, a rape of a woman, by a man who is a personal carer, offering the most intimate of circumstances, is an act of violence, is it not?
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: Yes it is.
ROSLYN ATKINSON: It’s not an “act of a sexual nature”.
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: No.
JULIA HOLMAN: Dr Devanesan took up her position at Yooralla in 2015, which was after the assault allegations came to light, something she was keen to point out.
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: At the time that these disclosures came to the fore, I was not at Yooralla.
JULIA HOLMAN: But she was there when apologies and compensation were offered to one of the abuse survivors.
Although other survivors, including a woman known as “Ruth,” weren’t offered anything
KATE EASTMAN: Ruth didn’t receive any ex gratia payment or compensation, is that right?
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: That’s right.
KATE EASTMAN: And is the reason for that that she didn’t initiate legal proceedings or seek compensation?
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: Yes.
JULIA HOLMAN: Dr Devanessen was asked why Yooralla wasn’t proactive in offering support to all victims.
KATE EASTMAN: Do you not see there’s some inequity, that unless the person with disability asks for compensation, that they will no compensation?
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: Yes.
JULIA HOLMAN: During today’s evidence, it came to light that it took eight years for one of the rape victims to be moved out of her group home room where she was attacked.
Counsel Assisting Kate Eastman was incredulous.
KATE EASTMAN: Do you agree with me that maintaining her in that room for eight years after the abuse is wholly inconsistent with the trauma informed approach to the care of a victim of sexual violence?
DR SHEREEN DEVANESEN: Yes.
JULIA HOLMAN: The Yooralla CEO agreed that the organisation will now look at compensating all sexual assault survivors.
The Royal Commission has been exploring this week the risk posed to vulnerable residents living in group homes, and will wrap up this round of hearings tomorrow.
RACHEL MEALEY: Julian Holman reporting.
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