Perth Family Demands Answers After NDIS Assault Leaves Autistic Man Without Care
A Perth family is demanding urgent answers and transparency after their 25-year-old son, who lives with severe autism and multiple disabilities, was allegedly assaulted in his National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) accommodation and left for hours without medical care.
Discovery of Injuries During Spontaneous Visit
Corey Wooller was discovered by his mother, Kim McBearty, during an unplanned visit to the NDIS home on December 14. Ms McBearty found her son slumped on a couch with visible injuries, claiming that no first aid had been administered and no ambulance had been called by the staff on duty at the time.
"No one deserves to be assaulted, especially a vulnerable person like that," Ms McBearty said. "I used to think he was safe there, but obviously he wasn't."
Family's Concerns and Hospitalization
After Ms McBearty insisted on professional medical help, Corey spent three days in emergency care and a further four weeks in hospital recovering from the ordeal. His sister, Nicole, expressed deep concern, questioning whether Corey would have received any help at all if their mother had not visited that day.
"The big thing is if my mum never came over that day, would Corey have even gone to the hospital? Would he have even gotten help?" Nicole said.
Police Investigation and NDIS Response
Despite the severity of the incident, the family reported that police initially dismissed their concerns, directing them to lodge a formal complaint with the NDIS instead. While a complaint has been filed, the NDIS has reportedly provided no further information to the family in the three months since the assault.
Police have now re-opened the investigation, but stated they will only be looking at the assault allegation, as the subsequent neglect is not considered a criminal matter.
Provider's Statement and Family's Frustration
7News contacted the NDIS accommodation provider, My Way, which is being investigated by the NDIS. The chief executive officer, Peter Mapior, claimed that Corey's quality of life improved under their care and denied any recorded incident of another participant attacking him.
Mapior stated that an ambulance was called by a My Way support worker, who reported Corey's nose bleeding to an after-hours care coordinator. He also mentioned that Corey has a chronic blood disorder that causes his skin to bruise easily, and that the support worker on duty was immediately investigated, with human resources still looking into the matter.
Emotional Toll and Call for Action
The family said Corey's physical scars have healed, but he has changed emotionally, no longer allowing his mother to hug him. Ms McBearty expressed guilt and frustration, feeling that the family has been left in the dark.
"They just won't tell us what's happening," Ms McBearty said. "They just think we're stupid and we're just going to let it go. But I'm not because Corey can't fight."
The family is now calling for urgent action, fearing that the support worker involved remains employed within the disability system, and emphasizing the need for better oversight and accountability in NDIS-funded care.
