Carol Hocking, a mother of four, and a former nurse who suffered a workplace injury and who is unable to work, faces homelessness again, reports the Bendigo Advertiser.
Bendigo woman on the edge of homelessness again, courtesy of the workcover system
Mother of four Carol Hocking yesterday spent her birthday dreading she would again be homeless and living out of an unreliable car.
The years of celebrating her birthday have passed. Now, each birthday signals a rent increase – and this week, the cost became too high.
The 49-year-old now has three weeks to find a house or face homelessness.
Ms Hocking, a former nurse, suffered a workplace injury 25 years ago that left her unable to work.
She receives a weekly WorkCover benefit but fails to qualify for rent assistance or a health-care card.
Ms Hocking lives in constant pain thanks to two failed operations to repair prolapsed discs in her back.
She could receive a disability support pension, which would entitle her to public housing, a health-care card and rent assistance – but it wouldn’t cover her medication.
“I am not able to work because of my back,” Ms Hocking said. “I am waiting for a medical miracle.
“I have trained myself to walk unaided. After the two unsuccessful surgeries, I was in and out of hospital for different reasons.
“There have been ups and downs and it has evolved into a mental health scenario and I am on medication. It was described as manic depression.
“That was the last straw with my family. That was when I left.” Ms Hocking’s marriage ended about two-and-a-half years ago. She blamed the separation on her becoming too reliant on her husband. Her daughters are aged from 17 to 27. The youngest two live with their father.
“I would love to have my girls with me but it is just not financially viable,” Ms Hocking said. “I cannot afford to keep them and feed them.”
Leaving the family home proved an eye-opening experience for a woman who had never rented a house. She had married young and the couple had a mortgage.
The reality of Bendigo’s rental market – which has a less than one per cent vacancy rate – soon hit home.
“I left my family home on the 7th of January, 2010,” Ms Hocking said.
“I went all over the place. It was a week here and then a week there until there was nobody left.
[Source: http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/bendigo-woman-on-the-edge-of-homelessness-again/2544246.aspx]
We know exactly what this poor woman is going through and we feel so utterly powerless… Our thoughts are with you.
Shortlink: http://aworkcovervictimsdiary.com/?p=7588
Constant comparisons are made to workers compensation premiums in NSW vs Vic (Insurers again dictate how the system operates). The system in Vic is just as dysfunctional as NSW. I would suggest it all comes down to how well or poorly government agencies manage funds. Either way, injured workers aren’t prospering and the system isn’t about helping injured workers. In my opinion, both systems are in a race to the bottom. This is one such example.
There are so many of us teetering on the edge of financial ruin
The old “lets fuck with your money syndrome”
that has been played out for thousands of years
What has happened to Carol is a premeditated attack no more no less
I hope you can eventually find a way through Carol
Kind regards
Collienew
It’s a warped view of human motivation – starve people back into the workforce regardless of the severity of injury. The system is simply not about rehabilitation. It’s about profits and cost maintenance.
They’ve taken a one size fits all approach based on erroneous assumption the all injured and/or ill workers are malingerers!
If most people spend a great deal of time worrying about work, imagine what it is like for injured workers! Being out of work is bad for health and well-being and on top of that they’re being bullied by insurers – talk about being stuck between a ROCK AND A HARD PLACE,
Top of worry list: work, work, work
AUSTRALIANS spend more time worrying about work than war, the environment, politics or any other broader issue.
In the first major study of the everyday worries of Australians, researchers from Macquarie University found ”future career” concerns created the greatest anxiety for both men and women, while fear about ”the future” and ”achievements” also ranked in the top five.
Researchers from the psychology department found it surprising that matters dominating the media, such as climate change and politics, were not at the forefront of people’s minds.
”Worries were much more personal, and at high levels that people said affected their lives and their health,” said Associate Professor Jennifer Hudson, from the Centre for Emotional Health.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/top-of-worry-list-work-work-work-20120504-1y47u.html#ixzz1tws7PY79
From https://twitter.com/#!/CallieSonter1/status/198415014909059072
Seriously, all of these Tweets by so-called CallieSonter need to be taken up and investigated by WorkCover. And the targets need to seek legal advice so they have an opportunity to buy her house, if she has one, at a bargain basement price.