Police raid NDIS Supported Living home sparks participant fears.

Police Raid Shakes NDIS Supported Home, Leaving Residents and Workers Traumatised

A Peaceful Afternoon Shattered in a Perth NDIS Home

In a quiet suburban Perth home, a routine Thursday afternoon for three women with psychosocial disabilities and their two support workers turned into a terrifying ordeal. Without warning, a team of eight police officers, including two from the Tactical Response Group, smashed down the front door and stormed inside.

The home, which provides Supported Independent Living (SIL) for NDIS participants, was suddenly filled with shouts of “Police! Search Warrant!” and the sound of boots.

Uddey, one of the support workers present, recounted the chilling moment. “We heard the sound of the boots and shouting noises… there were seven or eight cops… they were armed as well,” he shared. “They just came up to us, pointed the gun into our face and told us to put our hands up.”

Uddey and the other support worker were handcuffed and instructed to lie on the ground. “They told us you’re under arrest. And I was like, ‘what’s going on?'” he said. He tried to explain to the officers that they were in an NDIS-supported home for vulnerable residents, but his pleas were met with demands to “be quiet.”

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a common NDIS support designed to help participants with higher support needs live as independently as possible in shared or individual homes, receiving daily assistance with tasks like personal care, cooking, and household management. These homes are meant to be safe, stable environments.

Mistaken Identity: A Dual-Property Mix-Up

Police searched every room in the NDIS-supported house. The property’s unusual setup contributed to the confusion: it was one of two separate homes at the same address, both owned by the same person, with the NDIS home being one of them.

According to a Western Australia Police spokesperson, detectives were executing a drug search warrant on both homes, based on intelligence suggesting a person of interest in an investigation might be occupying them.

However, the spokesperson later confirmed, “It was soon ascertained that the [NDIS] property was not linked” to their investigation.

Tyler Burness, whose company leases and operates the NDIS home, believes the distressing incident could have been avoided with a simple phone call. He highlighted that the residents, despite not being detained, had weapons pointed at them, while their primary support persons were handcuffed and unable to intervene.

“If they [the residents] potentially felt threatened, they may have launched themselves at a police officer and then the only people who could help them were on the floor cuffed with their hands behind their backs,” Mr Burness explained, describing the situation as “a really intense set of circumstances.”

He argued that the signs of a supported home were obvious to anyone looking. “If they [police] had just looked away from the team and up at the walls, they would have seen behaviour support plans and medication charts and things like that,” he pointed out. “It’s so obvious.”

Drugs Seized, Apologies Offered

The search of the *adjacent* property did lead to arrests, with police finding methylamphetamine, cannabis, drug paraphernalia, and weapons. Two men from that property were taken into custody.

A police spokesperson clarified that it is standard protocol for individuals found inside a property during a search warrant to be separated and, if necessary, taken into temporary custody.

“During the search of the second property, two male care workers were taken outside the property and placed into temporary custody,” the spokesperson stated. They added that all parties in the NDIS home were later given apologies and reasons for entry, and body-worn camera footage of the search was reviewed and deemed compliant with police processes.

However, for those directly affected, the damage had already been done.

Lasting Emotional and Physical Impacts

The incident left significant emotional and physical scars. Western Australia Police indicated that compensation for damaged property, such as the broken door, is typically only provided when entry is forced and no offences are identified. Mr Burness confirmed that he has not been offered any compensation for the damage to the NDIS home.

More critically, the three NDIS residents now require ongoing support to manage their heightened anxiety following the raid. “One resident living with a schizophrenic disorder believed that the police officer was there for them… and from that point it has been difficult to de-escalate,” Mr Burness shared.

“There now is no 100 per cent confidence that they’re in their safe space and now something out of our control means that this person’s baseline, where they go to rest and enjoy life, may feel less safe than what it did.”

Uddey, the support worker, has returned to work with the help of counselling and physical therapy funded by Mr Burness. Yet, the trauma of the event lingers. “You’re just working, having a little bit of a break… and suddenly, when you see the police and everyone pointing the guns on you, telling you you are under arrest, obviously you… get freaked out,” Uddey explained.

“Even if you say this story to someone, it’s hard to believe. And no one’s going to believe you were pointed at by the gun.”

What This Means for NDIS Participants and Providers

This unsettling incident highlights the critical need for better communication and awareness between emergency services and the NDIS sector. For NDIS participants, a home is not just a building; it’s a sanctuary where they should feel safe and supported, especially those with psychosocial disabilities whose sense of security can be easily shattered.

For providers of Supported Independent Living, this raises serious questions about how to protect both residents and staff from such unforeseen and traumatic events. Mr Burness plans to relocate his business and is considering lodging a formal complaint with the Corruption and Crime Commission.

“Do I blame the individual police? No. Do I blame a dysfunctional system? Yes,” he stated. “It shouldn’t have taken the house of people of the most vulnerable parts of our population to experience that to then bring it into being a mainstream problem for WA.”

Practical Takeaways and Next Steps

• For NDIS Providers: Consider proactively engaging with local police departments to inform them about the nature and location of your SIL homes. Clear, visible signage (where appropriate and safe) indicating an NDIS-supported residence could also be a preventative measure. Review and update your emergency protocols to include guidelines for interacting with law enforcement, ensuring the safety and rights of participants are prioritised.
• For NDIS Participants and Families: If you or your loved one experiences a distressing event involving emergency services, remember your right to safety and support. Ensure your support coordinator or provider is aware, and discuss accessing therapeutic supports if needed.
• Advocacy: This incident underscores the importance of ongoing advocacy for better understanding and protocols around NDIS homes, particularly for vulnerable individuals. Organisations and individuals can consider raising these concerns with relevant authorities and disability advocacy groups to prevent similar incidents in the future.