By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Terrified by two recent home invasions, a Hampton Park woman says she is now being unfairly hounded by Centrelink.
Noelene Nolan, 42, was assaulted by groups of youths as they ransacked her Somerville Road home on 26 April and 31 July.
On the first occasion, she investigated noises at her front door. She remembers a man grabbing her by the neck and shoving her against a wall.
The intruders rummaged through a wardrobe, grabbed medications and unbolted a safe with her engagement ring, passport and – worst of all – wedding photos of Ms Nolan’s late parents.
In vain, Ms Nolan posted on Facebook for the thieves to at least return the photos in her letterbox.
“They got what they wanted.
“It went for probably five or seven minutes but it felt like hours.”
Ms Nolan was left more than bruised by the assault. She recalls one of the youths wondered what it would be like to “rape a white girl”.
The group repeatedly asked for “Money, money, phone, phone”.
“There was no way I was giving up my phone,” Ms Nolan said.
The offenders – tall, male and some perhaps of African appearance – are still apparently at large.
On 31 July, she returned home at night and was shoved to the ground off the front step by a fleeing group of burglars who stole her medication. Police told her she was just unlucky.
“You’re just healing and it puts you back again,” she says.
It’s been a horrible year including the death of her beloved toy poodle in March. She had also been caring for her mother, who died from ovarian cancer in September.
The shooting of two males at the nearby Hampton Park Tavern car park on 22 November gives Ms Nolan further angst.
Being a victim of crime “shocks your whole foundations,” Ms Nolan says.
She used to be confident, dealing with all manner of public miscreants when she worked for Metro Trains. Now she’s suspicious.
“You feel you’re not safe in your home. I get neighbours to check there’s no-one in there.”
Ms Nolan often stays at her late mother’s Dandenong North address, too terrified to stay overnight in Hampton Park without the company of friends.
She is seeking to replicate her mum’s high-tech security cameras, with a red emergency button to instantly summon police.
Riddled with painful back fractures and knee and foot ailments, Ms Nolan uses a walker to get herself around.
She suffers a lack of co-ordination and balance, making her prone to falling.
Last year, she unsuccessfully applied for a Disability Support Pension – though she receives Commonwealth SWEP funding for disability upgrades such as shower railings in her home.
Centrelink is demanding that she applies for 15 hours of office, retail or call-centre work a week, as far away as Broadmeadows.
This is despite a Monash Health orthopaedic expert’s opinion that she shouldn’t sit down for more than 10 minutes. A 15-minute drive even makes her feel like the “Tinman in Wizard of Oz”.
“It’s disgraceful, absolutely,” a distraught Ms Nolan said.
“They told me they’re not accepting any more medical documents from me. You’re wasting your time.
“But what sort of job can I do?”
A Department of Human Services spokeswoman said the department would get in touch with Ms Nolan to “ensure they are appropriately supported”.
“A person can also lodge a new claim for (a disability support pension) if their circumstances change.
“If a condition deteriorates, or someone has new medical evidence, they should provide that information to the Department so we can assess the most suitable support for their circumstances.”
According to the department, conditions have to be “ fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised” with “no significant functional improvement within the next two years”.
