From conversations and emails received from both past and present staff regarding On Track Community Programs and its management team, an insight into the darker side of the organisation can be gained. Whilst these can only be taken as allegations, the reader should note that they are not lightly made by the contributors. These allegations (excerpts from email communications received) are listed here to paint a picture on the level of safety concerns for staff and the attitude of the CEO toward shielding its lax practices.

Anyone can be a mental health carer :  “I was amazed when I heard one of [the CEO’s] mates, John Smith (name changed), was employed as Disability Support Worker in the same premises of a dangerous person with disability. John Smith admitted that he was a tourist company operator and didn’t know a thing about disability care but he was going to give it a go.”

The use of reception staff in mental health care roles : “… reception staff who had suffered mental anxiety themselves (when) transferred to do personal care with high needs clients – when I expressed my concern re: this to the CEO I was told that it would be alright. The staff member involved had a very negative reaction to the unreasonable pressure of being transferred out of reception to a difficult client and could not continue these duties.  Another receptionist was transferred to be a disability support worker and twice confused the clients with the result that the wrong medication was administered to the client. These clients were profoundly disabled in wheelchairs and deserved much higher quality care.”

It’s a matter of opinion : “One of [the CEO’s] favourite line when put on the spot is that we just have different perceptions. She has no problem lying and has admitted this to me in the past when I could not as a matter of conscience be dishonest in business dealings.”

Where did the money go? : “On Track Community Programs has experienced significant growth in recent years and the funding bodies such as North Coast Area Health Service, DADHIC, Dept of Health and Ageing, FACSIA, DOCS have no idea at how the funds are allocated in a way that favours the select few and not the majority.”

Silence is golden : “Others have been made redundant and many have then received a monetary golden handshake in exchange for signing a Deed of Release agreeing not to ever talk about On Track Community Programs in future.”

Quick, let’s make changes now : “I was amazed to find that the external door locks could be opened easily without a key – both the CEO and 2IC knew about this for years and only took the measure of enhanced security following Michael’s death.”

This is but a tiny list. WorkCover NSW has now received separate reports of bullying by On Track Community Programs. The allegations made by multiple staff against the CEO would point to a person with a severe narcissistic personality. Wikipedia provides a description of the Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) or Psychopath as

“a personality disorder^[1] in which the individual is described as being excessively preoccupied with issues of personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity. This condition affects one percent of the population. ^[2][3] First formulated in 1968, it was historically called megalomania, and is severe egocentrism.”

Words used by various individuals from the mental health community to describe the CEO include “megalomaniac”; “kingdom builder”; “power hungry” and “snake in the grass”. It is no wonder that many staff suffer the distress that they do and many have left the organisation in disgust. Others have left from having had their positions “restructured”.