A 20-year-old autistic man has been "languishing" in a country hospital for nearly a month because his family cannot find suitable skilled support workers.
Ryan Croft's family said they had to admit him to Bunbury Hospital because they could not find the right support for his destructive and sometimes violent behaviour.
Disability advocates say too many disabled people with complex needs are still ending up in hospital care.
Ed Croft, a teacher, says the family has a substantial funding package through the NDIS for his son, who is non-verbal and has an intellectual disability.
But care arrangements with a local NDIS provider for Ryan to live independently broke down in December.
Ryan moved home and carers were sought through another agency, but that did not work.
"We had no one to provide support for him at our remote rural property and we just couldn't cope anymore with violence and the destruction and the trauma," Mr Croft said.
"Carers would leave because it's confronting and it's dangerous — and you don't blame them … but Ryan deserves care."
Mr Croft said while he was grateful that a team of people from various agencies was trying to help, hospital was not the place for Ryan.
"For my son to be languishing in a hospital, it's not the environment for him to be in," he said.
Situation not isolated
Greens Senator Jordan Steele-John, who uses a wheelchair, says he is aware of similar cases across Australia.
"It's very common and very distressing, across the nation," he said.
"We are seeing disabled people being put in incredible situations of distress as supports are withdrawn, either because of failures at the NDIS level, or failures at the service provider level.
"This leaves us to rely on a public hospital system that is overburdened at the best of times."
Autism Awareness chief executive Nicole Rogerson said complex cases like the Crofts' were often put in the "too hard basket".
"What's making it even worse now is a chronic skills shortage for people to work in the disability sector," she said.
The ABC has spoken to the agency that terminated Ryan's care.
It was unable to comment on the specifics of his case, but called on the NDIS to take a more personal approach when it came to complex situations.
Low pay, hard work
Mr Croft said a key barrier was the low pay for disability support workers.
"The support agencies, they get their pricing guidelines from the NDIS, and they can charge more than $100 per hour for their services, and they pay their workers $30 an hour — but where does it all go?" he said.
A leading disability support agency lists a casual pay rate of $35 per hour for daytime support work.
NDIS price guidelines show providers can charge a maximum of $57 an hour for daytime care, but that can rise to $80 in remote areas.
On a public holiday the maximum is $126 an hour, which rises to $176 in remote areas.
Australian Services Union WA assistant branch secretary Jill Hugo said there was high turnover in the disability sector.
"Workers won't stay if they don't have a secure job and they don't see a future career for themselves," she said.
Hospital will continue care
A National Disability Insurance Agency spokesperson said the agency recognised the challenges the Croft family was experiencing and was working with them.
"The NDIA recognises the historical challenges faced by participants in rural and remote areas in accessing a range of services," the spokesperson said.
Bunbury Hospital director Jeff Calver said the hospital would not turn away disabled clients in difficult circumstances.
"We feel deeply for this person and their family," he said.
