The family of an aspiring footballer left disabled after a car accident have been told they’re not eligible for a disability payment.
Warrick Proudlove was left in a vegetative state at 19 years old when the car he was a passenger in hit a runaway horse as he travelled from Perth to Albany in 2011.
Three years later, his parents Kevin, 56, and Trish, 56 were contacted by then Labor Opposition leader Mark McGowan who used their case to rally for a no-fault insurance scheme to cover victims with catastrophic injuries.
Warrick Proudlove (pictured) was left in a vegetative state at 19-years-old when the car he was a passenger in hit a runaway horse as he travelled from Perth to Albany in 2011
But when the payment – pitched by Mr McGowan to become ‘Warrick’s Law’ – was finally approved by the Barnett Liberal government in 2016, the Proudloves were locked out.
Now, the family are calling on Mr McGowan, now the WA premier, for the benefit- which only applies for incidents after July 2016 – to be back-paid as promised.
‘It was supposed to be retrospective,’ Mr Proudlove told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Come and see what we are going through Mark – and tell me where is Warrick supposed to go?’
‘We are concerned with our son and what to make sure that he gets looked after when we are gone. The funding is inadequate, and it needs to change.’
Warrick was travelling home for the weekend after recently moving to Perth to play AFl, for Claremont Football Club, when the collision occurred near Mt Barker.
Warrick (pictured) was travelling home for the weekend after recently moving to Perth to play AFl, for Claremont Football Club, when the collision occurred near Mt Barker.
After the accident, he lived in a nursing home for almost four years, because he required around the clock care.
Kevin, who owned a single-trader business, was forced to sell the company so the family could move to Perth, where their son could access medical services.
The Proudloves lost two investments and remortgaged their house to cover the costs – leaving them in financial despair.
The family now have to survive off Kevin’s factory worker’s wage and Trish’s $280 fortnightly carer’s payment as well as the generous fundraising efforts of friends.
Adding insult to injury, if Kevin’s income is too high, the carer’s allowance is docked by Centrelink.
Three years later, his parents Kevin (back left), 56, and Trish, 56, (front right, pictured with Warrick’s sister, 26, front left, Warrick,27, centre, and brother, 30, backright) were contacted by then Labor Opposition leader Mark McGowan who used their case to rally for a no-fault insurance scheme to cover victims with catastrophic injuries
They struggle to make ends meet – which has meant putting their own medical bills, including dental work and a knee surgery, on hold to look after their son.
‘We lost money, we lost our house,’ Mr Proudlove said.
‘We can’t get ahead.’
Warrick was brought home in 2014 amid fears for his welfare after numerous concerning incidents happened at the nursing home.
Not trained for patients in his condition, on one occasion, his head rest was incorrectly placed failing to support his neck, and his feeding tube connected to his stomach became infected because it wasn’t cleaned.
Warrick (pictured left, with Kevin right) was brought home in 2014 amid fears for his welfare after numerous concerning incidents happened at the nursing home
After years of failed compensation claims through the District, Supreme and High Court – Mr McGowan’s parliamentary push offered renewed hope for payment.
‘We just felt we’ve been let down by the justice system the government and the law,’ Mr Proudlove said.
‘And we are not the only people.’
The family are still awaiting funding from the National Disability Scheme which is still slowly being rolled out.
The Proudies foundation, set up by Warrick’s fellow Claremont AFL players, has raised $335,000 to help fund his medical equipment – but Mr Proudlove says they can’t do it forever.
Kevin (pictured), who owned a single-trader business- was forced to sell so the family could move to Perth, where their son could access medical services
‘We can’t help but feel proud of Warrick. He was a great sportsman and a good person- and it is indicative of everyone that has helped,’ Mr Proudlove said.
‘They have been able to help massively, we are extremely grateful.’
‘Without them [Proudies], it would be a completely different story.
Speaking to The West, Mr McGowan said this week he was ‘extremely disappointed’ that the family had yet to receive support through NDIS and he would reach out to the family.
‘I’ll be following this matter up with the Federal Government,’ Mr McGowan said.
Mr Proudlove told Daily Mail Australia that he had still not been contacted.
‘We can’t help but feel proud of Warrick (pictured). He was a great sportsman and a good person- and it is indicative of everyone that has helped,’ Mr Proudlove said