A Melton woman is facing jail time over her alleged role in a crime syndicate authorities say ripped off $800,000 in National Disability Insurance Scheme and Child Care Subsidy funding.
A two-year investigation led by federal police has identified the 52-year-old NDIS provider and four other women as participants in the “abhorrent” defrauding scheme.
A 50-year-old mother of seven from Whittlesea who has a child with a disability on a NDIS plan, the syndicate’s alleged principal offender, is accused of spending some of the NDIS funds allocated for her child on herself, including helping to buy a new home in Whittlesea.
All five women appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Monday on a series of charges including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining financial advantages through deception and proceeds of crime offences.
They are due to reappear in court next March.
The AFP alleges the Whittlesea and Melton women used their NDIS businesses to exploit people with a disability for profit, leaving six people with a disability not receiving their full level of care.
AFP Commander Krissy Barrett said the syndicate members faced jail terms if convicted.
“The AFP works tirelessly with agency partners to protect taxpayers’ money by ensuring the integrity of the welfare system,” she said.
“Stealing from Australians is a crime, but defrauding funds from those who rely on additional support is abhorrent.”
Services Australia business integrity general manager Anthony Seebach said Australians expect the integrity of the system of social supports to be maintained and this includes detecting, investigating and prosecuting people who seek to abuse that system.
“This is another case that shows the strength of the collaboration between Commonwealth agencies to disrupt and dismantle organised networks committing fraud,” he said.
