Paul Kevan Tilbury, from Person Centred Training Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of deception

A consultant who claimed he was “one of the best” at helping manage people with disabilities has come clean on defrauding hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A disability consultant who describes himself online as “respectable” and “one of the best” has admitted to siphoning almost $500,000 from the NDIS over two years through false claims.

Paul Kevan Tilbury pleaded guilty through his counsel in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday to 19 counts of deception.

His co-accused, Adrian Bembrick, is charged with four counts of deception.

The court heard the duo’s alleged offending was similar but occurred at different points in time.

The NDIA and SA Police alleged Tilbury and Mr Bembrick defrauded more than $465,000 from the NDIS by submitting false claims for services they did not deliver between 2017 and 2019.

Paul Tilbury at the Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Adrian Bembrick is charged with four counts of deception. Photo: File

It is further alleged Tilbury falsified claims and created inappropriate claims for payment to the NDIS on behalf of a registered NDIS provider.

In April last year, Tilbury, 57, of Woodforde, was banned for life from accessing the NDIS.

At the time, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) alleged he had failed “to act with integrity, honesty and transparency”.

The NDIA also issued banning orders against his business, Person Centred Training, prohibiting it from engaging in any activities related to the management of NDIS plan funds.

Tilbury is the proprietor of Person Centred Training Pty Ltd, which offers human resources, compliance, auditing and aged care services from its Pirie St office.

On its website, the company says it develops “positive workplace cultures” and “robust procedures, systems, training, accreditation and compliance practices”.

It also says it can “assist in all areas of compliance” in the aged care and disability sectors.

A five-year ban, also effective from August 11, was issued on July 28 to Mr Bembrick, of Modbury.

The pair’s arrests was revealed by NDIS minister Bill Shorten in an exclusive interview with The Advertiser in September.

“Attempting to gain money for one’s own personal benefit, money that is intended for Australians living with disability is despicable,” Mr Shorten said at the time.

“I’ve said before that the huge majority of NDIS providers do the right thing, which is what makes me, the rest of the disability sector and the Australian public so angry when one hears about those who seek to abuse the system.”

There are 52,501 active NDIS participants in SA and 610,502 nationally.

Currently, the NDIA is investigating allegations that fake and dodgy providers have fleeced half a billion dollars in total from the scheme.

On Thursday, counsel for Mr Bembrick told the court they would be arguing they had no case to answer and his charges were adjourned until next month.

Tilbury’s charges were committed to the District Court in April.