Highton disability service Melissa’s Family Pty Ltd liquidated owing $1.1m

A disability support service run by a Highton woman has gone bust still owing significant employee entitlements to workers.

Melissa Koniaras is the director and founder of NDIS provider Melissa’s Family Pty Ltd. Picture: LinkedIn.

A National Disability Insurance Scheme provider run by a Highton woman has been plunged into liquidation owing north of $1.1m.

On March 5, the Supreme Court appointed liquidator David Coyne of BRI Ferrier to wind up disability support service Melissa’s Family Pty Ltd after it could not pay its outstanding debts.

According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents, the company owes almost $680,000 in superannuation as well as $484,000 to unsecured creditors.

The Australian Taxation Office and the Portable Long Service Authority — a state government body that represents community service workers and contract cleaners — are among the creditors.

Melissa Koniaras, a 35-year-old Geelong resident, is listed as the sole director of the company.

In a statutory report lodged on ASIC, Mr Coyne said Ms Koniaras had consistently failed to respond to his requests.

“These investigations have been limited due to the director’s failure to comply with her statutory obligations, including … delivering the books and records of the company,” he said.

Melissa’s Family was an NDIS provider based in Geelong.

Mr Coyne also alleges that Ms Koniaras used the company’s money for her own benefit between January 2023 and March 2024.

“My review of the company’s bank account statements in my possession … has identified over 1000 payments … totalling $1.4m that appear to be unreasonable director related transactions and require further explanation,” Mr Coyne wrote in the report.

The company had no active bank accounts at the time of liquidation, however a search by Mr Coyne identified a Commonwealth Bank account that was closed in March 2024.

Ms Koniaras describes herself as a “caring” individual who is “experienced in various aspects” of the industry on her LinkedIn page.

Her qualifications include Victoria University diplomas in mental health, youth services, nursing, and education.

James McKenzie was the director of NDIS providers Roaring Respite and Ohana Support Condition before they were liquidated. Picture: Alison Wynd

It is unclear if Melissa’s Family, which began providing services in 2020, was trading while insolvent.

It is not the first Geelong based NDIS provider to be liquidated.

In April last year, Roaring Respite and Ohana Support Condition filed for insolvency on the same day.

Roaring Respite, which traded from three premises across Geelong, employed 30 staff and owed almost $350,000 before it was dissolved.

AmAble was also forced to close its doors in April 2024 after a spate of scandals — including worker strikes and a restructuring that revealed it owed more than $500,000 to creditors.

Originally published as Highton disability service Melissa’s Family Pty Ltd liquidated owing $1.1m