NDIS provider New Chapters, New Beginnings liquidated, Andrea Cooper banned again

A Top End NDIS provider is in liquidation after a long battle to keep the doors open, while its former boss’s ban has been extended for the second time.

An embattled NDIS provider in the Top End is in liquidation, forcing its clients to find support elsewhere.

In January, New Chapters, New Beginnings creditors voted in favour of a financial restructure after the organisation went into administration in November.

Administrator Melanie Grohovaz previously said the restructure meant the organisation would continue to trade, would rebrand and arrange for the shares to be transferred.

However, Ms Grohovaz said on Monday those changes could no longer proceed “for a number of reasons”.

“The company is now in liquidation, and the participants or the clients, majority have them have transferred to new providers,” she said.

Ms Grohovaz said “continuous delays and issues with the shareholder” made it to difficult to get the financial restructure over the line.

“We had a couple of other issues that came up, including issues with the continued leases,” she said.

“The houses we rented in order to house our clients were owned by companies which are owned by Ms (Andrea) Cooper, and we weren’t able to negotiate reasonable terms on those leases.”

New Chapters, New Beginnings managing director Andrea Cooper plans to open a new branch of the company in Perth. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, a banning order against the former managing director has been extended again.

Andrea Cooper was originally barred from being involved in providing NDIS services on December 13, for a period of 30 days from December 16.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission varied Ms Cooper’s banning order on January 13 to prohibit Ms Cooper from providing services until March 1.

Ms Cooper’s banning order was extended again on March 1 until May 12.

“The varied banning order continues to prohibit Andrea Cooper from being involved in the provision of supports and services to NDIS participants, including making contact with NDIS participants who receive, or have recently received, supports from New Chapters New

Beginnings,” an NDIS Commission spokesman said.

The spokesman said she was also barred from contacting the families of New Chapters, New Beginnings participants and employees.

Ms Cooper was contacted for comment but did not respond.