New Chapters, New Beginnings founder’s NDIS ban extended

A banning order blocking a Top End disability service provider from offering support has been extended. Find out why the decision was made.

A regulatory body has extended its banning order for the founder of a major Top End disability service provider.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has lengthened its banning order against former New Chapters, New Beginnings managing director Andrea Cooper until 5pm, March 1.

The banning order prevents Ms Cooper from being involved in providing supports and services to NDIS participants and was previously due to end on January 15.

An NDIS spokesman said Ms Cooper could not contact NDIS participants who receive supports from New Chapters, New Beginnings and the families of those participants.

“The order also bans Ms Cooper from making any contact with anyone employed or otherwise engaged by New Chapters New Beginnings,” the spokesman said.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has extended former New Chapters, New Beginnings managing director Andrea Cooper’s banning order until March 1. Picture: Supplied

The extension comes after the NDIS Commission issued Ms Cooper’s initial 30-day banning order on December 13, effective from 5pm, December 16.

According to legislation referenced by the NDIS provider register, Ms Cooper was banned due to the “immediate danger to the health, safety or wellbeing of a person with disability”.

Her banning order was extended to properly deliver supports and services to NDIS participants, the register said.

Ms Cooper was contacted for comment but did not respond.

New Chapters, New Beginnings opened in January 2018 as an NDIS service provider. Picture: Supplied

Ms Cooper is not the only NT-based service provider who is currently banned from offering NDIS support.

The NDIS Commission issued a banning order preventing then Katherine-based provider Patricia Punsalang on April 18, 2021.

Ms Punsalang’s ban was effective from April 25, 2021 for a period of three years.

According to legislation referenced by the NDIS provider register, Ms Punsalang was banned because she was “not suitable to be involved in the provision of supports or services to people with disability”.

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