Knives out on costs: NDIS prices slashed
The nation’s disability agency has revealed it will slash the maximum fees service providers such as physiotherapists and dieticians can charge NDIS participants.
Caring
‘Nowhere else to go’: NDIS cuts force people to turn to hospitals
Dietitians and physiotherapists have accused the disability insurance agency of wrongly knocking back many of their clients’ supports, leading to an increase in people presenting at hospitals.
‘The love of my life is gone – I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye’
Married? Separated? It’s a hellish sort of limbo for the loving partners of dementia patients. What can we do to ease the strain?
Why frailty is not a normal part of ageing
Frailty is one of the main reasons our health system is under strain. But we should not accept it as something that just happens as you age, says the Australian expert about to lead a Lancet commission on the condition.
Liquidated NDIS firm pays glamorous EA first, but frontline carers still waiting
Authorities say disability provider Cocoon was involved in serious and systemic misconduct as staff fume over who they believe have been paid first, including a former contestant on reality TV show The Bachelor.
Mental health meeting ‘first test’ for PM
A major mental health meeting of state and Commonwealth ministers is being branded as the re-elected Labor government’s test on mental health.
‘Gross violation’: NDIS bans Cocoon parent company
Rogue disability provider Cocoon engaged in misconduct, including falsely claiming it provided services to dead or incarcerated NDIS participants, federal authorities have concluded.
An unexpected drama in the family paddock taught me valuable lessons about grief and loss
A warning to horse lovers. This story may distress but it may also instruct in how to approach life in the way only animals can teach us.
Boxes of blank prescriptions found unsecured at Cocoon HQ
Boxes of blank doctors’ prescription pads were left in this unlocked cupboard in the headquarters of NDIS firm Cocoon SDA Care | SEE THE PICTURES
‘Secrecy’ clouds non-NDIS disability help
A new system of services for people with milder disabilities no longer eligible for the NDIS is shrouded in secrecy and uncertainty, advocates say.
Carers chair warned on Cocoon
The head of a peak carers body was emailed a warning in 2021 that people with disability were at risk from a rapidly growing company responsible for their safety and welfare that is only now being exposed for years of concerning practices.
NDIS firm accused of cash for access bid
An NDIS firm being investigated by federal authorities spent tens of thousands of dollars to gain access to prominent politicians including a future treasurer as it sought to strengthen its appearance of legitimacy.
Court setback for suspended NDIS company
Rogue disability provider Cocoon SDA Care has lost its bid to have delays in releasing NDIS payments declared unreasonable.
Appreciating small moments of wonder boosts mental health
Everyday moments of awe-inspiring wonder may offer a simple, drug-free boost to mental health, a study suggests
New NDIS firm in integrity probe: tip-offs claim holidays on taxpayers, doctor collusion
An NDIS firm was accused of using taxpayer money to send clients and carers on holidays, offering people with disabilities cash payments instead of support, and colluding with doctors to inflate plans, court documents state.
Dodgy NDIS provider facing ban
The NDIS watchdog is moving to ban rogue provider Cocoon SDA Care and its nominated director permanently, as a whistleblower calls for an inquiry into a “broken” system she says could be wasting billions of dollars of taxpayer funds.
Cocoon NDIS scandal: ‘We fee dead people’
An NDIS firm at the centre of an unfolding scandal was accused of wrongly charging more than $77,000 for services to three dead people.
Can you be here for a good time AND a long time?
How do you maximise your ‘health span’, not just your life span? We have the latest.
Seven things we get wrong about sleep and how to fix them
There are some healthy habits you should put into practice for a restful night’s sleep
Uncovering the secrets of the ‘Well-derly’
For a long and healthy life, diet and regular exercise are a better bet than trendy supplements and expensive longevity clinics.
Clashes between hospital administrators and doctors putting patients at risk
Patient safety should never come second to cultural problems in the health care sector.
‘Best idea ever’: pastor goes off beaten track to help grieving families
Pastor Ross Abraham is riding from Perth to Byron Bay to raise funds for ICU care bags in memory of his beautiful, crazy and dearly departed son, Jaaden.
How disability firm’s puppet master stayed a step ahead of authorities
For years Zaffar Khan has been able to grow his empire while moving from one cowboy company to the next. Now, the unscrupulous practices of NDIS firm Cocoon are being brought to light.
Shorten warned over NDIS scandal
The former chief executive of a NDIS firm that is now at the centre of a federal investigation has released messages she sent to then-minister Bill Shorten alerting him to serious concerns in 2023.
Cocoon founders behind firm that failed NDIS audit
A company linked to two men behind troubled disability care provider Cocoon SDA Care failed multiple NDIS accreditation audits four years ago.
Need to go after a coffee? We answer why, along with other everyday medical questions
Wrinkly skin from a long bath? Skin feeling burnt after a winter’s day in the wind? Our medical expert explains some of life’s simple questions.
Should a workout hurt? And how much pain is too much?
No one ever said that exercise should be easy, but what are the signs that you’re pushing too hard?
The ‘imposter’ wishing mum a happy Mother’s Day
What’s it like to celebrate Mother’s Day with a mum who no longer recognises you?
Unpaid staff sound alarm at NDIS firm
Troubled NDIS firm Cocoon SDA Care’s co-founder has received plaudits on social media for donation to a blind sports team, as a leaked email alleges shocking conduct in the firm’s Indian call centre.
On the road … to recovery: the Sydney hospital that sends you home early, with a voucher
One of Sydney’s best-known private hospitals is offering patients free food and petrol in a bid to get them to leave within three or four days of surgery.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/caring