NDIS ‘lead auditor’ Lisa Scully a convicted fraudster

The shady past of a ‘lead NDIS auditor’ has been exposed with the convicted fraudster, who even managed 140 employees, narrowly avoiding jail for her crimes.

A woman who audits NDIS companies on behalf of the disability watchdog is a convicted fraudster who narrowly avoided jail.

Lisa Scully was a manager at Newcastle City Council, north of Sydney, when she was caught fraudulently approving invoices and accepting gifts including an oven and a coffee machine from a software company she awarded a tender.

Despite her convictions in 2016, she has been working as an NDIS auditor inspecting disability providers on behalf of the regulator, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by her since this time.

At her court hearing, Ms Scully pleaded guilty to being an agent corruptly receiving benefit, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and being an agent giving false documents to a principal with intent. Picture: LinkedIn

At her court hearing, Ms Scully pleaded guilty to being an agent corruptly receiving benefit, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and being an agent giving false documents to a principal with intent.

Media reports at the time revealed that Ms Scully was responsible for 140 employees at the council and was in charge of reforming Newcastle’s garbage system.

It was alleged she took kickbacks after she corruptly awarded a tender to a software company for a new garbage truck GPS tracking system.

Newcastle Local Court heard the company had offered her “anything she wanted”.

The court heard Ms Scully approved $36,000 worth of fake invoices from the company, so she could buy herself kitchen goods and electronic devices.

She was sentenced to a 20-month intensive correction order, which is a sentence of imprisonment served within the community.

On her LinkedIn page, Ms Scully bills herself as a “lead auditor in NDIS, ISO and Australian Service Excellence Standards Compliance”.

She is also director of Allegro Associates, which offers a variety of services including undertaking audits and pre-audits for the NDIS Commission.

“My work focuses on audit readiness (NDIS, ISO, Australian Service Excellence Standards), policy and governance systems, organisational reviews, and strategic project delivery,” Ms Scully said on LinkedIn.

“With over 800 audit days completed and a background spanning executive leadership, quality systems, and service development, I bring practical, results-driven support to providers navigating compliance, growth, or service transformation.”

Lisa Scully has been working as an NDIS auditor inspecting disability providers on behalf of the regulator, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Ms Scully is currently the lead auditor at Global Compliance Certification, which is approved by the NDIS Commission to undertake quality audits against the NDIS Practice Standards.

Managing director Mousa Sharifi said Ms Scully was an “amazing” auditor who was upfront about her convictions at the time of employment, passed a police and working with children’s check, and three referees recommended her.

“We did our due diligence, and in the capacity of an NDIS auditor they have nothing to do with financials,” Mr Sharifi said.

He said it was not up to his company to punish people, that was the job of the justice system.

Auditors are employed by independently certified auditing bodies, not directly by the NDIS Commission. These organisations are required to ensure that all staff involved in audits meet strict suitability, probity, and competency standards.

The Joint Accreditation Scheme for Australia and New Zealand (JASANZ) accredits auditing firms.

However, the NDIS Commission maintains oversight of approved auditors through regular monitoring of auditing bodies.

Ms Scully did not respond to our attempts for comment.

Originally published as NDIS ‘lead auditor’ Lisa Scully a convicted fraudster