Bobbie Albertella, 51, banned from working in aged care after being charged with fraud

A Queensland worker is the first person in the nation to be banned from working in the aged-care industry after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from her clients.

A Queensland aged-care worker has been black-listed from working in the industry after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from her elderly clients.

Bobbie Albertella, 51, was arrested and charged last month with 17 offences, including 16 fraud charges and one count of stealing, for allegedly taking advantage of residents at the Townsville nursing home where she worked.

Albertella is the first person in the nation to be permanently banned from working in the sector under new federal legislation that came into effect in December.

Police will allege the Kelso woman stole cash from her elderly patients, and racked up thousands of dollars in multiple transactions on a patient’s credit card in November and December last year.

Albertella was working at The Good Shepherd Home in Annandale, but has since been sacked.

Bobbie Albertella, 51, has been charged with fraud after allegedly stealing money from elderly people at the aged care centre where she worked.

Director of care Leonie O’Neill said the home terminated Albertella’s employment immediately after finding out about her charges.

“The Good Shepherd Home terminated that person’s employment on the 29th December 2022 immediately following notification of her arrest however she had not worked at the facility since the 7th December 2022.,” Ms O’Neill said.

“A formal letter was sent out to all residents and residents representatives on the 30th December 2022, advising that the police had arrested and charged a person of interest that had been an employee of the home.”

New reform sparked as a result of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety gives the commissioner the power to ban a person from working in the sector if they do not comply, or are suspected of not having complied, with the code of conduct.

Under the new reform, which came into effect on December 1, the name and location of those on banning orders will also be published to a public register for all to see.

According to the register, Albertella was “permanently” prohibited from being involved in “any type of aged care” as of January 1.

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said the banning order was the “most serious enforcement action” it could give.

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson at senate estimates last year.

Ms Anderson said the commission banned Albertella following the pressing of charges to prevent any potential risk to consumers in her care.

“On 31 December 2022, the commission made a banning order against Ms Albertella in order to prevent any risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of consumers receiving care from her,” Ms Anderson said.

“The banning order prohibits Ms Albertella from engaging in, providing or being involved in the provision of aged care.

“The behaviour of aged-care workers directly impacts people receiving aged care.”

Employers have a responsibility to check the Bannings Order Register to ensure they don’t employ individuals on the list.

Ms O’Neill said the home was checking on the welfare of affected aged-care residents and would refer them to seek help if they wanted.

“The Good Shepherd Home’s management have been monitoring and assisting the police in their investigations,” Ms O’Neill said.

Albertella, who is a mother, will face Townsville Magistrates Court on January 31.

Originally published as Bobbie Albertella, 51, banned from working in aged care after being charged with fraud