Joanne Lee Rogers in court for NDIS fraud

A former Bundaberg teacher’s aide will spend time behind bars after using her access to NDIS funds to fund a lifestyle of meth use and gambling.

A Bundaberg woman will spend time behind bars after using her access to NDIS funds to fund a lifestyle of meth use and gambling.

Joanne Lee Rogers pleaded guilty and was convicted in the Bundaberg District Court of two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The 48-year-old had previously worked as a teacher aide at Bundaberg West State School and Bundaberg Special School before becoming qualified for disability care.

She worked with the support service Carinbundi for seven years before starting her own business in the industry.

It was after that, that she began logging claims for cleaning and general errand jobs she never completed for her clients, the court heard.

Rogers was registered as an NDIS approved carer in 2018 and by December that year, she had started lodging claims for jobs she had never completed.

She accumulated $97,589.90 in 99 payments by the time she was arrested in May 2020.

The prosecution argued that Rogers had “taken advantage of a system to support those in need” and that once she had found a loophole that allowed her to claim for jobs she hadn’t done, she continued to exploit it.

It was heard she spent the money on her use of meth and a gambling addiction.

Joanne Lee Rogers pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Rogers’ defence barrister Callan Cassidy told the court his client “doesn’t shy away from the fact she’s responsible for these transactions” and labelled her offending as being out of character.

However, it was also heard that Rogers had a criminal history comprising offences of dishonesty, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, breaching bail, using a carriage service to harass and possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard she had since taken steps to address her drug and gambling issues, including counselling, and had not taken drugs since her arrest in 2020.

Mr Cassidy labelled Rogers’ offending as “quite unsophisticated” given her personal details were used in the transactions and said his client expressed genuine remorse.

In sentencing Rogers, who sat in the dock at the Bundaberg courthouse, Judge Tony Moynihan said the defendant had made full admissions in regard to her offending.

“Your conduct occurred in a gross breach of trust placed in the service providers under the scheme,” he said.

“You used the proceeds to fund your lifestyle including gambling and drug taking.

“You have defrauded the Commonwealth of a significant amount of money.”

Rogers was sentenced to a head sentence of 2.5 years’ jail, to be released after serving four months on a $1000 recognisance and the condition she be of good behaviour for three years.

She must also pay $50,000 in reparation to the Commonwealth.

Originally published as Joanne Lee Rogers in court for NDIS fraud