NDIS provider Freedom Care Group cops ban over prison inmate claims
An NDIS provider has been permanently banned from providing services to disabled people after a huge investigation into claims totalling $340,000.
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NDIS provider Freedom Care Group has been permanently banned from providing support and services to disabled people.
A joint investigation between the NDIS Commission and the National Disability Insurance Agency found that Freedom Care Group had claimed almost $340,000 for NDIS services that it did not deliver.
The group had been claiming for support services for people who were imprisoned at the time, the investigation found.
The probe, enabled by the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, also found Freedom Care Group contravened the NDIS Act by failing to comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct that requires providers to act with integrity, honesty, and transparency.
The Freedom Care Group was worth $21m when it listed on the Australian stock exchange in November 2023, and its reported revenue was $33m in the financial year 2023-2024.
Its profit after tax was nearly $1m last year and almost $3m the year before.
Its website stated it had 3000 participants, 400 staff and 80 allied health workers.
Shortly after the ban was announced, Freedom Care Group’s ASX listing was suspended.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville said providers who did the wrong thing would feel the full weight of the NDIS Commission’s regulatory powers.
“We are committed to protect and uphold the human rights of people with disability and ensure that quality disability supports and services are delivered in a safe manner,” Ms Glanville said.
“All NDIS providers – whether registered or unregistered – must adhere to the NDIS Code of Conduct, and we will take serious action against providers not fulfilling their duties to NDIS participants.
“We believe Freedom Care Group’s conduct presented risks to both NDIS participants, as well as to the integrity and financial sustainability of the NDIS.
“The dishonest and systemic nature of the contraventions strongly suggests that Freedom Care Group is not suitable to provide supports or services to people with disability,” Ms Glanville concluded.
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Originally published as NDIS provider Freedom Care Group cops ban over prison inmate claims
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