See the list: Abusers, fraudsters banned from NDIS and aged care work

Two government watchdogs have shared information on child abusers and sex offenders to prevent rogue workers moving from one care sector to another. See the list.

Child abusers, sex offenders, fraudsters and those accused of neglect are on the list of people that have been banned from working in aged care this year, even though some have never been employed in the sector.

What they do have in common is that they’ve all been black-listed from working with clients on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The two government watchdogs have been sharing information about individuals on each other’s banned list to prevent rogue workers moving from one care sector to another.

Among them is a teacher, convicted of fraud, who is still allowed to work with kids, but not the disabled and now not the elderly.

The aged care watchdog was given powers to ban workers from the sector in December 2022, while the NDIS has been able to ban people since July 2018.

The NDIS has enforced bans on a string of former workers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Some of those on the list were banned from working with disabled clients more than two years ago, but may have had conditional bans prior to conviction.

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said the NDIS watchdog shares information about those who have been banned from working with NDIS clients.

But she said they conduct their own investigations before issuing banning orders, whether they have worked in aged care or not.

“A banning order made by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission does not automatically result in a banning order being made against an individual by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission,” Ms Anderson said.

“The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission carries out its own investigation to determine whether the individual in question is suitable to work in aged care.

NDIS and Government Services minister Bill Shorten has been in the role since 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“In the course of our investigation we collect and review evidence, including information on convictions and/or charges laid against an individual.”

Every aged care provider has a responsibility to check the commission’s register to ensure that unsuitable individuals who are banned from the sector are not engaged for employment.

In the latest aged care watchdog’s quarterly performance report from April to June, 14 people who have never been engaged in aged care were banned. All were banned permanently.

There were 11 banned, who were currently or previously, working in aged care. Of these, three were banned permanently and eight have time limited orders.

LIST OF PEOPLE BANNED FROM WORKING WITH NDIS, AGED CARE CLIENTS:

Jailed:

Glen Akin, from Officer South, Victoria.

The former carer for children with disabilities pleaded guilty in September 2021 to producing child abuse material. The court heard Akin took photos of a naked young boy and shared the image with two males on social media apps. He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

Christopher Palmares Sy, 35, was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Source: Facebook

Christopher Palmares Sy, of Cessnock, NSW.

The occupational therapist and taekwondo teacher was jailed for six and half years in 2022 after pleading guilty to a number of offences including sexual intercourse with a child and supplying a prohibited drug to a child.

Daniel Sasulu Nuumaalii, of Umina Beach, NSW.

The former care worker was jailed in April 2021 after admitting to filming intimate images of clients in the shower and on the toilet and sharing them.

Daniel Sasulu Nuumaalii, a former western Sydney care worker who filmed intimate images of people under his care.

Adam Ledgerwood, of Nowra Hill, NSW.

The Central Coast former disability support carer admitted having sex with his client who had a cognitive impairment, was jailed in November 2021 for six years with a non parole period of three years and six months.

Adam Ledgerwood admitted to having sex with a client. Picture: Sue Graham

Katrina Harrington, of New Auckland, QLD.

The former disability worker was jailed in September 2021 after having unprotected sex with an intellectually disabled man in her care in a bid to get pregnant.

Mitchell John Landry, of White Hills, Victoria.

He was jailed in July 2021 after admitting rorting the NDIS of $340,000 by billing the Commonwealth for bogus services, using the money to buy three properties and a flashy Mercedes-Benz van.

Mitchell Landry, who defrauded $321,940 from the National Disability Insurance Agency by pretending to mow lawns for disabled people. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Rosa Maria Maione, of Northfield, SA.

The former carer was jailed in March 2022 for six years for the manslaughter by criminal neglect of Ann Marie Smith, who was totally reliant on Maione for her day to daycare.

Tomas Albert Hopkins, of Bunbary, WA.

In August last year he was jailed for six years for sexually interfering with two autistic teenage girls under his care.

Alhassane Hilmi, of Lurnea, NSW and his brother Mostafa Hilmi, of Liverpool, NSW, were involved in a six-person family crime ring which saw more than 70 Australians robbed of their NDIS funds to support their health problems. Both men were sentenced to three years in jail.

Disability support worker Rosa Maria Maione was found guilty of manslaughter over the death of Anne Marie Smith. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

Masterminds of the scam were Amal Hilmi, of Heckenberg, NSW and Alaedine Rifai, of Heckenberg, NSW. The husband and wife were both jailed in September 2020 for a maximum of four and a half years for their role in the $1.5m rort. The syndicate launched several NDIS providers so they could make the fraudulent claims in western Sydney. Funds were spent on Rolex watches and sports cars.

PUNISHED:

Alhassane Hilmi’s wife Sumaiah A Shakhshir, of Liverpool, NSW, pleaded guilty in 2019 to her role in the sophisticated NDIS scam. In May 2021, the teacher, now living in Melbourne, received a two-year intensive corrections order. While she is banned from working with the disabled or the elderly, she can still teach children after she won her Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) appeal to overturn a decision to revoke her registration. The tribunal accepted she was a “different person” now and that she offended to appease her in-laws.

Mostafa Hilmi’s girlfriend Michelle Mary Ross, of Liverpool, NSW, and the sixth person involved in the NDIS rort, received a sentence of two years to be served by way of an intensive correction order for conspiring to dishonestly obtain a gain.

Praveen Yadav, of Hoppers Crossing, Victoria.

The former support worker pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a person with a cognitive impairment or mental illness in April last year. The court heard he had preyed upon a disabled woman and inappropriately touched her and forced a kiss on her. He was placed on an 18-month corrections order and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work. The original corrections order was varied to 15 months. No conviction was recorded.

Patricia Tirimacco was caught on home CCTV striking her 19-year-old client who had cerebral palsy and was non-verbal. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Brenton Edwards

Berivan Khalil, of Panania, NSW.

Back in 2008 she pleaded guilty to receiving financial advantage from a Commonwealth entity and received 200 hours community service.

Patricia Rosanna Tirimacco, of Magill, SA.

The carer was caught on home CCTV striking her 19-year-old client who had cerebral palsy and was non-verbal, with a pillow and slapping him. She had cared for him for 13 years. In November 2021, she pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of assault and was sentenced to eight months on home detention.

Originally published as See the list: Abusers, fraudsters banned from NDIS and aged care work