Drew Pavlou and Peter Zogoulas claim to have uncovered alleged overcharging within Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) after conducting an undercover test of a Sydney-based cleaning provider.
Pavlou and Zogoulas launched the probe after speaking with a whistleblower who alleged that some providers exploit the system by billing minimum hours regardless of the time actually worked.
Posing as the carer of an NDIS participant, Zogoulas hired a cleaning service to attend a largely tidy Airbnb unit in Sydney. According to the pair, the cleaners spent around 25 minutes at the property and arrived without professional cleaning equipment.
The pair say they were then issued an invoice of $236.06, based on a two-hour minimum charge.
When challenged, the company initially stated that such a minimum was required under NDIS rules. After being confronted with NDIS guidelines, the company revised the bill to $24.18, reflecting the time spent.
The company disputes the journalists’ claims, saying the caller agreed to the minimum charge during the booking.
The case has renewed scrutiny of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, a multi-billion-dollar federal programme designed to support Australians living with disability by funding services such as personal care, therapy, transport and household assistance.
With more than 600,000 participants nationwide, the NDIS is one of Australia’s largest social programmes, costing tens of billions of dollars annually.
In recent years, however, the scheme has faced growing concerns about fraud, overcharging and misuse by some providers, prompting government pledges to strengthen oversight and enforcement to ensure funds are used appropriately and reach those who need them most.
Source: Hello Care.
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