This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police, National Disability Insurance Agency and Services Australia.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Fraud Taskforce has conducted simultaneous search warrants and is reaching out to potential victims as part of an investigation into large-scale fraud allegedly committed by a Western Sydney healthcare practitioner.
The NDIS Fraud Taskforce investigation – codenamed Operation Pavo – comprises the Australian Federal Police (AFP), National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and Services Australia.
Operation Pavo investigators are looking into complaints a Sydney healthcare practitioner falsified reports, overcharged for services and used the allotted NDIS funding neglecting the best interests of their client needs under the scheme.
Authorities have calculated the current fraud value to be more than $120,000. However, it is believed this will increase as the investigation continues and the full extent of offending is known.
As part of the investigation, two search warrants have been executed in the Sydney suburbs of Auburn and Granville yesterday (26 August 2020) by more than 20 members from the AFP, NDIA and Services Australia, who seized materials to further assist investigations.
