Record $2.5 million penalty imposed on NDIS provider for failing to keep participants safe

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville today welcomed a record $2.5 million penalty imposed by the Federal Court against Lifestyle Solutions (Aust) Pty Ltd. This represents the highest penalty imposed by the Court in proceedings brought by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission).

The proceeding concerned NDIS participants and support workers suffering physical violence and abuse in a Supported Independent Living accommodation facility located on the central coast of New South Wales.

Lifestyle Solutions was responsible for providing various supports to the NDIS participants who were residents in the home and required constant care and supervision.

One NDIS participant, who has complex communication needs, suffered multiple injuries while living in the home, including being bitten on the face and arm, being put into a headlock, and having her hair torn out.

Lifestyle Solutions admitted it had committed 96 contraventions of the NDIS Act, which included multiple breaches of the NDIS Practice Standards and Code of Conduct between June 2019 and October 2021.

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