The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the latest government agency to join the Fraud Fusion Taskforce to detect, resolve and prevent fraud and serious organised crime in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The Taskforce started in November 2022 and is a multi-agency partnership between the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Services Australia and agencies such as the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission. By joining the Taskforce, ASQA will be able to share and receive intelligence and information, and coordinate actions, with partner agencies more readily.
ASQA already has some significant investigations underway, said ASQA CEO Saxon Rice. “Among the cases ASQA is currently investigating are reports of alleged non-genuine training certificates issued by a non-registered training provider – which investigators executed a warrant in relation to at a premises in Melbourne last week.”
“Investigators from ASQA were supported by other agencies, including the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the Australian Taxation Office, in executing this warrant, while the NDIA also undertook complementary actions. The investigation is continuing” Ms Rice said.
The membership of the Taskforce aligns with the Australian Government’s investment of $33.3 million over 3 years in ASQA’s compliance, investigative and enforcement capabilities to strengthen its response to integrity issues in the VET sector.
The Taskforce also aims to:
- strengthen and improve the NDIS and other government payment systems, making it easy to do the right thing and harder to do the wrong thing, including spending funds incorrectly.
- reduce the impacts of fraud on NDIS participants.
- protect the safety and wellbeing of NDIS participants and other Australian systems of social supports improve systems, skills and knowledge across government to help protect the integrity of programs and payments.
