NDIS Watch | Australia's Disability Spending Tracker

LATEST · NDIA EMPLOYEE ARRESTED IN DARWIN — $28M CLAIMED, $5M SUSPICIOUS · 19 FEB 2026 6 FEB 2026 · NDIS DIRECTOR GAMBLED $858K OF PARTICIPANT FUNDS — FACES 15 YEARS DEC 2025 · 8 FAKE NDIS PROVIDERS, 7 USING STOLEN BUSINESS IDENTITIES — WOMAN SENTENCED 20 JAN 2026 · SYDNEY PROVIDER LAUNDERED $3.5M — $35K CASH & WEAPONS SEIZED JAN 2026 · PROVIDER SENTENCED FOR BUYING STOLEN NDIA DATA — LIFETIME BAN NOV 2025 · 33 SEARCH WARRANTS · 43 TERABYTES SEIZED ACROSS 4 STATES IN ONE WEEK SEP 2025 · KELLYVILLE PROVIDER JAILED 3.5 YEARS — FLED TO UAE DURING INVESTIGATION AUG 2025 · TWO QLD WOMEN IN ONE DAY — JAILED AND ARRESTED FOR NDIS FRAUD JUN 2025 · NSW OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST JAILED 6 YEARS FOR 22 COUNTS OF FRAUD MAR 2025 · ADELAIDE CEO STOLE $404K FROM 19 DISABLED CLIENTS — SPENT ON FINE DINING & TRAVEL 254,018 UNREGISTERED PROVIDERS — NO MANDATORY QUALITY OVERSIGHT UP TO $6 BILLION ESTIMATED LOST ANNUALLY — FRAUD, WASTE & MISUSE COMBINED COST GREW FROM $15B FORECAST TO $50.7B REALITY LATEST · NDIA EMPLOYEE ARRESTED IN DARWIN — $28M CLAIMED, $5M SUSPICIOUS · 19 FEB 2026 6 FEB 2026 · NDIS DIRECTOR GAMBLED $858K OF PARTICIPANT FUNDS — FACES 15 YEARS DEC 2025 · 8 FAKE NDIS PROVIDERS, 7 USING STOLEN BUSINESS IDENTITIES — WOMAN SENTENCED 20 JAN 2026 · SYDNEY PROVIDER LAUNDERED $3.5M — $35K CASH & WEAPONS SEIZED JAN 2026 · PROVIDER SENTENCED FOR BUYING STOLEN NDIA DATA — LIFETIME BAN NOV 2025 · 33 SEARCH WARRANTS · 43 TERABYTES SEIZED ACROSS 4 STATES IN ONE WEEK SEP 2025 · KELLYVILLE PROVIDER JAILED 3.5 YEARS — FLED TO UAE DURING INVESTIGATION AUG 2025 · TWO QLD WOMEN IN ONE DAY — JAILED AND ARRESTED FOR NDIS FRAUD JUN 2025 · NSW OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST JAILED 6 YEARS FOR 22 COUNTS OF FRAUD MAR 2025 · ADELAIDE CEO STOLE $404K FROM 19 DISABLED CLIENTS — SPENT ON FINE DINING & TRAVEL 254,018 UNREGISTERED PROVIDERS — NO MANDATORY QUALITY OVERSIGHT UP TO $6 BILLION ESTIMATED LOST ANNUALLY — FRAUD, WASTE & MISUSE COMBINED COST GREW FROM $15B FORECAST TO $50.7B REALITY

State & Territory Breakdown

Based On Official NDIS Data · Est.

Participants By State FEB 2026 · EST.

State	Participants	Share
NSW	240,463	32.0%
VIC	195,376	26.0%
QLD	157,804	21.0%
WA	60,116	8.0%
SA	52,601	7.0%
TAS	22,543	3.0%
ACT	15,029	2.0%
NT	7,514	1.0%
TOTAL	761,442	100%

Providers By State JUN 2025 · EST.

State	Total	Registered
NSW	79,373	~4,803
VIC	72,729	~4,402
QLD	57,944	~3,507
WA	23,873	~1,444
SA	22,977	~1,390
TAS	5,820	~352
ACT	4,397	~266
NT	2,384	~144
TOTAL	276,581	~16,363

★ State estimates based on NDIS market monitoring, IBIS World provider analysis & ABS disability population shares. Base: 761,442 participants at 31 Dec 2025 (Q2 2025-26 official) / 276,581 providers at 31 Dec 2025.

The Scheme At A Glance

Real Data · 2025–26

12-Month Payments

$49.0B

Total payments in the 12 months to 31 December 2025 (cash basis). Up from $45.9B for the year to June 2025. Accrual basis: $48.8B.

SOURCE: NDIA Q2 2025–26 QUARTERLY REPORT

Cumulative All-Time Spend

~$220B+

Estimated total payments since July 2013 inception through June 2025 across all financial years.

SOURCE: NDIA ANNUAL REPORTS AGGREGATED

Registered Providers

16,363

Only 6% are registered and subject to mandatory quality and safety oversight.

SOURCE: ANAO AUDIT REPORT 2025–26 #2

Unregistered Providers

254,018

Not subject to mandatory registration, qualifications, or routine audit. No required quality checks under the NDIS framework.

SOURCE: ANAO AUDIT REPORT 2025–26 #2

Claims Per Day

500,000

Until 2024, after-hours claims were auto-approved with zero human oversight.

SOURCE: NDIS QUARTERLY REPORT 2024

Cost Growth Rate

+10.3%

Above the government 8% target. Originally modelled at just 3.5% per year. AFSR projects growth falling below 8% from 2026-27.

SOURCE: NDIS Q2 2025–26 QUARTERLY REPORT

Payment Error Rate

NDIA's own payment accuracy metric — includes admin errors, billing mistakes and incorrect claims. Not all errors are fraud.

SOURCE: NDIA PAYMENT ACCURACY REPORTING

Fraud & Waste

Enforcement & Estimates

Spending History

How We Got Here

2010

$15B/yrBaseline

Original government forecast — what Australians were told the NDIS would cost at full roll-out.

2021–22

$29.3BConfirmed Actual

Growing at 22%/year. Double the original forecast. Auto-approved claims, minimal fraud detection.

2022–23

$33.9BConfirmed Actual

+15.7% on prior year. Fraud Fusion Taskforce launched. Participants: ~610,000.

2023–24

$41.8BConfirmed Actual

+23.3%. Reform legislation passed. $14.4B savings targeted over 4 years. Participants: ~661,000.

2024–25

$46.4BConfirmed Actual

+10.8% growth (payments basis). Accrual basis $46.3B. 209% above 2010 forecast. Participants: 761,442 at Dec 2025. Source: NDIA Q2 2025–26.

2025–26

$50.7BForecast — AFSR Dec 2025

NDIA Annual Financial Sustainability Report (Dec 2025). Down from $52.3B Budget forecast. Target: 8% growth from 2026-27. Cumulative since 2013 exceeds $220B.

Latest Cases

Verified · AFP & NDIA Sources · Newest First

Feb 2026

LATESTDARWIN · NTINSIDER FRAUD

NDIA Employee Arrested — Used Government Role to Funnel Participants to His Own Secret Provider Business

A 47-year-old NDIA employee allegedly referred vulnerable participants to an NDIS provider he secretly co-owned. Since 2019 the business claimed $28M+ in funding, with $5M flagged suspicious. AFP executed search warrants at three Darwin locations. Charged with financial advantage by deception, general dishonesty (x2), and abuse of public office — up to 10 years prison.

PERTH · WAGAMBLING FRAUD

Provider Director Made 2,782 Transfers of Participant Funds Directly Into Personal Gambling Accounts

Former director of Links Support and Consulting Services appeared at Perth Magistrates Court charged with 8 counts of dishonestly using his director position. Investigators allege he funnelled $858,948 of participant funds into Sportsbet, TABTouch, Oz Lotto and other gambling accounts across 2,782 separate transactions between 2019 and 2022. Faces up to 15 years per count.

$858K

AFP/NDIA · 6 FEB 2026

→

JAN

2026

SENTENCEDSYDNEY · NSWDATA THEFT

Provider Bought Stolen NDIA Participant Data From Insider — Received Lifetime Ban From the NDIS

Amit Sharma, 46, owner and operator of two registered Sydney NDIS providers, was sentenced after being found to have solicited protected participant data from an NDIA staff member over 2022–2023. Pleaded guilty to three counts of soliciting disclosure of protected Agency information. Sentenced to 14 months imprisonment via Intensive Corrections Order, 90 hours community service, and a $1,850 fine. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission issued a lifetime ban against Sharma and his businesses.

SYDNEY · NSWMONEY LAUNDERING

Provider Director Laundered $3.5M Across Multiple Banks — $35K Cash & Weapons Seized at Home

A 31-year-old Villawood NDIS provider director allegedly laundered $3.5M by repeatedly withdrawing large cash amounts from different banks between 2022–2025. AFP seized $35,000 cash, air guns and gel blasters during a home search. Investigation triggered after ACIC detected financial anomalies.

SENTENCEDSYDNEY · NSWMONEY LAUNDERING

Woman Sentenced for Running Network of 8 Fake NDIS Providers — 7 Used Stolen Business Identities

Angelina Deliciso, 48, pleaded guilty in NSW District Court to dealing with proceeds of crime exceeding $1M in value. An NDIA investigation found she was part of a money laundering network linked to millions in false NDIS claims. Of the 8 companies falsely registered as NDIS providers, 7 had their business details stolen from legitimate businesses. Sentenced to an 18-month Intensive Corrections Order.

4 STATESORGANISED CRIMEMASS RAID

33 Search Warrants in One Week — Gangs Claimed Supports for Participants Who Were in Jail

250+ staff from 24 agencies executed 33 search warrants across WA, SA, NSW and QLD targeting criminal gangs suspected of up to $50M in fraudulent claims. Investigators seized 43 terabytes of data. Gang members allegedly billed for services delivered to participants who were incarcerated at the time.

JAILED + CHARGEDQUEENSLANDOVERCHARGING

Two QLD Women in One Day — One Jailed 2.5 Years, Another Arrested for $311K Fraud Across State Lines

A Bundaberg woman was sentenced to 2.5 years imprisonment for NDIS fraud on the same day a Dalby-based unregistered provider was arrested. The Dalby woman allegedly lodged fraudulent claims against participants as far as Far North Queensland and Victoria, with charges valued at $311,000 — a figure expected to rise. NDIA investigators were first alerted by Dalby Police after participant complaints about overcharging.

JAILEDSYDNEY · NSWPHANTOM SERVICES

Kellyville Cleaning Provider Jailed 3.5 Years — Fled to UAE During Investigation, Caught on Return

A 41-year-old woman who operated a registered cleaning and disability provider in Kellyville was found guilty of 88 fraudulent payment requests totalling over $1.2M, submitted against the plans of 13 NDIS participants for household tasks never performed. During the investigation she fled to the United Arab Emirates. She was arrested and charged upon re-entering Australia. Sentenced to 3 years and 6 months, with a non-parole period of 17 months.

CHARGEDADELAIDE · SAPROVIDER FRAUD

Two Adelaide Men Charged With 19 Fraud Offences — Both Banned From NDIS Before Court Date

One man was arrested and charged with 19 fraud-related offences following an NDIA-led Fraud Fusion Taskforce operation targeting an Adelaide disability provider. A second man was summonsed to face similar charges at Adelaide Magistrates Court. NDIA worked with South Australian Police. The NDIS Commission issued banning orders against two companies and both alleged offenders before the matter reached court.

JAILEDNEW SOUTH WALESFALSE REPORTS

Occupational Therapist Jailed 6 Years — Fabricated Reports and Colluded With Participants to Defraud Scheme

A NSW occupational therapist was found guilty of 22 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, sentenced to 6 years in prison with a 4-year non-parole period. The provider ran a sophisticated fraud scheme making false clinical reports and overcharging, dishonestly obtaining over $500,000. A small number of participants colluded in misrepresenting the value of services provided.

SENTENCEDPARRAMATTA · NSWINSIDER BREACH

Former NDIA Employee Sentenced for Leaking Participant Data and Abusing Public Office

A former NDIA staff member was sentenced in Parramatta District Court following a Fraud Fusion Taskforce investigation in November 2023. The employee had unlawfully accessed and disclosed identity information belonging to NDIS participants, supplying it to a provider for client recruitment. Pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorised disclosure of protected Agency information and two counts of abuse of public office. Sentenced to 2.5 years imprisonment via Intensive Corrections Order, 300 hours community service, and a $4,000 fine.

JAILEDADELAIDE · SACEO FRAUD

CEO of "People Come First" Jailed — Stole $404K From 19 Disabled Clients to Fund Fine Dining and Travel

Paul Tilbury, CEO of registered NDIS provider "People Come First", was sentenced in Adelaide District Court to 3 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to 19 counts of fraud against 19 separate clients over 2 years. He transferred $410K from the provider's accounts to his own, marked as "CEO loan" and "CEO expense", spending it on fine dining, travel, rent and clothing. Court found he falsely used the title "Dr Tilbury" and was motivated by appearing successful. Reparation order of $214,086.

SENTENCEDGIPPSLAND · VICFALSE INVOICES

Gippsland Couple Convicted for Creating Fake Invoices to Defraud an NDIS Plan — Victoria Police Joint Op

Two people in Victoria's Gippsland region were sentenced to community correction orders and community work after being found to have created false invoices to defraud an NDIS participant's plan. The matter was the result of a joint Fraud Fusion Taskforce operation involving Victoria Police and NDIA investigators working together — one of the first Victorian state police collaborations on NDIS fraud.

CCO

FFT · FEB 2025

→

Sources & Methodology

How This Tracker Works

Click to expand — Data sources, calculations & limitations

▼ SHOW

Live Spending Counter: Based on the NDIA Annual Financial Sustainability Report (AFSR) projection of $50.7B for 2025–26 (released December 2025). Divided by 365.25 days × 86,400 seconds = $1,608/sec. The "Since You Opened This Page" counter starts from when your browser loaded this page. The "This Financial Year" counter calculates from 1 July 2025 AEST.

Fraud & Waste Counter: The $6B figure is a broad estimate combining multiple sources — the ACIC estimates organised crime alone accounts for up to $1.4B annually, the NDIA puts payment errors at ~5% of spend (~$2.6B), and wider estimates including waste and misuse reach up to $6B. This is not a single official figure. The counter uses $6B as the upper bound estimate divided by 365.25 × 86,400 = ~$190/sec.

Participant Counts: Base figure of 761,442 is the official Q2 2025–26 count at 31 December 2025 (NDIA Quarterly Report). Growth rate of ~1.6%/quarter applied going forward as reforms take effect.

Provider Counts: Base of 276,581 at 31 December 2025 (NDIA Q2 2025-26 Report). Includes both registered and unregistered providers. ~2%/quarter growth rate applied.

State Breakdowns: Estimated based on NDIS market monitoring data, IBIS World provider analysis, and ABS disability population shares. These are approximations, not official per-state figures.

Enforcement Cases: Sourced exclusively from official AFP and NDIA media releases. All amounts represent alleged or charged figures. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Links go directly to source documents.

Limitations: All live counters are illustrative calculations, not real-time data feeds from the NDIA. Annual figures may differ from official outcomes. This is an independent, unofficial tracker with no affiliation to the NDIA, Australian Government, or any official NDIS entity.

Independent · Unfunded

AUSTRALIA DESERVES TO KNOW
WHERE $52 BILLION IS GOING

No government funding. No provider sponsorship. No conflicts of interest. Just public data, held to account. Share this tracker and help keep the NDIS accountable.

State & Territory Breakdown

The Scheme At A Glance

Fraud & Waste

Spending History

Latest Cases

Sources & Methodology

Click to expand — Data sources, calculations & limitations

AUSTRALIA DESERVES TO KNOWWHERE $52 BILLION IS GOING

AUSTRALIA DESERVES TO KNOW
WHERE $52 BILLION IS GOING