May 11, 2022

Carer ordered to repay $108,000 to Centrelink after failing to declare income

Maroochydore nurse Karen Delores Swartz, 59, received the Centrelink assistance between January 2014 and March 2019 even though she had gained employment and was no longer entitled to the allowance.

The court heard Ms Swartz had failed to notify Centrelink of her change in employment status.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) discovered she was receiving the payments after the ATO did a data match in 2018, according to media reports.

The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception.

She was sentenced to three years in jail, but released on a five-year good behaviour recognisance. She was ordered to repay the $108,753.76 she had obtained illegally.

Ms Swartz’s defence lawyer, Mark Dixon, said his client, a nurse, had been caring for her elderly mother while she herself was suffering from depression. 

Mr Dixon said if his client had served jail time she would have had to sell her home, causing a major upheaval for her family. 

Judge Nathan Jarro described Ms Swartz’s actions as “greedy” and “deceitful” and noted she used a separate bank account for the additional income. 

Convictions have been recorded against Ms Swartz. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Aged care must prepare for baby boomers now

Federal Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, has sent a warning to the aged care system that change must occur now to prepare for the influx of baby boomers, which could see resident numbers increase by 75% before 2040. Read More

GPs locked out of aged care as funding and red tape take toll on patients

"Failing residents when they are at their most vulnerable." That's how Australia's peak medical body describes the current aged care system, and it's calling for urgent action. Read More

Gogglebox star departs the show due to worsening dementia

One of the most beloved Gogglebox Australia stars, Emmie Silbery, has been forced to leave the show due to a dementia diagnosis that has also seen her move into an aged care home. Read More
Advertisement
Exit mobile version