A former disability support provider who defrauded the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) of more than $400,000 has been jailed, after using the stolen funds to finance a luxury lifestyle.
Paul Kevan Tilbury, 58, of Woodforde, South Australia, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to 19 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
His fraudulent actions deprived vulnerable NDIS participants of much-needed support, instead channelling funds towards luxury clothing, high-end dining, travel, alcohol, and even a bondage bench.
Tilbury, who falsely referred to himself as “Dr Tilbury” despite lacking medical qualifications, was the CEO of People Come First (PCF), an NDIS provider. Between 2017 and 2019, he systematically manipulated the system by inflating invoices, duplicating claims, and billing for services that were never provided.
When challenged by participants, he sometimes cancelled fraudulent claims to avoid detection.
South Australia’s District Court heard that Tilbury’s actions were driven by a desire to maintain a facade of success and fund a lavish lifestyle well beyond his means. Among his extravagant purchases were:
Judge Paul Muscat condemned Tilbury’s actions, highlighting the impact on those he was supposed to support. “Not only did you deceive the NDIA, but the participants you were supposed to be supporting were, in many cases, not provided with the assistance and support they were entitled to receive,” he said.
Tilbury’s victims included people living with autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, vision impairments, and acquired brain injuries. His betrayal left many families distrustful of NDIS providers, fearing they could fall victim to similar schemes.
Despite Tilbury’s claim that he had used the money to sustain his business, the court rejected this excuse, pointing to his extensive personal spending. While he repaid $45,623, he was ordered to pay back a further $215,086.
Tilbury was sentenced to three years in prison, with a non-parole period of one year and nine months. After serving this time, he may be released on a two-year good behaviour bond.
Ironically, the court also heard that Tilbury had recently applied for NDIS funding himself, citing physical and mental health issues.
In response to the case, Minister for Social Services and the NDIS, Amanda Rishworth, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to cracking down on fraud within the scheme. “Anyone seeking to steal from NDIS participants can expect to face swift justice,” she stated.
The NDIA received over 23,000 fraud tip-offs in the past year alone, signalling the ongoing challenge of protecting participants from unscrupulous providers.
Tilbury has been permanently banned from working within the NDIS, ensuring he can no longer exploit vulnerable people for financial gain.
This is very common. Aged care providers will certainly need scrutiny too. There needs to be very strict regulations to stop this