FOI 24/25-0539
Scope
“…Please provide these documents - “The Coalition’s Freedom of Information (FOI) requests unveiled records that $6,982,898 was paid to nine providers in the 2023 calendar year to subsidise holidays such as cruises and African safaris…”
Response: The below table includes the total number of invoices and total payments for each business as outlined in the scope of your FOI request.
Having regard to conversations with your office during the processing of this request, I have also included additional data to assist in understanding the supports provided by those businesses. In this regard, I draw your attention to the fact that there are different types of support provided by each business.
Caveats
- The Disability services listed include businesses that provide a wide range services to the disabled community. The data has been provided as requested and is not an analysis of these services nor attributable to supports paid for respite care, as an example.
- The data contained in the below table includes total costs recorded for participants that are:
I. agency managed II. plan managed, III. self-managed.
‘Plan managed’ and ‘self-managed’ figures are self-declared amounts. This means that the accuracy of those figures is affected by the individual reporting. The NDIA does not always test the reliability or characterisation of expenses or identification of businesses. The NDIA continue to work with participants and providers to educate them and support accurate and timely reporting of funds expended. Provider information for self-managed participants is provided on a voluntary basis. 3. Figures do not factor undeclared or misrepresented spending. An integrity campaign focused on providers inappropriately promoting holidays to participants has commenced. Dozens of providers are being engaged in relation to problematic advertising, inappropriate incentives and invoicing concerns. This is documented in our quarterly report. 4. In some cases we are aware that participants or providers might have paid plan funds to a third-party business, and that entity may have paid for services to an identified service.
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Scope
“Please provide these documents - “The Coalition’s Freedom of Information (FOI) requests unveiled records that $6,982,898 was paid to nine providers in the 2023 calendar year to subsidise holidays such as cruises and African safaris…”
| COMPANY | ABN | Number of invoices | Total payment | Short Term Accommodation (STA) and Assistance (including Respite) | Other Supports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Discover Holidays | ABN 46 163 536 105 | 470 | $970,969 | $688,088 | $282,881 |
| 2. Leisure options | ABN 86 140 597 511 | 743 | $1,848,725 | $793,751 | $1,054,974 |
| 3. Advance Disability Services and Respite Pty Ltd | ABN 73 636 478 745 | 4,352 | $7,221,927 | $1,753,117 | $5,468,810 |
| 4. Freedom 4U Supported Holidays Pty Ltd | ABN 91 146 282 993 | 340 | $546,383 | $398,734 | $147,649 |
| 5. Club mates travel Australia Pty Ltd | ABN 25 121 497 890 | 522 | $1,323,202 | $256,301 | $1,066,901 |
| 6. Fun Cruise Autism | ABN 74 650 825 600 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 7. Abilia Pty Ltd | ABN 91 125 905 311 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 8. The Australian Foundation for Disability | ABN 99 000 112 729 | 349,302 | $111,683,982 | $2,715,746 | $108,968,236 |
| 9. Civic Disability Services Ltd | ABN 16 000 744 141 | 82,640 | $56,121,857 | $51,962 | $56,069,895 |
| 10. Lifely | ABN 75 413 657 328 | 63,013 | $9,647,730 | $47,841 | $9,599,890 |
| 11. MSC Cruises | ABN 55 003 526 725 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 12. Care 2 Cruise Pty Ltd | ABN 99 665 955 135 | 60 | $227,358 | $277,358 | $0 |
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Short Term Accommodation (STA) and Assistance (including Respite)
Short Term Accommodation (STA) and Assistance (including Respite) supports include the following 22 support line items:
| Support Item Number | Support Item Description |
|---|---|
| 01_045_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:4 - Weekday |
| 01_051_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:4 - Saturday |
| 01_052_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:4 - Sunday |
| 01_053_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:4 - Public Holiday |
| 01_054_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:2 - Weekday |
| 01_055_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:2 - Saturday |
| 01_056_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:2 - Sunday |
| 01_057_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:2 - Public Holiday |
| 01_058_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:1 - Weekday |
| 01_059_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:1 - Saturday |
| 01_060_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:1 - Sunday |
| 01_061_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:1 - Public Holiday |
| 01_062_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:3 - Weekday |
| 01_063_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:3 - Saturday |
| 01_064_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:3 - Sunday |
| 01_065_0115_1_1 | STA And Assistance (Inc. Respite) - 1:3 - Public Holiday |
| 01_200_0115_1_1 | Assistance With Self-Care Activities in a STA - Weekday Daytime |
| 01_201_0115_1_1 | Assistance With Self-Care Activities in a STA - Weekday Evening |
| 01_202_0115_1_1 | Assistance With Self-Care Activities in a STA - Saturday |
| 01_203_0115_1_1 | Assistance With Self-Care Activities in a STA - Sunday |
| 01_204_0115_1_1 | Assistance With Self-Care Activities in a STA - Public Holiday |
| 01_205_0115_1_1 | Assistance With Self-Care Activities in a STA - Weekday Night |