10/08/2026
You may have seen the “90% of small NDIS plan managers showed non-compliance” statistic circulating on social media.
It’s a confronting headline.
But there is some important context missing.
The evidence being referred to came from NDIA Deputy CEO John Dardo and related to a specific cohort of smaller plan managers managing between 0–100 participants.
Importantly, the evidence referred to “indicators of fraud”.
An indicator of fraud is not a finding of fraud.
It is also not the same thing as a formal finding of non-compliance.
An indicator is something identified through data, behaviour or patterns that warrants further examination. That distinction matters — particularly when statistics are being shared publicly in a way that can undermine confidence in an entire sector.
There is another statistic being circulated alongside it.
In 2024, the NDIA confirmed that it had undertaken anonymised data matching between 900 plan manager ABNs and the ATO. Of those, 343 — approximately 38% — would have failed a Statement of Tax Record at that time.
Again, that is concerning and absolutely warrants scrutiny.
But failing a tax compliance check is not, by itself, evidence that an organisation has fraudulently claimed NDIS funding.
At Virtually Accountable, we strongly support increased integrity and accountability across the NDIS.
In fact, providers working with us may have noticed that we are asking more questions and requesting more supporting documentation than they may have experienced previously.
There is a reason.
The NDIA and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission have specifically reminded Plan Managers and Support Coordinators of their obligations around record keeping, conflicts of interest and preventing the misuse of NDIS funds.
The compliance environment is changing.
Plan Managers are increasingly expected to be able to demonstrate that payments made from participant plans were legitimate, appropriately claimed and supported by adequate records.
That means invoices matter.
Service agreements matter.
Support notes matter.
Rosters, timesheets and evidence of services delivered can matter.
And providers maintaining appropriate business, taxation and compliance records matters.
We don't believe stronger integrity measures are something good providers or good plan managers should fear.
They protect participants.
They protect legitimate providers.
They protect the sustainability of the NDIS.
And ultimately, they help ensure funding reaches the people it was designed to support.
But accountability needs to work both ways.
We should absolutely investigate fraud and non-compliance wherever it occurs.
We should also be careful not to turn a risk indicator into a finding of guilt simply because it makes a better Facebook headline.
Virtually Accountable is led by professionals with qualifications in Government Fraud Compliance, strengthening our approach to fraud awareness, payment integrity, evidence and NDIS compliance.
Virtually Accountable has had ZERO findings of non-compliance and pass a stringent audit every 18 months, with weekly integrity checks by the NDIS that we have passed every single time.
Integrity matters.
So does accuracy.
— Virtually Accountable