Neglect and Financial Exploitation Uncovered in NDIS Death Case
The tragic death of a vulnerable man in his Rockingham home has exposed a disturbing case of neglect and financial exploitation within the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Paul Shen Vun Wong was discovered deceased in his bedroom on April 25, 2023, surrounded by squalid conditions including cigarette butts, fast food packaging, and alcohol bottles.
Systemic Failures in Care Provision
Western Australia's Coroner's Court has heard that Mr Wong's NDIS-approved care provider, Phoenix Community Care, failed to deliver the services they were contracted to provide. The 40-year-old, who was an involuntary patient being treated in the community under the Mental Health Act, had not received a support worker visit for almost a month before his discovery.
His final support worker, Jaafar Ain, had performed his last shift on March 31, 2023, before resigning from Phoenix Community Care following weeks of non-payment. No replacement worker was organised to continue Mr Wong's care, despite the provider continuing to invoice for services.
Substantial Funding Misuse Revealed
The financial aspects of this case have raised serious concerns about NDIS oversight. Phoenix Community Care was contracted in November 2022 based on a single-line quotation describing "in-home support seven hours a day, seven days a week" for $177,405. This amount consumed the majority of Mr Wong's annual NDIS budget of $200,557.
Remarkably, no formal service agreement was submitted outlining the specific scope of work or responsibilities Phoenix would undertake. This lack of documentation created ambiguity about service expectations and accountability.
Multiple Health Conditions and Unclear Cause of Death
Mr Wong faced significant health challenges requiring consistent care and medication management. His conditions included:
- Chronic lymphoid leukaemia
- Congestive heart disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Mental health conditions requiring daily antipsychotic medication
Despite these serious health issues, the coroner determined Mr Wong died from carbon monoxide poisoning, though the source of the carbon monoxide remains unclear and unexplained.
Communication Breakdown and Missed Warnings
Within weeks of Phoenix Community Care beginning services, other service providers from the Rockingham/Kwinana Community Mental Health Service began reporting communication difficulties with the new provider. Mr Wong subsequently began missing appointments with his psychiatrist and was unable to collect his essential medications, citing lack of transport assistance.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Daniel McDonald, revealed that Mr Ain's resignation was "seemingly unknown to the other agencies at the time." Furthermore, despite Phoenix invoicing for support work seven days per week, evidence suggests Mr Ain only worked five to six days weekly, with no replacement workers covering his days off.
Failed Intervention Attempts
As concerns mounted, multiple attempts were made to verify Mr Wong's wellbeing. On April 18, 2023, when 360 Health and Community (appointed as Mr Wong's service coordinator) phoned Phoenix's sole director Faisa Mohamed Mohamud asking if Mr Wong was actually receiving supports, she claimed that he was.
A follow-up call later that same day went unanswered. After another missed appointment, mental health nurse Rachel Rigby attempted to contact both Mr Ain and the 360 support coordinator over four days, receiving no response. When emails raising welfare concerns were similarly ignored, police were finally called.
Grim Discovery and Regulatory Action
The day after police were alerted, Mark Cooper and Elizabeth Muronda from the Rockingham/Kwinana Community Mental Health Service made the grim discovery of Mr Wong's body. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission subsequently revoked Phoenix's registration as an NDIS service provider in November 2024 after numerous complaints, including allegations of participant abandonment.
The current coronial inquest is examining the quality of treatment, supervision, and care provided to Mr Wong, with proceedings scheduled to continue through Friday. This case highlights critical questions about accountability, oversight, and protection mechanisms within Australia's disability support system.
