The operator of a residential group home in Canberra has been fined almost $2 million after a resident choked to death on a toasted sandwich in 2020. It's the largest fine ever imposed on an NDIS provider
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00:00The 47-year-old man was non-verbal with an intellectual disability and required to only
00:08eat soft foods. In May of 2020, he choked and collapsed while eating a toasted cheese
00:15and salami sandwich, served to him by staff at a residential group home in Richardson
00:21in Canberra South, operated by Valmar Support Services. The man was an NDIS participant
00:28and following his death, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner launched proceedings
00:33in the Federal Court. The Court found Valmar put all three residents at the group home
00:39at serious risk of harm by failing to implement adequate mealtime management and dietician
00:45plans. It was also revealed that despite all residents being at risk of choking, none of
00:51the support workers who cared for them had any formal training with respect to that risk.
00:56In her judgement, Justice Elizabeth Raper describes the circumstances of the man's death
01:02as grave and tragic. She says Valmar exposed the man and the other two residents to considerable
01:09risk of harm over a long period, outlining 24 breaches of the NDIS Code of Conduct and
01:15imposing a $1.9 million fine. NDIS Commissioner Louise Glanville has welcomed the record fine
01:24and says the man's death is a tragedy that could have been prevented had appropriate
01:29procedures and staff training been in place.