Another case of fraud against RAC seniors means systemic checks are not as robust as they should be

Continued fraud means systemic change

The now well reported case, of a 23-year-old Queensland woman charged with 113 offences of fraud against four senior victims, must not merely shock industry leaders and advocates, it must spur change. When it comes to safeguarding seniors within RAC walls, it is worthwhile for providers to assess what can be done, over and above compliance regulations, to ensure that the vulnerable in their care are not exploited in what should be a place of utter respect and safety.

Moving towards robust screening

Government messaging highlighting that there is more work to be done in the screening process of employees in aged care, “We are working with state and territory governments to introduce a more robust screening check for the aged care sector that aligns to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) worker screening check.”

There may be areas where providers can implement facility led checks and routines to minimise the ability for financial fraud to occur.

Systemic weaknesses

Problematically it is only mandated for providers delivering Commonwealth Home Support Program services or National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) services, where the offence of, “a crime or offence involving dishonesty”, will bar an employee from working.

This allows for the potential police checks currently in place for many providers, to not pick up on past offences of dishonesty and fraud.

Protracted spree

Another concerning factor within the recently uncovered fraud is the length of time the fraudulent spree spanned.

Detectives from Redcliffe Criminal Investigation Branch allege that not only was the woman able to obtain bank details from four seniors at Seabrae Manor, through her employment at the RAC facility, she was able, without impediment, to commit fraud over nine months.

From October 2024 to June 2025, the 23-year-old is alleged to have spent close to $10,000.

Family conducted initial investigation

Detective Senior Sergeant Lisa Elkins, the Redcliffe CIB Officer in Charge of the investigation highlights another area of improvement that should be explored for both residents and families. The Detective shares, “I thank the victims and their loved ones for reporting suspicious banking activity and purchases.” It is seemingly family members and not the residents themselves that first became suspicious and launched their own extensive investigation before going to police.

Detective Senior Sergeant Elkins states, “Taking advantage of the elderly members in our community will not be tolerated.” For provider leadership within the sector, there may be further policy and training that can be led from within to uphold this vision in systemic strength for residents and their families.

Bringing regular training in-house

While the Queensland Government, and most states have a similar offering, has an Elder Abuse Helpline, and free seniors’ legal services, it is worthwhile acknowledge resources to be only as good as residents ability to utilise them. In understanding the challenge of mobility issues, difficulty with technology and cognitive challenges, it is worthwhile to consider from a provider perspective how training, support and collective strength can be leveraged within RAC facilities.

In providing routine training to residents, their family members, and managers, about the precedent of behaviour that fraudulent personnel utilise, like the 23-year-old charged, a collective understanding and systemic underpinning of knowledge and checks can be established.

Caring for the full person

Dignity within RAC treatment encompasses not just care to the body but to the whole person, with theft a marker of utmost disrespect, violation and criminality.

Whether through new training modules for front-line staff, managers, as well as routine seminars for residents and loved ones, as instances of fraud continue to occur, systemic improvement should be considered from government and provider standpoints.

There is significant opportunity for provider leadership to go above and beyond, to comprehensively safeguard the dignity, respect and safety of the seniors in their care.