Following the death of a young Aboriginal lady who suffered severe burns in a bathtub, a regional disability care provider has acknowledged committing grave safety violations.
In February 2022, two employees of NDIS operator LiveBetter washed Kyah Lucas at a residence in Orange, central western NSW, causing burns to over half of her body.
A temperature control panel indicated that the water was 60°C instead of the standard maximum setting of 42°C when Ms. Lucas was taken out of the bath with her skin peeling. Five days later, the thin-skinned, non-verbal 28-year-old passed away in a Sydney hospital.
In April 2024, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission filed a civil action against LiveBetter for many violations of its standards of care, resulting in a record $1.8 million fine in a Federal Court.
After SafeWork NSW successfully pushed for the filing of a criminal prosecution as well, the care provider entered a guilty plea in the NSW District Court on Monday. Regarding Ms. Lucas, it has acknowledged one count of violating its basic duty of health and safety.
