'A bloody disgrace': NDIS provider escapes punishment over boy's death
The parents of an 11-year-old boy who died in the care of a disability service provider have received devastating news on the anniversary of his death.
Dale Raichman and Sharon Braverman's son Alex died in 2018 after escaping from a Civic Disability Services respite home in the Sydney suburb of Oatley.
"I'm so angry all the time. I just don't know what to do with myself. I just want justice," Sharon told A Current Affair.
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Sharon Braveman said she was disgusted to receive news the NDIS would not investigate or punish Civic. Nine
At an inquest in 2022, the NSW Coroner found Alex's death was entirely preventable and blasted Civic and its CEO Annie Doyle for failing to provide adequate care for Alex.
The Coroner recommended Civic no longer care for children under 16 years old.
Six years to the day Alex died, Sharon and Dale received an email from the NDIS advising them it wouldn't investigate or punish the provider Civic.
"Anyone in the NDIS who is complicit in sending me this disgusting reply, you are a bloody disgrace, you make me sick," a devastated Sharon said.
Alex died in 2018 after escaping from a Civic Disability Services respite home. Nine
Alex died on the April 22, 2018, nine weeks before NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission was officially established.
The Office for the NDIS Minister Bill Shorten told A Current Affair the Commission doesn't have the legal power to retrospectively investigate matters.
Watch the full video in the player above.
FULL NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES MINISTER STATEMENT
The Minister's heart goes out to Alex's mother and family who are understandably still grief stricken by his death in 2018.
He has been informed that there is ongoing auditing and monitoring of Civic Disability and that there are no children in their care, as per the coroner's recommendations in 2022.
In light of Alex's mother reaching out to him, the Minister asked the Commission what could be done in this matter, but he was advised the Commission has no legal powers to retrospectively investigate matters before it was established on 1 July 2018.
FULL CIVIC DISABILITY SERVICES STATEMENT
Civic Disability Services has repeatedly expressed genuine remorse and has apologised to Alex Raichman's family.
Since the tragedy we have participated fully in a number of reviews through the courts, royal commission and scheduled regulatory accountability milestones and we are committed to a process of continuous improvement.
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