Gambling-addicted grandma steals $1m from disability charity

A gambling-addicted Queensland grandmother who syphoned more than $1 million from a disability service has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Donna Healey, a long-term employee of the Horizons Respite and Recreations Association, made 866 bank transfers totalling $1.09 million from the organisation to her own accounts between 2009 and 2013.

Healey, who had a gambling addiction at the time, labelled the payments with names that made them seem legitimate, the Brisbane District Court heard today.

"As a result of the fraud, funds were not available for essential equipment, particularly equipment which enabled some severely disabled people to communicate," Judge Deborah Richards said.

"It was calculated. It was over a long period of time."

Healey, who had worked at the not-for-profit since 1998, used the funds to satisfy her gambling addiction, pay household bills and cover some of her husband's business expenses.

She has since repaid $204,000 to the organisation and will be eligible for parole in September next year.