A Perth exercise physiologist has been jailed for defrauding the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) of more than $140,000 through claims for healthcare services that were never provided.
The man was sentenced on November 3 to two years in prison after being convicted of submitting invoices for payment under the taxpayer-funded veterans support system.
He must serve six months behind bars before becoming eligible for release.
The case is the latest in a crackdown on fraud involving schemes intended to provide healthcare and support to former servicemen and women and their families.
The DVA said fraudulent claims diverted resources from veterans who depended on the system.
“Protecting the integrity of the system is critical to ensuring veterans and their families can access the care and support they are entitled to when they need it,” a department spokesperson said.
The department said it had strengthened efforts to identify and investigate suspicious claiming patterns through enhanced data analytics and targeted compliance operations.
Provider fraud remains a key focus for authorities, who have urged anyone with concerns about suspected fraud within the veterans’ healthcare scheme to come forward.
