A provider operating under the name Cocoon SDA Care and its director Muhammad Latif have been permanently banned from delivering services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), following a damning investigation that revealed systemic misconduct, including fraudulent claims and breaches of participant privacy.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission announced the banning of orders against Horizon Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Cocoon SDA Care, and its director, which will take effect on 7 June 2025. The Commission has also refused Horizon’s application for registration renewal, superseding a suspension issued on 9 May 2025.
The investigation, part of a broader operation by the cross-government Fraud Fusion Taskforce (FFT), uncovered serious breaches, including charging for services to deceased or incarcerated participants and unlawful misuse of personal information.
“Horizon has grossly violated the trust placed in them by participants, families and frontline staff – this was nothing less than callous and deliberate abuse of a system designed to support dignity, independence and fairness for people with disability,” said NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville.
The Commission found repeated breaches of the NDIS Code of Conduct and concluded that Horizon lacked the competence to deliver NDIS services. “A permanent ban on the company and its director prevents any future access to NDIS funds and sends a strong message to the community that fraud and exploitation will not be tolerated,” Commissioner Glanville added.
The Commission has been working closely with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and other federal bodies through the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, which was launched in November 2022 with $150 million in funding. Since its inception, the taskforce has driven a 250% increase in tip-offs and nearly doubled the success rate of prosecutions for NDIS-related fraud.
Federal authorities had monitored Horizon for an extended period, responding to multiple tip-offs. A formal notice of intention to ban the provider and Mr Latif was issued in March 2025, with swift compliance action following.
NDIA CEO Rebecca Falkingham confirmed that specialist teams were deployed to support affected participants. “The safety of participants is our absolute priority and we’ve made sure participants have had the support they need to move to alternative providers,” she said.
Ms Falkingham also credited the Fraud Fusion Taskforce for enabling a coordinated crackdown on those attempting to exploit the NDIS. “This whole-of-government approach ensures we can effectively target fraud and uphold the integrity of the Scheme.”
The Commission stated that it continues to monitor other individuals and entities linked to Horizon and will take further enforcement action as necessary.
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