Deborah Luppino has taken the reins of a new disability support company, Care and Compassionate, following the liquidation of her son Liam Luppino’s previous enterprise, Core and Capacity Disability Support. That all changed with the company’s tragic accident on March 14. Just five days later, on March 19, it was officially in liquidation. This incident played out at a home owned by both Core and Capacity in Acacia Ridge, a suburb of Brisbane.
Care and Compassionate has also been incorporated at the very same residential address. This project is intended to make sure that these neighbors have access to ongoing care. Deborah Luppino of the Conservation Fund has said that she’s determined to make sure participants get the help they need to navigate this tough transition. The new company plans to formally register with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to continue offering essential services in the area.
Circumstances Surrounding the Liquidation
Core and Capacity Disability Support was managed by Liam Luppino up until its liquidation earlier this month. The situation that brought about this decision has caused an uproar in the community. This concern has only deepened after the most recent death at one of its jails. This sad incident raised a number of questions about the day-to-day practices of the company and its compliance with federal regulations.
El Gibbs, CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia, opened a salvo of impressive fire against the regulatory infestation. He had claimed that it doesn’t do enough to protect participants in sensitive circumstances.
“We urgently need the commission to have the same powers as regulators in other industries.” – El Gibbs, CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia
This call for reform highlights the need for stronger oversight in the disability sector to prevent future incidents and ensure participant safety.
Care and Compassionate’s Vision
Deborah Luppino is committed to creating that holistic environment. She shared her biggest motivation for launching this new enterprise—minimizing inconveniences for citizens. This was especially true because this came shortly on the heels of Core and Capacity liquidation.
“My sole purpose in taking over when Core and Capacity went into liquidation was to ensure that the participants still had somewhere to live and to minimise the disruption for them as best as possible,” – Deborah Luppino
Those changes will be hallmarks of the new nonprofit. Deborah continues to lead on Care & Compassionate by making sure that they listen and develop what their members want and need.
“We listen to the participants and staff and only want to ensure they’re happy,” – Deborah Luppino
We focus on the satisfaction of participants because we believe that every individual deserves a happy living experience. This dedication gives everyone the freedom to prosper and feel safe.
Regulatory Oversight and Community Impact
The QSC understands its own limitations. It statutorily cannot comment on individual providers nor any possible regulatory action against Care and Compassionate. This stark lack of oversight begs the question of how well vulnerable people are protected by the system today. Mahashini Krishna from the QSC stated:
“We work within our legislative remit, in close cooperation with other government agencies, to uphold the rights of NDIS participants and ensure the integrity of the Scheme.”
Care and Compassionate cares about ensuring we meet all NDIS regulations. Community members are still concerned about regulatory gaps that may allow another disaster to occur.
El Gibbs expressed concern regarding these vulnerabilities within the disability support sector, stating:
“Since I started we have made significant changes to our communication with both our participants and staff to enable them to express their concerns.” – El Gibbs, CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia
Gibbs emphasized the need to foster a real community among participants. He emphasized the importance of residents feeling safe, healthy, and happy in their homes and communities.
“Moving forward I am confident that we are creating a place where participants can feel a sense of community, make friendships and enjoy activities on and off site together.” – El Gibbs, CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia
