Another Perth-based NDIS support services provider has ceased trading and called in insolvency practitioners against prevailing industry headwinds.
Another Perth-based NDIS support services provider has ceased trading and called in insolvency practitioners against prevailing industry headwinds.
Disability and support services provider Agape Care Services WA Pty Ltd has called time and appointed HLB Mann Judd Insolvency WA managing partner Greg Quin as liquidator.
It’s understood the Kelmscott-based business ceased trading shortly before the insolvency practitioner was appointed on November 25, with clients notified to find alternative providers.
Agape describes itself as a registered NDIS provider and lists supported independent living, short-and medium-term accommodation, specialist disability accommodation, in-home and personal care as among its offerings.
It’s understood that low rates from National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), difficulties securing clients, increased workers compensation insurance costs, payroll tax burdens and audit costs were among the reasons for the company’s demise.
Agape marks the latest in a string of disability and support services providers to succumb to regulatory and financial challenges and appoint insolvency experts, with several of local providers citing changes to NDIS price settings.
So far, this financial year, 179 healthcare and social services companies have tumbled into trouble across Australia, according to Australian Securities and Investment Commission data.
Just north of 480 healthcare and social assistance entities entered into administration or had appointed an insolvency practitioner in the 2024-2025 financial year.
In 2023-24, the count was 281, in 2022-23 it was 160, and in 2021-22 it was just 73, representing a rapidly increasing insolvency trend in the health care and social services sector nationally.
In July this year, the federal government's National Disability Insurance Agency introduced significant changes to NDIS pricing, rules and mechanisms for disability support.
One of the state’s biggest disability therapy service providers with 14 branches, Therapy Focus, called in McGrathNicol administrators in October.
At the time, Therapy Focus said its financial woes were exacerbated by the decrease in NDIS pricing for therapy services despite increasing demand and cost of services.
At the end of October, disability employment support service Forrest Personnel closed its doors after 40 years of operation in regional and remote Western Australia.
Then in mid-November, Anglicare WA discontinued its NDIS service, also citing the rising cost of compliance and NDIS pricing changes made services unfeasible.
Agape Care Services WA could not immediately be reached for comment.
