Police in New South Wales are investigating the death of a 28-year-old disabled woman who suffered burns while being bathed at a private home in Orange. The woman, who lived with multiple disabilities, was injured on 2 February and later died in a Sydney hospital.
She was initially taken to Orange Base Hospital before being transferred to Concord Hospital in Sydney, where she died on 7 February. Her NDIS provider, Live Better, confirmed the incident and described it as a “tragic accident”.
Natalie Forsyth-Stock, chief executive of Live Better, said the woman had suffered burns and that the staff involved were properly trained, with no suggestion of fatigue. She acknowledged that “hot water is a risk” when working in people’s homes and said the organisation would review its processes to see if any lessons could be learned. She added that she had apologised to the family.
A NSW Police spokesperson said officers from the Central West Police District had commenced an investigation and were preparing a brief of evidence for the coroner. Live Better has also reported the incident to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and Worksafe NSW. The commission said it was aware of the matter and had commenced regulatory actions, offering its sympathies to the family.
The case follows a separate incident in which the commission is suing another provider, the Australian Foundation for Disability, after a woman was found drowned in the bath of her NDIS-funded care home in Sydney in 2019.
