Overview

• Kyah Lucas, a 28-year-old Aboriginal woman with disabilities, died in 2022 after suffering burns from bath water heated to 60°C, far above the safe limit of 42°C.
• LiveBetter pleaded guilty in NSW District Court to breaching its primary duty of health and safety, acknowledging failures in safety protocols and staff training.
• The organization faced accusations of neglecting hot water system audits and failing to train workers on safe bathing practices or burn response procedures.
• In a separate 2024 case, LiveBetter was fined a record $1.8 million by the Federal Court over multiple care standard violations brought by the NDIS regulator.
• A sentencing hearing for the guilty plea is scheduled before Judge Wendy Strathdee, while LiveBetter claims it is working to improve safety measures.