"Psychologist" to face fraud charges

06 Aug 2010

MEDIA RELEASE: 6 August 2010

A man who claims to have qualified as a psychologist during the 1980s in Yugoslavia has been committed to stand trial in the Melbourne County Court on 367 charges relating to fraud and attempted fraud against WorkSafe and the TAC.

WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission allege Dusan Milosevic of Carlton, was not qualified to work as a psychologist in Victoria because fake documents were used to register with the Psychologists' Registration Board in 1998.*

The charges arise from his treatment of injured workers and people with injuries suffered in transport incidents.

Between April 2003 and February 2009, the provider consulted on 430 occasions with 24 TAC clients.

Mr Milosevic is charged with 34 TAC counts of obtaining and attempting to obtain property by deception. 

WorkSafe has charged him on 323 counts of obtaining property by deception and attempting to obtain property by deception.

The alleged fraud against the TAC is $56,342.73 and WorkSafe is $1,138,785.60.

Mr Milosevic has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Pending a directions hearing in the County Court on 15 October, Mr Milosevic's passport has been seized and he has been ordered to report to police three times a week as well as pay a $70,000 surety.

It is alleged false documents were used to gain registration with the NSW and later the Victorian psychologist registration boards in 1998.  Mr Milosevic's registration is currently suspended.

A TAC spokesperson said that the organisation strives to ensure that people affected by road trauma receive the best medical and clinical treatment.

* The Psychologists Registration Board was recently replaced by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

For further information please contact: Amanda Bavin, (03) 5225 6591 or 0439 567 249.