Considered one of Queensland’s largest residential care companies has collapsed, the identical month a toddler alleged she had been raped by a carer at one among their residences.
Lighthouse Baby and Household Companies launched in 2022 and rapidly grew to become one of many largest firms of its type.
The corporate went into liquidation this week and has no extra youngsters in its care.
New Baby Security Minister Amanda Stoker confirmed to this masthead that the division needed to step in and act following the liquidation.
“The division has moved swiftly in managing applicable preparations and 4 younger folks have now been transitioned from this supplier to different placements,” the minister stated.
Lighthouse founder Levi Te Namu has been contacted for remark.
Te Namu began Lighthouse whereas working for the not-for-profit Uniting Care together with his now enterprise companion Joshua Hillman.
An e mail seen by this masthead earlier this month confirmed the police investigation into the rape allegation ended when the lady concerned didn’t wish to present a proper assertion and withdrew the criticism, and Te Namu stated the person concerned not labored at Lighthouse.
In the meantime, staff at different businesses instructed this masthead that enormous numbers of kids in state care have been being moved out of Lighthouse residential properties.
On October 5, Te Namu stated the organisation was caring for 12 youngsters, after working 41 homes at its peak. He stated case referrals to Lighthouse had slowed earlier than the rape allegation.
In Queensland, suppliers can function and not using a licence, however should adjust to minimal requirements. Te Namu stated the corporate had been combating to get a residential care licence since April, and a choice from the division was delayed from July to October.
Te Namu stated earlier this month the rape allegation was disclosed on August 21, earlier than it was reported within the media on August 26.
“On 26 August, the division confirmed that the applying remained below the licensing delegate’s consideration. It refused the applying on 1 September, 2026,” Te Namu stated.
A division spokesperson stated Lighthouse was thought-about unsuitable for a licence below the Baby Safety Act. The division resolution to refuse Lighthouse’s utility for a care service license is at the moment topic to evaluation by QCAT.
Baby security has change into a hot-button political subject after the variety of youngsters in Queensland residential care soared from 650 on the finish of 2015 to greater than 2800 by March this yr.
Former minister Amanda Camm resigned from the frontbench on October 23, citing well being considerations, however it adopted a spate of extremely publicised incidents together with her relationship with fellow cupboard member Tim Mander and disturbing reviews of the therapy of kids in state care.
At a press convention asserting her resignation, Camm stated she wouldn’t concede errors had been made in her two years in command of a delicate and scrutinised portfolio.
“I’ve delivered the most important reform to those portfolios within the final two years than any minister earlier than me in 20 years,” she stated.
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