The Aporia · Kids left in the lurch by collapse of millionaire’s residential care business

Lighthouse Child and Family Services, one of Queensland’s largest residential care providers for children, recently collapsed into liquidation. The company's founder Levi Te Namu is currently under investigation following an alleged rape by a carer at one of their facilities; however, the girl involved withdrew her complaint due to not wanting to provide a formal statement. Following the company's collapse, Queensland’s Child Safety Department intervened and relocated four young people from Lighthouse to other care providers. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about oversight in child residential care services in Queensland.

Written by AI on 2026-11-01, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

The residential care business Lighthouse Child and Family Services, founded by Levi Te Namu in 2022, has collapsed, leaving its last four children to be transferred to other placements. The Queensland government stepped in following the liquidation. Earlier this month, an email revealed that a police investigation into a rape allegation against a carer at one of Lighthouse's residences was dropped when the alleged victim withdrew her complaint and did not want to provide a formal statement. Te Namu previously worked for the not-for-profit Uniting Care with his business partner Joshua Hillman before starting Lighthouse. The collapse comes amid growing scrutiny over the quality of care provided by such businesses in Queensland.

Written for “Collapse Of Residential Care Business” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Child safety has become a hot-button political issue after the number of children in Queensland residential care soared from 650 at the end of 2015 to more than 2800 by March this year.

left frames increase in child care as problematic
Former minister Amanda Camm resigned from the frontbench on October 23, citing health concerns, but it followed a spate of highly publicised incidents including her relationship with fellow cabinet member Tim Mander and disturbing reports of the treatment of children in state care.

left criticizes government handling of child safety issues

Reading Leans left (beta estimate) Confidence medium 1 quote(s) discarded as not found in the article

Leaning: leans left for article 119119 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-11-01

📰 Collapse Of Residential Care Business

Economy/Business · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

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Julius Dennis

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At a press conference announcing her resignation, Camm said she would not concede mistakes had been made in her two years in charge of a sensitive and scrutinised portfolio. “I have delivered the biggest reform to these portfolios in the last two years than any minister before me in 20 years,” she said.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-01

2026-11-01 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Kids left in the lurch by collapse of millionaire’s residential care business · assertive framing

One of Queensland’s biggest residential care businesses has collapsed, the same month a child alleged she had been raped by a carer at one of their residences. asserted

she → collapse → residences

Lighthouse Child and Family Services launched in 2022 and quickly became one of the biggest companies of its kind. asserted

Services → launch → kind

The company went into liquidation this week and has no more children in its care. asserted

company → go → care

New Child Safety Minister Amanda Stoker confirmed to this masthead that the department had to step in and act following the liquidation. asserted

department → confirm → liquidation

“The department has moved swiftly in managing appropriate arrangements and four young people have now been transitioned from this provider to other placements,” the minister said. asserted

minister → move → placements

Lighthouse founder Levi Te Namu has been contacted for comment. asserted

Namu → contact → comment

Te Namu started Lighthouse while working for the not-for-profit Uniting Care with his now business partner Joshua Hillman. asserted

Namu → start → partner

An email seen by this masthead earlier this month showed the police investigation into the rape allegation ended when the girl involved did not want to provide a formal statement and withdrew the complaint, and Te Namu said the man involved no longer worked at Lighthouse. asserted

man → see → Lighthouse

Meanwhile, workers at other agencies told this masthead that large numbers of children in state care were being moved out of Lighthouse residential homes. asserted

numbers → tell → homes

On October 5, Te Namu said the organisation was caring for 12 children, after operating 41 houses at its peak. asserted

organisation → say → peak

He said case referrals to Lighthouse had slowed before the rape allegation. asserted

referrals → say → allegation

In Queensland, providers can operate without a licence, but must comply with minimum standards. asserted

providers → operate → standards

Te Namu said the company had been fighting to get a residential care licence since April, and a decision from the department was delayed from July to October. asserted

decision → say → October

Te Namu said earlier this month the rape allegation was disclosed on August 21, before it was reported in the media on August 26. asserted

it → say → August

“On 26 August, the department confirmed that the application remained under the licensing delegate’s consideration. asserted

application → confirm → consideration

It refused the application on 1 September, 2026,” Te Namu said. asserted

Namu → refuse → September

A department spokesperson said Lighthouse was considered unsuitable for a licence under the Child Protection Act. asserted

Lighthouse → say → Act

The department decision to refuse Lighthouse’s application for a care service license is currently subject to review by QCAT. asserted

decision → refuse → QCAT

Child safety has become a hot-button political issue after the number of children in Queensland residential care soared from 650 at the end of 2015 to more than 2800 by March this year. asserted

number → become → March

Former minister Amanda Camm resigned from the frontbench on October 23, citing health concerns, but it followed a spate of highly publicised incidents including her relationship with fellow cabinet member Tim Mander and disturbing reports of the treatment of children in state care. asserted

it → resign → care

she → announce → years

Kids left in the lurch by collapse of millionaire’s residential care business

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