Editor’s note: This letter reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of STPL News. Allegations in this letter are to be interpreted as claims only and not findings of fact.
By Mark Irving — Former CJ Castle Care staff member
It makes me wonder how a single person with a halfway reasonable idea could lose his way so badly—and without breaking a sweat or showing any moral doubt about how many lives he affected along the way. Richard Ingram’s moral compass has completely failed, and the only ones benefitting from his deception are members of his family and his bookkeeper.
From the start, Richard Ingram (unqualified) wanted to run a day service better than the bigger players. He gathered quality staff and projected his master plan. But little did we know he always had a hidden agenda of self-importance and grandeur. The staff worked well beyond what was asked, showing genuine care and compassion honed through years of experience. Their knowledge was invaluable to the Castle.
Even within the first few months, staff noticed a shift. Richard became less open to discussing options, future plans for the Castle, and recruitment strategies. Cracks began appearing in the foundations. Richard advertised for more clients and promised to match hours and pay structures for new staff, but the only way he could do this was by reducing the hours of the dedicated staff who had helped establish the service. This destabilised relationships and morale.
When Richard brought in unqualified family members and paid them at the same rate as experienced staff, tensions only grew. And when staff raised concerns about these changes, about the treatment of clients, and about inflated prices charged to families and carers, they were told bluntly: this was his business, he would run it his way, and if we didn’t like it we could leave. He constantly reminded us of the contracts we had signed. Later, we learned those contracts weren’t worth the paper they were written on—simply another way for him to control and bully staff.
Richard also brought in his friend and godmother to his children—as a type of bookkeeper. Under his direction, she manipulated figures and doctored payslips to show superannuation contributions that were never actually paid into staff members’ funds.
He even told staff he planned to run a separate complex, Arcadia, as a standalone facility if the Castle failed. At Arcadia he installed a half-court basketball floor with a professional backboard and ring, claiming it was for clients. In reality, it was for his son Liam to practise on—a “business expense” written through the Castle’s books.
And now, here we are.
- The Castle has collapsed into ruins.
- Arcadia has been closed down.
- Richard Ingram and his family have been locked out of the second Arcadia site.
- Yet they are reportedly running a day service out of Hastings Community Hall.
Serious questions remain unanswered:
- If the Castle is in liquidation and staff have all been let go, why are families and clients still being charged?
- Where is the money going, given all accounts are frozen?
- Are the family members all “volunteers”?
- And if so, do these “volunteers” have their own ABN numbers?
As I said at the start: Richard Ingram and his family have collapsed, and the Castle is in ruins.
Editor’s note: This letter reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of STPL News. Allegations in this letter are to be interpreted as claims only and not findings of fact.
