Where can institutional abuse happen?
Institutional abuse can occur where children and adolescents are placed in the care of others. While increased awareness has encouraged a review of institutional safety measures, sadly perpetrators misuse their position of power. We continue to see claims involving abuse in childcare centres and foster care settings, as well as in other institutions such as schools (public and private), religious organisations, and sporting clubs.
For children and families affected by abuse, the emotional and psychological impact can be immediate and ongoing, regardless of when the abuse occurred. No amount of compensation can repair the damage caused by years of abuse. However, it can assist with medical treatment and living costs for those who struggle to maintain full-time employment.
Our abuse law team have supported those who have experienced sexual or physical abuse in several circumstances, including abuse suffered in the following settings:
Church-run or church-and-state-run institutions
Foster care
Daycare centres
Schools and other places of education
Sporting clubs
Prisons and other correction facilities, such as juvenile detention centres
Why do I need an abuse lawyer?
Abuse laws are complex, particularly those involving institutional abuse from the past. Pursuing these claims often involves investigating organisations that no longer exist or institutions such as churches and schools, as well as locating potential witnesses.
Abuse claims also involve working directly with defendants and their legal teams, who can use legal tactics to delay court appearances and damage victim-survivors credibility.
An experienced abuse lawyer understands the laws in your jurisdiction can help build the strongest case possible. Abuse lawyers often incorporate trauma-informed practices and make the process as comfortable as possible for survivors.
How we can help
Our abuse lawyers have decades of experience supporting victim-survivors, backed by a team of legal assistants and support staff dedicated to providing guidance and advocacy at every step.
We take a trauma-informed approach to ensure you feel supported throughout the entire claims process. Our team can connect you with free social work services to help manage the practical and emotional challenges that often arise.
Your privacy is our priority, and all matters are handled with complete confidentiality.
If court proceedings become necessary, we can represent you and help you navigate the process with as little stress as possible.
If you’re considering your options, a lawyer of your choosing can help you understand what is possible and guide you towards the next step with confidence.
Seeking justice for abuse
The compensation and benefits you may be entitled to will vary based on the type of abuse you experienced and the state or territory where the abuse occurred.
You may have a claim for:
- Compensation for pain and suffering, as well as loss of enjoyment of life caused by physical injury, psychological injury (or both).
- Loss of earnings.
- Past and future medical and related treatment and care expenses, including psychological care.
What to expect
There are several stages you might go through during your case. Our expert and caring Abuse law team will guide you through each of these stages:
We’ll provide you information to help you decide on the best course of action and organise your obligation free initial appointment.
This gives you the opportunity to meet with a lawyer of your choosing to find out more about your case and discuss the next steps of your claim.
We’ll gather evidence, obtain reports, organise meetings and appointments, and much more. This is how we build the strongest case possible.
We’ll strive to settle your case without court proceedings to lessen the impact on you, as well as helping to ensure you receive the compensation you legally deserve.
Most cases don’t reach the courts. However, if your case goes to trial, you can rest assured that your legal team will guide and represent you at every step of the journey.
We’ve been supporting survivors of abuse for more than 20 years
Slater and Gordon has a storied history of fighting on behalf of victim-survivors of abuse, having first bought action on behalf of former residents of Christian Brother’s boys homes in Western Australia more than 20 years ago.
We achieved a landmark class action settlement against Fairbridge Farm School in Central Western New South Wales.
We were also called upon to give evidence at the 2014 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. This was based on our experience in dealing with the Church authorities in relation to historical abuse cases and the lack of proper acknowledgement of the abuse and harm the victim-survivors had suffered.
Our national network of experienced abuse claims lawyers are passionate about assisting clients to achieve justice and find closure. We will navigate you through the claims process with compassion and dedication.
Frequently Asked Questions
We offer a No Win No Fee* arrangement.
This means that if your case is successful, you will receive compensation, and we will charge a fee for the legal work we have done on your behalf. However, if your case is not successful and you do not receive compensation, then you will not pay any of our legal fees. We may still be liable for third party costs and disbursements.
Importantly, our fees are not based on a percentage of the final compensation you receive. They are based on a set fee that will be explained to you in your obligation free initial appointment.
For civil claims related to child sexual abuse, psychological abuse and serious physical abuse, there is no time limit nationally. Abuse survivors can take legal action, whether it was recent or decades ago.
Historical abuse claims can be challenging because they often rely on personal testimony and records from many years ago. Evidence such as medical records, witness statements, or institutional documents can support a claim, and our team can help gather and present this information effectively.
You can make a claim against institutions, organisations and individuals. This includes but is not limited to churches, schools, government departments and services, hospitals, nursing homes, and foster care systems.
When pursuing a civil claim, you can seek justice against family members, partners and even professionals who had a duty of care towards you and abused their power (e.g. doctors, teachers, coaches).
Depending on the type of claim, National Redress Scheme, Victims of Crimes Schemes, or Civil Claim, seeking legal advice or even hiring a lawyer may help you throughout the process. There are many pathways you can take to seek justice and working with abuse claim lawyers can help assist you in achieving your preferred outcome.
For many people, pursuing a claim helps them move on and heal from the trauma they’ve experienced. While no amount of money can take the years of suffering away, it can help survivors get the right access to support and services for the long run.
If you’ve experience child sexual, psychological and physical abuse, you can make a civil claim any time. If you’ve experienced other types of abuse as an adult such as domestic violence or sexual assault, time limits may apply. If you’re unsure whether there are time restrictions for your circumstances, it may be worth speaking to a lawyer to understand if you can claim or seek other forms of compensation.
