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Childhood Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims

Overview

While compensation doesn’t undo the harm, it can provide a measure of justice and financial support for survivors of child sexual abuse. If you’re a survivor of such abuse, our team of compensation solicitors can help you navigate the complex claim process, helping ensure you receive redress. 

We offer a free, confidential consultation with one of our specialised historical abuse compensation lawyers. It’s during this consultation that our team can answer your questions, and let you know about your compensation entitlements, likely outcomes and process logistics — based on your case specifically. 

If you decide to move forward with your claim, you can gain access to our leading legal services through our no-win, no-fee policy. This means that you only pay if we win your case. In the rare instance that your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t be charged any expenses.  

You can book your free consultation online, or give us a call at 1800 004 878.

35
Years Experience

In compensation claims.

98%
Success Rate

Winning successful cases for our clients.

35,000
Claims won

Translating to billions of dollars for our clients.

Filing a compensation claim: A National Redress Scheme claim vs a civil claim

Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Federal Government established the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

While the National Redress system provides an important and extremely valuable service, survivors should be aware that civil claims can often result in higher payouts — and that accepting a settlement under the National Redress System precludes you from seeking further damages.

For this reason, we strongly recommend that survivors of historical abuse speak to a specialist lawyer before applying through the scheme. 

A common misconception in historical abuse cases is that a perpetrator has to face criminal charges before civil claims can be filed. This is not true. If you or a loved one is a childhood sex abuse survivor, you can sue for compensation even if no criminal charges have been filed. This often means that civil action can succeed where criminal action has failed.

Do you want to learn more about filing a compensation claim?

Call us for confidential, free advice.

Process

The claims process

Achieving a successful sexual abuse claim involves a complex process. It requires the gathering of extensive evidence, the forming of in-depth legal arguments and intricate knowledge of the relevant laws and legal precedents. We know it takes a lot of courage to speak up and share your experience. That’s why our work is founded on compassion and unwavering commitment to supporting survivors.

Our extensive experience in building and winning these cases makes GMP Law the best choice in your fight for justice.

During your free consultation, our compensation lawyers will examine your case and let you know the optimal pathways forward. Generally, childhood sexual abuse civil cases are settled privately through mediation. This involves all parties engaging in confidential discussions to reach an agreement, as facilitated by a neutral third-party mediator. However, if a settlement can’t be achieved, we are prepared to take your case to trial (litigation).

Mediation generally resolves within months, while litigation can take years. This is one reason why we offer our no-win, no-fee policy: regardless of how long your case takes and its associated costs, you can pursue redress without the stress of legal expenses — as our fees are contingent on a successful resolution.

Considering filing a claim: The first step

If you’re considering filing a claim, or simply want to inquire with an experienced abuse compensation solicitor, the first step is to book a free, confidential consultation. As you speak with our team and they become familiar with your circumstance, they can then take out the guesswork and inform you of your rights. Your solicitor will offer informed legal advice on whether and how to move forward, with no obligation to utilise our services. 

If, after speaking to our team and considering your options, you do decide to file a claim, our team can guide you through each step of the legal process; we’ll ensure your case is handled with sensitivity and competence, resulting in favourable redress.

What compensation can I expect for my sexual abuse claim?

The awarding of financial compensation in civil cases breaks down into four areas:

  • Cost of treating the immediate physical or psychological injury.
  • Ongoing medical costs, such as domestic care to recuperate from long-term injuries.
  • Non-economic (pain and loss) damages for psychological or emotional distress.
  • Loss of earnings or superannuation if the incident leaves you unable to work.

 

In some cases, courts have awarded victims “aggravated and exemplary damages”. This usually occurs in special or extreme circumstances when the court wishes to make an example of the defendant.

Free Resources
Our guide to child and sexual abuse compensation claims

Our comprehensive guide to assist you through abuse compensation claims process

Maximise Your Compensation

Why Gerard Malouf & Partners?

At Gerard Malouf & Partners, we understand how hard it is for victims of sexual assault and child abuse to walk through our doors. With a ‘triple-C’ attitude of “Compassion, Commitment and Competence” when managing our claims, we strive to make the compensation process as simple and painless as possible for our clients.

We act with the utmost integrity and are committed to the belief that part of the recovery process from such abuse is taking legal action to redress the injustice that has been done.

We're here to help

Contact us for no-obligation legal advice about your claim.

Child Abuse Compensation Claims
Free Resources
Our guide to child and sexual abuse compensation claims

Our comprehensive guide to assist you through the myriad of problems that you may encounter when seeking to pursue legal action.

Our services

Frequently Asked Questions

More information about childhood sexual abuse compensation

Commonly asked questions concerning institutional sexual and child abuse claims:

A statute of limitations effectively sets a time limit on the start of legal proceedings. For offences that have a statute of limitations, claims have to be brought before the time limit expires.

If you or a loved one is a survivor of sexual abuse as an adult, the statute of limitations is three years. If you were a child at the time of the offence, there is no time limit.

We have successfully won cases relating to historic offences, including claims against public and private schools where the abuse occurred over 20 years earlier. Times have changed and the courts are now more understanding of the reasons why such delays occur.

Compensation claims can be brought against both individuals and organisations. Examples of successful childhood abuse claims that we have previously handled involved:

  • Professionals who have held a position of trust such as doctors, teachers, psychologists and psychiatrists.
  • The Department of Community Services in New South Wales and equivalent departments Australia-wide.
  • Religious organisations, including the Catholic Church.
  • Actions against public and private schools, including boarding schools.

Various religious organisations are currently being investigated in Australia for multiple cases of sexual abuse that occurred between their employees/members and people they were meant to be looking after.

Some investigations have included the Catholic Church, the Uniting Church in Australia, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Ltd, and the Anglican Church of Australia.

“I just wanted to thank you...You made an extremely hard day easier both for me and my daughter! We both felt very comfortable with you, and appreciate that you understood how hard it was and helped us be more at ease."


Our Client
Our Promise To You

Our Difficult Case Policy

At Gerard Malouf & Partners, it’s our professional obligation to strive for maximum justice and achievable compensation.

Our difficult case policy ensures that our senior lawyers and experienced management team oversee notably challenging cases. This makes sure that we achieve the best results for our clients seeking accident injury compensation.

We maintain integrity by not accepting a case if we believe it is unlikely to result in compensation, or if the costs to our client outweigh the benefits.

This is our core philosophy and what differentiates us from other law firms.

Our TeaM

Meet the Child Abuse Compensation Claim team

Meet some of the diverse and dynamic compensation lawyers who support our clients with institutional sexual and child abuse claims.

We're here to help maximise your compensation

Call us now on 1800 004 878 to book a free appointment with one of our compensation experts, or make an enquiry online now.

Gerard Malouf
About Us
Gerard Malouf & Partners have provided friendly, experienced legal advice to communities across Australia for over 35 years. Our Personal Injury Lawyers have taken on ten’s of thousands of cases and we are proud to have won billions of dollars for our clients.
Lawyers
Meet the diverse and dynamic team of compensation lawyers and supporting staff that have made this all happen below. Our multi-lingual team can discuss your claims in Arabic, Assyrian, Turkish, Greek, Italian, French, Serbian, Croatian, Armenian, Mandarin, Hindi, Punjabi or Malayalam.
Resources
Meet the diverse and dynamic team of compensation lawyers and supporting staff that have made this all happen below. Our multi-lingual team can discuss your claims in Arabic, Assyrian, Turkish, Greek, Italian, French, Serbian, Croatian, Armenian, Mandarin, Hindi, Punjabi or Malayalam.

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