No win no fee guarantee.
Find out where you stand.
Over 99% success rate.
Maximum compensation.
No win no fee guarantee.
Find out where you stand.
Over 99% success rate.
Maximum compensation.
We understand how difficult it can be to talk about abuse, especially when it happened years ago. If you experienced abuse in an institution before you were 18 anywhere in Australia, you may still be able to seek compensation, no matter how long ago it happened. When you’re ready, we’re here to explain your options clearly, and support you with care and respect.
You can share your experience in a way that feels comfortable for you. Our team provides a supportive, private environment where you’ll be listened to without judgement or pressure.
We’ll take the time to understand what happened and explain whether your situation may qualify for an institutional abuse claim, in clear, plain language.
We work with experienced medical and psychological professionals who understand trauma and can support your claim with care and sensitivity.
From gathering evidence to dealing with institutions and their lawyers, we manage the process on your behalf so you can focus on your wellbeing.
Depending on your situation, this may include compensation for your injury, pain and suffering, any need for treatment and care, as well as any impact on your earning capacity and ability to work.
Most claims resolve without court, but if needed, we’ll represent you and guide you through each step with clarity and care.
We act on a No Win, No Fee, and No Disbursements (or costs) basis, so you won’t pay anything upfront to explore or pursue your claim.
Institutional abuse occurs when someone is harmed in an organisation that had a responsibility to keep them safe. This often involves abuse that happened while a person was under 18, in places where trust and care should have been a priority. These situations can take many forms:
When a school, church, government body, or other organisation fails to protect someone in its care, allowing abuse or neglect to occur.
Claims may relate to abuse that happened many years ago, or more recent incidents where organisations failed to provide a safe environment.
Intentional harm perpetrated by staff, carers, volunteers, or others within the institution, including abuse that may have been repeated, ignored, covered up or not properly addressed.
Some cases involve organisations that ignored, concealed, or failed to act on reports of abuse, allowing harm to continue or go unaddressed.
These claims can be complex, especially when dealing with large institutions. Having specialist institutional abuse lawyers on your side can help you feel supported while we handle the legal process. If you’re unsure how claims work or whether you may be eligible, you can read our guide to institutional abuse compensation.
Institutional abuse can occur in many different settings where trust and care are expected. These claims often involve experiences from many years ago, but can also relate to more recent incidents.
If you experienced abuse in an institution, you may be entitled to different types of compensation depending on your situation. This can include:
| Compensation payments: | |
|---|---|
| Pain and suffering (lump sum). | Compensation for the emotional and psychological impact of the abuse and how it has affected your life. |
| Past and future loss of income. | Financial support if the abuse has affected your ability to work, both in the past and into the future. |
| Medical and psychological expenses. | Costs for treatment, counselling, and ongoing care related to the impact of the abuse. |
| Care and support services. | Assistance with daily living or long-term therapy needs where the effects of the abuse continue to impact your life. |
| National Redress Scheme. | An alternative pathway that may provide a payment, counselling, and an apology — different to a civil compensation claim. |
Call 02 9264 4474 or chat to us now for free advice
Chat nowFind out how much you can claim.
Get startedYou’ll start with a confidential conversation with one of our specialist institutional abuse lawyers. We’ll listen carefully to your experience, assess whether you may have a claim, and explain your options – including the redress scheme, a civil claim, or victim’s services in plain language.
If you decide to move forward, we’ll begin collecting the evidence needed to support your claim. This may include medical and psychological reports, witness statements, and institutional records. We can also engage trauma-informed experts to help strengthen your case, while keeping the process as manageable as possible for you.
Once your claim is prepared, we’ll handle all communication and negotiate directly with the institution or their lawyer. Our focus is on achieving a fair outcome without the need for lengthy or stressful court proceedings, while keeping you informed every step of the way.
Most claims resolve without going to court. However, if a fair outcome isn’t reached, we’ll represent you and guide you through the process with care. Your legal team will ensure all available entitlements are pursued, while prioritising your wellbeing throughout.
Our no win, no fee guarantee means you get expert lawyers fighting for your claim with absolutely no financial risk. If we don’t win, you don’t pay, it’s that simple.
If you’ve experienced abuse, your wellbeing comes first. When you feel ready, there are a few simple steps that can help you understand your options and feel more in control. You don’t have to go through this alone.
As Australia’s largest specialist personal injury firm, we bring deep experience in institutional abuse claims and a strong track record of helping survivors move forward.
You’ll have access to trusted, trauma-informed legal, medical, and psychological experts who understand the impact of abuse and support your claim with care.
We take a compassionate, respectful approach: listening without judgement, moving at your pace, and supporting you at every step of the process.
We win over 99% of our cases, offer a ‘no win, no fee’ guarantee, and pride ourselves in winning you more compensation.
A civil abuse claim is a legal process where you seek compensation directly from the institution that failed to protect you for damages. That may include payment for pain and suffering, impact on earning capacity, and ongoing treatment and care. While it may involve commencing court proceedings, the vast majority of claims resolve informally without ever having to give evidence in a courtroom. The National Redress Scheme is an alternative pathway that offers a capped payment, access to counselling, and a direct personal response from the institution. You can only choose one option. The right option depends on your situation, and we can help you understand what’s best for you.
There is no time limit for bringing a civil claim relating to child abuse (that occurred under the age of 18). This means you may still be able to seek compensation, even if the abuse happened many years ago. Every situation is different, so it’s worth getting advice to understand where you stand.
Yes. If the abuse happened when you were under 18, you can usually still make a claim, no matter how long ago it occurred. Many survivors come forward later in life, and the law recognises this. When you’re ready, we can help you understand your options in a safe and supportive way.
Most institutional abuse claims are resolved without going to court. If your matter can be settled through negotiation, we’ll aim to do that in a way that minimises stress. If court becomes necessary, we’ll guide you through the process with care and make sure you feel supported at every step.
At Law Partners, your institutional abuse lawyer is backed by a team of specialists including paralegals, medico-legal experts, forensic accountants and barristers. So you’re in safe hands with Australia’s largest specialist personal injury firm.
Our senior lawyers will assess your case for free1.
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