Abuse Lawyers
Shine Lawyers’ trauma-informed Abuse Law team are compassionate and can be trusted with your abuse claim. Our mental health support team and No Win No Fee* abuse lawyers are ready to help you access justice and right wrong.
No Win, No Fee* if your claim is unsuccessful.
Abuse claims in Australia
Talking about abuse can be overwhelming. You may not have shared your story with anyone before. If you were abused as a child or as an adult, Shine’s expert, compassionate abuse lawyers and mental health support team can guide you through the process of your abuse compensation claim.
‘Abuse’ is widely understood to be any intentional action that causes harm or injury to someone.
Making an abuse claim won’t erase what happened to you, but it may be an opportunity:
To hold a responsible institution to account
For acknowledgement of what happened to you
For an apology
Compensation may help with the impact that abuse has had on your life.
Why choose Shine’s abuse lawyers for your abuse claim?
Large team of abuse lawyers
Shine Lawyers’ experienced and dedicated abuse law team is committed to supporting survivors and challenging institutions. We’ve helped thousands seek justice and successfully advocated for the removal of time limits on historical child sexual abuse claims following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
No Win No Fee* abuse lawyers
If you become a Shine Lawyers’ client, our dedicated Abuse Law team will provide expert legal advice, tailored to your situation, on a No Win No Fee* basis. We’ll work with you to build your abuse claim and explain each step of the legal process.
*Conditions apply
Trauma-informed support
We recognise your courage in speaking up. Wherever possible, we’ll work with you to minimise the stress and inconvenience of the legal process.
Our abuse lawyers are trained to work in a trauma-informed way. Our mental health support team help reduce the trauma of the legal process for both our lawyers and clients. We’ll be with you, every step of the way.
Review your claim with our simple and free online tool.
What we will ask:
Questions to help us understand your experience and how your life has been impacted. Your response will help us define the best course of action for your claim.
What happens next:
Book a confidential, obligation-free appointment with one of our legal experts, or
Speak with our team about your abuse claim options
We're here for you
Our Abuse Law team cares and are trained in a trauma-informed approach
We keep it simple
We make sure our advice is accessible and easy to understand
We're honest
We’re upfront and guide and support you through every stage of your claim
We act quickly
We progress your claim and aim to secure the best outcome for you
A guide on supporting your loved one
We’ve created a conversation guide, to help you support your loved one through their childhood sexual abuse claim. The guide can help you understand the emotional impact of making a claim, a little about the legal process and where you can both find support.
Abuse claim FAQs
Can you get compensation for being abused?
Can you get compensation for being abused?
You may be eligible to make an abuse claim for compensation. Our compassionate, expert abuse lawyers can give you advice tailored to your circumstances. Get started with our free online claim checker or contact us.
Are there time limits to make an abuse claim?
Are there time limits to make an abuse claim?
For Australian survivors of child sexual abuse, there’s no time limit for making an abuse claim. This means that you may make an abuse claim decades after your childhood abuse occurred.
For Australian survivors of abuse in adulthood, time limits for making an abuse claim vary between states but are generally three years from the date the abuse occurred.
Do you need an abuse lawyer?
Do you need an abuse lawyer?
It’s possible to represent yourself for your abuse claim. However, at a challenging time, an experienced abuse lawyer and mental health support team are invaluable. They have the knowledge, compassion and empathy to help guide your abuse claim and support you.
Are there abuse lawyers near me?
Are there abuse lawyers near me?
With over 40 branches across Australia, location is no barrier when it comes to finding an experienced abuse lawyer. Get in touch to arrange a confidential, obligation-free first meeting. A member of Shine’s Abuse Law team can meet with you to hear your story and advise you based on your circumstances.
If my abuse happened more than ten years ago, can I still make a claim?
If my abuse happened more than ten years ago, can I still make a claim?
It can take survivors of abuse many years – sometimes decades – to report and make a historical abuse claim.
If you were sexually abused as a child more than ten years ago, you can still make a claim.
However, depending on your state or territory, there may be time limits for non-sexual childhood abuse, or if you suffered abuse as an adult.
We encourage you to seek legal advice as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss any important deadlines. Get in touch today to understand how Shine Lawyers can help you.
Can Shine Lawyers represent me for a National Redress Scheme payment?
Can Shine Lawyers represent me for a National Redress Scheme payment?
The National Redress Scheme is available if you were:
Abused as a child
Involved with an institution participating in the National Redress Scheme
Understanding your legal options before applying for the National Redress Scheme is important. This advice can be provided for free by contacting Knowmore an independent legal service provider.
Is there support for survivors of abuse?
Is there support for survivors of abuse?
In an emergency, please call 000. For ongoing professional support for you or your loved one, we suggest contacting any of the following organisations:
Bravehearts free call 1800 272 831 (if you were sexually abused as a child)
1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence)
13YARN 139 276 (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support)
Blue Knot 1300 657 380 (information and support for complex trauma due to abuse, neglect or violence)
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 (mental health information and support)
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling for young people aged 5 to 25)
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention)
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78 (telephone and online counselling for Australian men)
