Australian Defence Force Historic Institutional Abuse Lawyers
We are ready to act if you were abused as a junior recruit or apprentice in the Australian Defence Force. You may be eligible to make an institutional abuse claim.
Australian Defence Force Institutional Abuse Claims
Between the 1960s and 1980s, thousands of school-age teenage boys experienced the thrill of being accepted into junior recruit and apprentice cadet training programs run by the Australian Defence Force.
However, for many, initial excitement became lifelong trauma because of physical and child sex abuse on Australian Defence Force (ADF) training sites. If you suffered historical institutional abuse while you were a school-age ADF junior recruit, apprentice or cadet, you may be eligible to claim compensation for your childhood trauma.
Can I get compensation for childhood trauma?
Sexual abuse compensation may be available through a common law institutional abuse claim if:
You were under the age of 18 at the time you were abused
Your abuse occurred while you were a junior recruit, apprentice or cadet attending an ADF (Army, Navy or Air Force) training site
In an obligation-free meeting, our trauma-informed Abuse Law team member can meet with you, listen to what happened to you and advise you on your best option to claim sexual abuse compensation.
Locations of Australian army cadets training abuse
ADF locations on which historical institutional abuse is known to have occurred include:
HMAS Leeuwin in Western Australia
HMAS Nirimba in New South Wales
HMAS Cerberus in Victoria
Australian Army cadets training in Singleton, NSW
Army Recruit Training Centre Kapooka in Wagga Wagga
Army Apprentice School in Balcombe, Victoria
If your abuse happened on another Australian army cadets training site, you may still have a claim.
Trauma-informed institutional abuse lawyers
The impacts of abuse can be traumatic and isolating. We recognise the courage and integrity it takes to come forward and speak up. We are here to help you move forward with your life.
Our passionate Abuse Law team have embedded trauma-informed practices across our legal services. Our team includes mental health support for Abuse Law clients, through our Lead Counsellor.
We are ready to listen and provide you with the support you need in seeking to right wrong and claim physical, psychological or sexual abuse compensation.
How Shine Lawyers can help with your institutional abuse claim
We want to hear your story, so we can understand how we might be able to help you. Shine Lawyers has helped thousands of Australians right wrong and access over $1 billion per year in entitlements and compensation through our expert legal services.
95% of our cases settle without the stress of going to court.
Shine Lawyers’ trusted Abuse Law team offers their legal services on a No Win No Fee* basis.
Book an obligation-free consultation with one of our institutional abuse lawyers so you can understand your rights. We support your choice to speak out about your historical institutional abuse.
*Conditions apply
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 responses will help us define the best course of action for your claim.
What happens next:
Either book a no-obligation appointment with a medical negligence expert right away or,
Speak with our team about your options
Institutional abuse lawyer FAQs
Is there an institutional abuse lawyer or child sex abuse lawyer near me?
Is there an institutional abuse lawyer or child sex abuse lawyer near me?
Shine Lawyers has over 40 branches across Australia and nearly 1000 team members. Location is no barrier if you need Shine Lawyers' legal advice and support.
Make a confidential appointment to meet with a trusted, experienced Abuse Law team member:
By telephone
Online
At one of our offices (here’s our full list of Australian locations)
At a location that’s comfortable and convenient for you
Without the right legal advice and support, you may not receive the sexual abuse compensation you're entitled to.
Why trust Shine to be my institutional abuse lawyers?
Why trust Shine to be my institutional abuse lawyers?
At Shine Lawyers, we put our clients first. As one of Australia’s largest litigation law firms, we are here to help you get the justice you deserve.
We’ll:
Use our legal expertise, understanding and empathy for your sexual abuse compensation claim
Stand with you and guide you every step of the way, with a trauma-informed approach to providing our legal services.
Connect you with our dedicated Lead Counsellor who provides mental health support to our Abuse Law clients, if required.
Are there time limits for making a cadet abuse claim?
Are there time limits for making a cadet abuse claim?
Following the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse, all Australian states and territories have removed time limits for historical child sex abuse claims, which include cadet abuse claims.
