Abused as a child in Queensland
Take the next step toward justice. Our dedicated Abuse Law team is here to guide you through every stage of a historical abuse claim. We offer No Win No Fee representation and can connect you with our mental health support services. Find out more information about the types of claims we can help you with below:
Find out more information about the types of claims we can help you with below:
Historical abuse claims in Queensland
Child abuse happens when adults in a position of responsibility, trust or power cause sexual, physical or emotional harm to a child. Adult survivors of child abuse may be eligible to make a civil abuse compensation claim. Shine’s experienced, trauma-informed Abuse Law team can help. Making a historical abuse claim won’t erase what happened to you, but it may be an opportunity to:
To hold someone (or an institution) to account
For acknowledgement of what happened to you
For an apology
Child abuse compensation may help with the impact that abuse has had on your life.
Why choose Shine’s institutional abuse lawyers?
Compassionate institutional abuse lawyers
Shine Lawyers has one of Australia’s largest dedicated Abuse Law teams. We have decades of experience in helping thousands of adult survivors of child abuse seek justice.
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* child abuse lawyers
If you become a Shine Lawyers’ client, our dedicated institutional abuse lawyers will provide legal advice, tailored to your situation, on a No Win No Fee* basis. We’ll work with you to build your historical 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 institutional 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 responses will help us define the best course of action for your claim.
What happens next:
Book a confidential, obligation-free appointment with a legal expert, or
Speak with our team about your historical abuse compensation options
Can you help with our ongoing child sexual abuse investigations?
Shine Lawyers’ institutional abuse lawyers are investigating several historical child abuse claims. Your memories, important information and insight could support our investigations to help someone right wrong.
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.
Get in touch
to arrange a confidential, obligation-free discussion with compassionate, trauma-informed child abuse lawyers or review your historical abuse claim using our free online claim check.
Historical abuse compensation FAQs
How can historical abuse be proven?
How can historical abuse be proven?
Proving historical sexual abuse through a legal claim can be complex, lengthy and overwhelming. Our compassionate child abuse lawyers and mental health support team are here to help you navigate the process and try and minimise your stress. Proving historical sexual abuse could involve, for example:
Telling your story of what happened to you
Attending medical appointments so specialists can assess your injuries
Gathering written records to prove the dates you attended the institution where you were abused (e.g. a school, ADF camp, church or juvenile detention facility)
Obtaining medical records of your injuries
Obtaining educational and employment records (as your abuse may have impacted your ability to attend school or seek employment)
Are there time limits to make a historical abuse claim?
Are there time limits to make a historical abuse claim?
There’s no time limit in Australia for making a historical abuse claim for historical sexual abuse. This means that you may make a civil abuse claim decades after your childhood abuse occurred.
Can you seek compensation if your abuser has died?
Can you seek compensation if your abuser has died?
If you’re a survivor of historical sexual abuse in an institution, you can seek institutional abuse compensation even if your abuser has died.
Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that adult survivors of child abuse take an average of 24 years to tell someone of their abuse. Your abuser may have died since your historical sexual abuse, but you can still claim institution abuse compensation. The High Court has confirmed that a perpetrator’s death is no reason for historical abuse claims to be put on hold.
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 taking part in the National Redress Scheme
We suggest contacting Knowmore for free, independent legal advice on your situation.
Getting support for adult survivors of child abuse
Getting support for adult survivors of child 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:
1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence)
13 YARN 13 92 76 (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support)
Blue Knot 1300 657 380 (complex trauma due to abuse, neglect or violence)
Bravehearts free call 1800 272 831 (sexual abuse as a child)
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention)
