Call for witnesses: Chidley Educational Centre, Mosman Park, 1980 to 1995
Koffels Solicitors & Barristers is seeking information from anyone connected with Chidley Educational Centre in Mosman Park, Western Australia, between approximately 1980 and 1995. We are assisting with investigations into incidents of historical child sexual abuse at the Centre.
We want to hear from former students, staff, and families. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who worked in the boarding house, rather than teaching staff.
What we are looking for
Former boarding house staff
Chidley was a residential centre, and students spent much of their time in the boarding house outside school hours. If you worked in the boarding house in any role between 1980 and 1995, we would like to speak with you. That includes residential supervisors, house parents, night staff, and support staff such as cooks and cleaners.
We are interested in how the boarding house was run, including:
- who worked there, in which roles, and when
- how students were grouped and supervised
- evening, overnight, and weekend routines
- anything you saw, heard, or were told about that concerned you
Former students and families
We also want to hear from former students, and from parents and relatives of students. You may remember which staff were in the boarding house, how daily life was organised, or something that happened to you or to someone else.
Even small details can help us identify patterns, timelines, and the people involved. You don’t need to have experienced abuse yourself to help, and you don’t need to be certain that what you know is important.
Records from the time
If you have class photographs, yearbooks, newsletters, or letters from Chidley, especially from 1985 to 1988, they may help us confirm who was at the Centre and when. Please don’t post them online. Contact us first, and we’ll explain how to send copies; please keep your originals.
About Chidley Educational Centre
Chidley Educational Centre was established in 1976 by the Education Department of Western Australia on Owston Street, Mosman Park.
The Centre ran a short-term residential program for children from country areas who needed specialist learning support. Students boarded at the Centre for a limited period before returning home, and many came from regional and remote parts of Western Australia. The Centre closed in 1998.
Because students came from all over the state, people who were at Chidley may now live anywhere in Australia. If you were there for only a term or less, what you remember may still help.
Koffels has previously sought witnesses in relation to abuse allegations at Chidley Educational Centre. We also act for survivors of abuse at other Western Australian institutions, including Holy Name School, Carlisle and Christian Brothers College, Kalgoorlie.
How to contact us
We understand that thinking back to this time may be difficult, and that some people have never spoken about what happened to them or to others. Former staff may also have concerns about coming forward. We treat every enquiry confidentially, and speaking with us does not commit you to anything.
Before any information you give us is used, we will talk with you about how it would be used and what that means for you.
You can call Special Counsel Natalia Lepthorne, Brenna McKenzie or Ashleigh Lau on 02 9283 5599 or send us a confidential message using the form below.
If you experienced abuse at Chidley
If you were sexually abused at Chidley Educational Centre, you may be entitled to compensation, regardless of when the abuse happened.
For most survivors, a civil compensation claim is the strongest pathway. Compensation is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered, including the effect on your health, work, relationships, and quality of life, and it is not capped. Virtually all claims settle before reaching a hearing, and settlements are usually confidential.
Western Australia removed time limits for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse in 2018, so in most cases it is not too late to bring a claim. Individual circumstances still matter. You can read more about limitation periods for historical institutional abuse claims.
Chidley Educational Centre is listed as an institution under the National Redress Scheme. The Scheme may suit some survivors where a civil claim is not viable, but it has significant limitations. The maximum payment is $150,000, which is rarely achieved, and many payments are significantly lower. Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim. Applications close on 30 June 2027, and we strongly recommend getting independent legal advice before applying. Read more in 5 things you should know about the National Redress Scheme and our review of the Scheme.
Find out more about our institutional sexual abuse legal services and the types of support available to survivors.
Frequently asked questions
Who are you most hoping to hear from?
We are particularly interested in people who worked in the Chidley Educational Centre boarding house between approximately 1980 and 1995, in any role. We also want to hear from former students and their families.
Do I need to have experienced abuse at Chidley to come forward?
No. Information about who worked at the Centre, how the boarding house was run, and who was there and when can be just as important as accounts of abuse.
I worked at Chidley but didn’t see anything. Can I still help?
Yes. Former staff can often help us understand rosters, routines, and who worked where, even if they never saw or heard about abuse themselves.
I was only at Chidley for a short time. Can I still help?
Yes. Chidley ran a short-term residential program, so many students were there for a term or less. If you were at the Centre at any point between approximately 1980 and 1995, what you remember may still be relevant.
Will my contact with Koffels be kept confidential?
Yes. We treat every enquiry confidentially, and speaking with us does not commit you to anything. Before any information you provide is used, we will discuss with you how it would be used.
Is it too late to make a claim for abuse at Chidley?
In most cases, no. Western Australia removed time limits for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse in 2018, so survivors can bring claims decades after the abuse occurred. Individual circumstances still matter, so it is worth getting advice about your situation.
This page does not make any findings or allegations against Chidley Educational Centre, the Education Department of Western Australia, or any individual. It provides general information to help former students, staff, and families understand their options. It is not legal advice. For advice about your circumstances, please contact Koffels Solicitors & Barristers on 02 9283 5599.
