Personal Injury Archives : Koffels Solicitors and Barristers

This section brings together articles and updates relating to sexual abuse matters within the broader area of personal injury law in Australia.

The content published here focuses on situations where abuse has occurred in institutional, organisational, or authority-based settings, and where survivors may be seeking to understand how the civil justice system responds to those experiences.

Articles in this category may cover legal developments, court decisions, compensation pathways, and broader issues affecting survivors of historical sexual abuse, including institutional responsibility, limitation periods, and evolving legal standards.

The information is intended to support understanding and awareness, and to help survivors and their families navigate complex legal concepts at their own pace.

Call for Witnesses

Call for Witnesses – St Joseph’s College, Ouyen (1983–1985)

Koffels Solicitors & Barristers are seeking witnesses who attended or worked at St Joseph’s College, Ouyen during the early to mid-1980s. Confidential information from former students or staff may assist a Survivor in a historical abuse matter.

Call for Witnesses

Call for Witnesses: Yeoval Public School (NSW), 1983

Koffels is seeking witnesses from Yeoval Public School (NSW) around 1983. Confidential information is sought regarding alleged abuse by a former teacher during class time. Former students, staff, and community members with relevant recollections are encouraged to contact us.

Litigation

Institutional Abuse Law in 2026: Key Legal Trends and Emerging Challenges

As 2026 approaches, institutional abuse law is entering a period of profound change. This analysis explores evolving liability principles, preventative duties, online risk and sector-wide reform shaping accountability in the year ahead.

Personal Injury

Institutional Abuse and Brother William Beninati (Brother Vales)

Allegations linked to Brother William Beninati (Brother Vales) highlight the importance of institutional accountability. Learn about systemic failures, survivor impacts, and possible options in NSW.

Commercial

Grok, X and AI Generated Sexual Abuse

As Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is rolled out through X, regulators are once again forced too confront unresoled questions about platform responsibility, AI-generated misinformation, and legal accountability.

Litigation

Key 2025 Reforms in Child Abuse Law

2025 was a transormative year for the law in the context of institutional child abuse. In particular, it marked a shift away from symbolic recongition and towards survivor-centred justice. It was also tested by the emergence of new risks and challenges.

Litigation

Victoria Introduces Bill to Overturn Bird v DP

The Victorian government is seeking to overturn the High Court’s decision in Bird v DP which held that instituions cannot be held vicariously liable for individuals who are not technically employees.

Personal Injury

Why NDAs Silence Sexual Abuse Survivors in Australia

For decades, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) have been quietly used by institutions to prevent survivors of sexual abuse from speaking out. While NDAs can serve legitimate purposes they have also been weaponised to conceal patterns of misconduct. While other jurisdictions have now moved to ban or restrict NDAs relating to sexual misconduct Australia still has no clear national framework.

Personal Injury

Parramatta Marist Canoe Club: Justice for Abuse Survivors

Survivors of the Parramatta Marist High School Canoe Club have taken action over historical abuse by teacher Graeme Stuart Hawkins. This article outlines the court findings, institutional failures, and our ongoing work to help additional Survivors come forward confidentially.