Institutional abuse compensation is money and other support available to adults who were sexually abused as children while in the care of an institution, such as a school, boys’ home, church, or youth organisation. In most cases, survivors can still claim, even if the abuse happened decades ago, through a civil compensation claim or the National Redress Scheme.
This page explains the main pathways, how they compare, and what usually matters when abuse happened years or decades ago.
This information is general. Your options depend on your circumstances and the institution involved.
What is institutional abuse?
Institutional abuse is abuse that happened while a child was under the care, supervision, authority, or control of an organisation, such as:
- schools (government, Catholic, and independent)
- boarding schools
- boys’ homes, orphanages, and residential care
- youth detention centres and children’s homes run by the State
- religious organisations
- youth and community organisations, including sport
A claim usually focuses on whether the institution failed to protect the child, or failed to respond properly to risks and reports.
Can you still claim compensation for historical abuse?
In most cases, yes. Every Australian state and territory has removed the time limit for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse, so many survivors are not prevented from claiming simply because time has passed. In New South Wales and Queensland, this also extends to serious physical abuse. Individual circumstances still matter. See our guide to limitation periods for historical abuse claims.
Historical claims can still be complex. Records, witnesses, changes to the institution, and insurance arrangements can all affect how a claim is assessed and progressed.
The two main pathways
Civil compensation claims
A civil claim is a legal claim against the institution, usually on the basis that it failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse or failed to respond appropriately. It is the pathway we recommend for most survivors.
In assessing a civil claim, the court or the parties will look at:
- the nature and duration of the abuse
- its impact on your life and mental health
- whether the institution knew, or should have known, of the risk
- failures in supervision, reporting, or response
Where the evidence supports it, compensation can include:
- general damages for pain and suffering
- damages for psychological injury
- past and future loss of earnings
- past and future treatment and care costs
Compensation is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered, to your health, work, relationships, and quality of life, and there is no fixed maximum like the Scheme’s. Virtually all claims settle before a hearing, and settlements are usually confidential.
The National Redress Scheme
The National Redress Scheme is an administrative scheme for some survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. It can offer:
- a payment of up to $150,000
- access to counselling
- a direct personal response from the institution, if you want one
The Scheme may suit some people where a civil claim is not viable. For most survivors with a viable claim, though, it works more in the institution’s favour than theirs:
- the $150,000 maximum is rarely reached, and many payments are far lower
- accepting a payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim
- independent legal advice is not routinely offered before you sign
- not every institution participates
Applications close on 30 June 2027. Get independent legal advice before you apply. Read 5 things you should know about the National Redress Scheme.
| Civil compensation claim | National Redress Scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| How much | Assessed on the actual harm suffered, with no fixed maximum | Up to $150,000, rarely reached |
| Effect on other options | None until you settle | Accepting a payment permanently extinguishes your right to a civil claim |
| Standard of proof | Balance of probabilities | Reasonable likelihood (a lower standard) |
| Independent legal advice | Your own lawyer acts for you throughout | Not routinely offered before you sign |
| Deadline | No time limit for child sexual abuse claims, in most cases | Applications close 30 June 2027 |
What affects which pathway suits you?
- the institution involved, and whether it participates in the Scheme
- where and when the abuse happened
- the evidence available, such as records, witnesses, disclosures, and reports
- your own priorities, including privacy, timing, recognition, and compensation
Many survivors start by getting advice and then decide at their own pace.
Finding your institution
If you attended a particular school, church, or care facility, our institution pages explain what is known and what your options may be:
- Independent non-government schools in NSW, including St Joseph’s College (Hunters Hill), Knox Grammar, and The Scots College
- Independent schools outside NSW, including Brighton Grammar School (Victoria) and Carey Baptist Grammar (Victoria)
- Catholic schools and institutions in NSW, covering diocesan schools, religious order institutions, and parishes, including Red Bend Catholic College (Forbes) and St Patrick’s Catholic Church (Wallsend)
- Marist Brothers, covering Marist schools across Australia, including Parramatta Marist High School, Marist Brothers institutions in New South Wales, and institutions associated with Brother William Beninati
- Patrician Brothers, covering Patrician Brothers schools in NSW
- De La Salle Brothers, covering De La Salle schools and institutions, including De La Salle College Revesby and BoysTown Beaudesert
- The Salvation Army Australia, which ran many children’s homes and residential facilities across Australia and was examined extensively by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
- Scouts Australia, examined in two case studies by the Royal Commission. Civil compensation for abuse in the Scouts can be substantially higher than a Scheme payment, and we have published calls for witnesses in a number of Scouts-related matters.
- Youth detention centres and boys’ homes, covering government-run facilities in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia, where a claim is usually brought against the state government. Individual pages include Reiby, Bidura, Ashley, and Cleveland.
- Church-run institutions: a broader guide to compensation for abuse in religious organisations and church-run settings
What if the institution no longer exists?
Institutions close, merge, change names, and restructure. That does not automatically prevent a claim. Responsibility may sit with a successor organisation, an insurer, a government body, or another legally relevant entity.
What evidence matters in a historical claim?
Evidence in historical claims can look different. It may include:
- school, church, care, or placement records
- medical or counselling records
- statements from you or other witnesses
- disclosures you made at the time, even informal ones
- institutional documents about policies, supervision, or responses
You do not need to have reported the abuse at the time, and you do not need records before you seek advice. Finding them is part of the work on a claim.
Getting legal advice
Institutional abuse claims often involve a long history and sensitive evidence. Legal advice can help you understand:
- whether an institution may be legally responsible
- which pathways are open to you, and what each would mean for the other
- what to expect from the process
- what steps you can take, at a pace that feels manageable
You should never feel pressured to go ahead. Many survivors start by reading about their institution, and then decide what they want to do next.
Speak to us confidentially
A first conversation with Koffels is free and confidential, and it does not commit you to anything. You can ask to speak with a male or female lawyer.
Call 02 9283 5599 or use the form below to request a callback.
If you need support now, you can contact the Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380, Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours), 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Related pages
- Institutional child sexual abuse lawyers, legal representation and advice for survivors
- National Redress Scheme
- Time limits for historical abuse claims
- What counts as an institution in abuse claims?
Frequently asked questions
What is institutional abuse compensation?
It is money and other support available to people who were sexually abused as children while in the care or under the authority of an institution. The two main pathways are a civil compensation claim and an application to the National Redress Scheme. For most survivors with a viable claim, a civil claim produces a significantly better outcome.
Can I claim compensation for abuse that happened decades ago?
In most cases, yes. Every Australian state and territory has removed the time limit for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse, and New South Wales and Queensland have also removed it for serious physical abuse. Individual circumstances still matter, so get advice on your situation.
Which institutions can be held responsible?
Responsibility can rest with schools, religious organisations, care institutions, youth organisations, state governments, or successor bodies. Even if an institution has closed or changed its structure, legal responsibility may still exist.
What is the difference between a civil claim and the National Redress Scheme?
A civil claim is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered and has no fixed maximum. The National Redress Scheme is an administrative scheme with a maximum payment of $150,000, which is rarely reached. Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim, so get independent legal advice before you apply. Applications close on 30 June 2027.
Do I need evidence to claim compensation for institutional abuse?
Evidence can take many forms, including your own account, institutional records, medical or counselling records, and disclosures. You do not need to have reported the abuse at the time, and you do not need records before you seek advice.
Do I need a lawyer to claim compensation?
You are not required to have one, but legal advice can tell you whether an institution may be responsible, which pathways are open to you, and what each one involves. This matters most before you apply to the National Redress Scheme, because accepting a payment ends your right to a civil claim. A first conversation with Koffels is free and confidential.
