If you were held at Ashley Youth Detention Centre near Deloraine in Tasmania, or at the Ashley Home for Boys before it, and you were sexually or physically abused there as a child, you may be entitled to compensation. That is true even if the abuse happened decades ago, even if you were not part of the Ashley class action, and regardless of why you were in detention.
This page does not make findings or allegations against any individual. It gives general information to help former detainees understand their options.
About Ashley
Ashley is Tasmania’s only youth detention centre. It holds young people aged 10 to 18 who are on remand or serving a sentence, and it has always been run by the Tasmanian Government.
| Period | Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 to 2000 | Ashley Home for Boys | Tasmanian Government boys’ home near Deloraine |
| 2000 to today | Ashley Youth Detention Centre | Tasmania’s youth detention centre, now run by the Department for Education, Children and Young People |
| Planned | New youth justice facility, Pontville | Ashley is due to close once the replacement opens. The Tasmanian Government has said this is not expected before 2028. |
Because Ashley has always been run by the State, a compensation claim is usually brought against the State of Tasmania.
The Commission of Inquiry
The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings examined Ashley in detail. During its 2022 hearings, it heard that dozens of former Ashley staff had been the subject of child sexual abuse allegations by former detainees. Its final report, published in September 2023, made 191 recommendations, all of which the Tasmanian Government accepted.
Tasmania Police have also charged former Ashley staff over historical offences against detainees. A charge is not a finding of guilt. Our articles on the Ashley Youth Detention Centre child abuse scandal and new charges of abuse at Ashley have more background.
The Ashley class action
In November 2024, the Supreme Court of Tasmania approved a $75 million settlement of a class action against the State on behalf of 129 people detained at Ashley between 1960 and 2023.
If you were a group member in that class action, the settlement may affect whether you can bring a separate claim. If you were not part of it, for example because you did not register, did not know about it, or were detained at a different time, you may still be able to make your own claim. An individual claim is assessed on the harm you have personally suffered, rather than as a share of a fixed sum. Speak with us, and we can work out where you stand.
Being in detention does not reduce your rights
Many former detainees assume they cannot make a claim because they were in custody for offending. That is not the case. A child in detention was in the State’s care, and the State had a responsibility to keep that child safe. Your reason for being at Ashley has no bearing on whether you can claim for abuse that happened to you there.
Your options
For most survivors, a civil compensation claim against the State of Tasmania is the stronger pathway. Compensation is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered, including to your health, work, relationships, and quality of life, and it is not capped. Virtually all claims settle before a hearing, and settlements are usually confidential. Read more about institutional abuse compensation.
The Tasmanian Government participates in the National Redress Scheme. The Scheme may suit some people where a civil claim is not viable, but for most survivors with a viable claim it works more in the institution’s favour than theirs. The maximum payment is $150,000 and is rarely reached, and accepting a payment permanently extinguishes your right to a civil claim. Applications close on 30 June 2027, so get independent legal advice before you apply.
| Civil compensation claim | National Redress Scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| How much | Assessed on the actual harm suffered, with no cap | 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 in Tasmania for child sexual abuse claims, in most cases | Applications close 30 June 2027 |
| How it usually ends | A confidential settlement before any hearing | A written offer to accept or decline |
Is it too late to make a claim?
In most cases, no. Tasmania has removed the time limit for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse, so abuse at Ashley in any decade can still be the subject of a claim. Individual circumstances still matter, and claims for physical abuse alone can be treated differently. See our guide to limitation periods for historical abuse claims.
Speak to us confidentially
A first conversation with Koffels is free and confidential, and it does not commit you to anything. We can speak with you by phone or video wherever you are in Tasmania. If a case does go to court, you can generally ask to be identified by a pseudonym.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still make a claim if I was not part of the Ashley class action?
Possibly, yes. The class action settled in November 2024 for group members detained between 1960 and 2023. If you were not a group member, or you are unsure whether you were, you may still be able to bring your own claim. Speak with a lawyer before assuming you have missed out.
Is the Ashley Home for Boys the same place as Ashley Youth Detention Centre?
Yes. The Deloraine site operated as the Ashley Home for Boys from 1922 and was renamed Ashley Youth Detention Centre in 2000. A claim can relate to any period.
Who would my claim be against?
Usually the State of Tasmania, because the Tasmanian Government has always run Ashley. You bring a claim against the State, not just the individual staff member involved.
Can I claim if I was at Ashley because of offending?
Yes. The reason you were held at Ashley does not affect your right to claim for abuse that happened to you there. The State was responsible for your safety while you were in its custody.
Is there a time limit for an Ashley abuse claim?
For child sexual abuse, in most cases there is no time limit in Tasmania. Claims for physical abuse alone can be treated differently, so get advice on your situation as early as you can.
Is Ashley covered by the National Redress Scheme?
The Tasmanian Government participates in the National Redress Scheme. Before you apply, get independent legal advice: accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to a civil claim, and for most survivors a civil claim results in significantly higher compensation.
Ashley is closing. Does that affect my claim?
No. The closure of a facility does not end the State’s responsibility for abuse that happened there. Your claim would still be against the State of Tasmania.
