This page is for former students of Carey Baptist Grammar School in Melbourne who experienced child sexual abuse or grooming while enrolled at the school. If that includes you, Koffels Solicitors and Barristers can advise you on your options for civil compensation – at no obligation and in strict confidence. Call us on 02 9283 5599 or use the contact form below.
About Carey Baptist Grammar School
Carey Baptist Grammar School is an independent, co-educational day school in Melbourne, operating across campuses in Kew and Donvale. Founded in 1923 by the Baptist Union of Victoria, the school serves students from early learning through to Year 12 and has long held a prominent position among Victoria’s private schools.
Allegations of child sexual abuse at Carey Baptist Grammar School have emerged publicly, with former students reporting that they were sexually abused and groomed by male members of teaching staff during their time at the school. The alleged conduct spans several decades. Both male and female former students have come forward.
Royal Commission and Victorian Inquiry Findings
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse examined how Australian schools and other institutions handled – and in many cases failed to handle – allegations of child sexual abuse over decades. Its findings established national benchmarks for institutional accountability and led directly to the creation of the National Redress Scheme.
In Victoria, the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry (2013), conducted by the Parliament of Victoria’s Family and Community Development Committee, examined the handling of child abuse by religious and other non-government organisations in the state. The findings of both inquiries shaped the Victorian Child Safety Standards that independent schools, including Carey Baptist Grammar School, are now required to meet.
Carey Baptist Grammar School has acknowledged its history of abuse on its own website, referencing both the Royal Commission and the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry in the context of its current child safety obligations. The school is a participating member of the National Redress Scheme.
Who Is Responsible – The Defendant in a Carey Baptist Grammar Claim
Carey Baptist Grammar School is not operated by a religious order. It is an independent school run by its own governing body – the legal entity is Carey Baptist Grammar School Limited. Any civil compensation claim arising from abuse at the school would be brought against that entity, not against the Baptist Union of Victoria or any individual church organisation.
This distinction matters. Independent schools carry their own legal responsibility for the conduct of staff employed by them, and for the systems – or absence of systems – that allowed abuse to occur and continue. Koffels has experience handling claims against independent school governing bodies and can advise you on how liability is established in such cases.
Can You Still Make a Claim – Limitation Periods in Victoria
Victoria removed the limitation period for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse. Under amendments to the Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic), there is no longer a time limit on bringing a claim – regardless of when the abuse occurred or when you first sought legal advice.
If you were abused at Carey Baptist Grammar School decades ago and have never pursued a claim, you are not out of time. The same applies if you made an earlier approach to the school, the National Redress Scheme, or another process – civil compensation through the courts or negotiated settlement remains available to you and is a separate pathway from redress.
For a national overview of how limitation periods apply across states and territories, see our guide to time limits for historical abuse claims in Australia.
What a Civil Compensation Claim Can Address
A civil compensation claim is separate from any criminal process. It does not require a criminal conviction to have been recorded, and it is not a complaint to a regulator or professional body. It is a legal claim brought against the institution responsible for the abuse, seeking financial compensation for the harm caused.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, a civil claim may address some or all of the following:
General damages – compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and the psychological impact of the abuse itself.
Past economic loss – loss of earnings or earning capacity in the period between the abuse and the claim, where the harm caused by the abuse affected your capacity to work or advance professionally.
Future economic loss – where ongoing psychological injury or impairment is likely to affect your earning capacity going forward.
Past and future treatment costs – the cost of counselling, psychiatric care, medication, and other treatment you have needed or are likely to need as a result of the abuse.
Aggravated damages – in cases where the institution’s conduct was particularly high-handed or where there was a failure to respond appropriately to known risks, additional damages may be available.
Every claim is different. The damages available to you will depend on the specific facts of your case, the nature and duration of the abuse, and the impact it has had on your life. Koffels will assess your circumstances carefully before advising you on what your claim may be worth.
How Koffels Can Help
Koffels Solicitors and Barristers has acted for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse across Australia for many years. We have experience in claims against independent schools, religious institutions, government bodies, and other organisations – including claims where the abuse occurred decades ago and where formal processes such as the National Redress Scheme have already been pursued.
We understand that coming forward is not a straightforward decision. We approach every matter with discretion, and we take the time to understand what you have been through before we discuss legal options. There is no obligation attached to an initial conversation with us.
We act on a no-win, no-fee basis in institutional abuse matters, meaning you will not be required to pay our legal costs unless your claim is successful.
Our team includes lawyers with direct experience in Victorian jurisdiction matters and in claims against independent school governing bodies specifically.
Speaking with Koffels Solitors and Barristers
If you were abused at Carey Baptist Grammar School and want to understand your legal options, we encourage you to contact us. Conversations with our team are confidential and carry no obligation to proceed.
Call us on 02 9283 5599 – we are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Sydney time. You can also reach us through the contact form below and a member of our institutional abuse team will respond to you directly.
We act for clients across Australia regardless of which state or territory they live in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have reported the abuse at the time to make a claim now?
No. Many survivors of institutional child sexual abuse did not report what happened to them at the time, for reasons that are well understood – fear, shame, disbelief from adults, and the power imbalance between students and staff. The absence of a contemporaneous report does not prevent you from bringing a civil compensation claim. What matters is the evidence available to support your claim, which Koffels will assess with you.
I have already applied to the National Redress Scheme. Can I still make a civil claim?
Yes, in most cases. The National Redress Scheme and civil compensation are separate processes. However, accepting a Redress payment may affect your ability to pursue further civil proceedings against the same institution, and the terms of any acceptance should be reviewed carefully before you sign. If you are considering both pathways, speak with a lawyer before accepting a Redress offer. Koffels can advise you on this.
What is the difference between a civil claim and a criminal complaint?
A criminal complaint is made to police and results in a prosecution brought by the state. A civil compensation claim is a legal action brought by you against the institution responsible for the abuse. The two processes are entirely separate. A civil claim does not require a criminal investigation or conviction to have occurred, and pursuing a civil claim does not prevent you from also making a criminal complaint if you choose to do so.
Is there a time limit on making a claim against Carey Baptist Grammar School?
No. Victoria has removed the limitation period for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse. Under the Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic), there is no deadline by which you must bring a claim, regardless of when the abuse occurred. You are not out of time.
How long does a civil compensation claim take?
The duration varies depending on the complexity of the case, the institution’s response, and whether the matter resolves by negotiated settlement or proceeds to hearing. Many institutional abuse claims resolve without going to court. Koffels will give you a realistic assessment of the likely timeframe once we have reviewed the details of your matter.
Will I have to go to court?
Not necessarily. A significant number of institutional abuse claims are resolved through negotiated settlement before any hearing takes place. Where a matter does proceed to court, Koffels will prepare and represent you fully. We will discuss the realistic options and likely outcomes with you at every stage of the process.
What does no win, no fee mean in practice?
It means that if your claim is not successful, you will not be required to pay Koffels’ legal fees. The precise terms of a no-win, no-fee arrangement will be set out clearly in your costs agreement before any work begins. We will explain what this means for your specific matter so there are no surprises.
