Koffels Solicitors & Barristers acts for survivors of abuse at schools and institutions operated by the De La Salle Brothers. If you attended a De La Salle school or were in the care of the Brothers and experienced abuse, you may be entitled to substantial compensation through the civil courts.
This page provides general information to help former students and residents understand their legal options. It does not make findings or allegations against the De La Salle Brothers or any individual institution. If you have a personal matter you would like to discuss, please contact us for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
The De La Salle Brothers in Australia
The De La Salle Brothers, formally known as the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, established their first Australian school in Armidale, New South Wales in 1906. Rapid expansion followed from the 1920s through to the 1940s, during which period boarding schools and day schools were opened across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and other states.
Between 1961 and 2001, the Brothers also operated BoysTown at Beaudesert, Queensland, a residential institution accommodating boys aged 12 to 16, many of whom were wards of the state.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse examined the De La Salle Brothers in detail. Its published analysis of Catholic Church institutions found that 328 people made claims of child sexual abuse against the De La Salle Brothers during the period 1950 to 2010, representing 7% of all such claims examined and 17% of all claims made against religious institutes composed solely of brothers. The Royal Commission identified BoysTown Beaudesert as having the highest number of claims against any single De La Salle institution, with 219 recorded claims. The Commission’s findings confirmed that abuse was not isolated to individual bad actors but reflected systemic failures in the Brothers’ response to complaints and in their safeguarding of children.
The Commission found that 77% of claimants identified incidents occurring between 1970 and 1989.
Schools and institutions
De La Salle-operated schools and institutions where abuse has been documented or where the firm has active or historical matters include:
- De La Salle College Revesby (also referred to as De La Salle Catholic College Revesby Heights), NSW – established 1960. The firm has acted in matters relating to this school and has issued calls for witnesses from former students of the school in the periods 1978-1981 and 1978-1983. See our Revesby witness appeal pages for further detail.
- BoysTown, Beaudesert, Queensland – a residential institution operated by the Brothers from 1961 to 2001. See our BoysTown abuse page for further background.
Other De La Salle schools with documented abuse histories exist across Australia. If you attended a De La Salle school not listed here and experienced abuse, please contact us. The absence of a school from this list does not affect your legal options.
Known offenders
Brother William Beninati, also known as Brother Vales, is a named offender with a documented history at De La Salle institutions. For further information on matters involving Brother Beninati, see our dedicated page: Institutions associated with Brother William Beninati.
Other named offenders may be identified in future updates to this page as matters proceed. The firm will only name individuals where convictions or public findings from the Royal Commission or courts exist.
National Redress Scheme membership
The Trustees of the De La Salle Brothers are a confirmed member of the National Redress Scheme, listed on the nationalredress.gov.au register. This means survivors of abuse at De La Salle institutions are eligible to apply to the Scheme.
However, the Scheme has serious limitations that every survivor should understand before applying. See the compensation pathways section below and our detailed National Redress Scheme page for the firm’s full position.
Your compensation options
Civil compensation through the courts
Civil compensation is the pathway the firm recommends for the vast majority of survivors with viable claims. A civil claim assesses your compensation based on the actual harm you have suffered – to your health, your career, your relationships, and your quality of life. There is no cap on the amount you can receive. In most cases, claims settle prior to hearing, and confidentiality arrangements are standard.
In NSW, time limits for civil claims of child sexual abuse have been removed. This is a significant development for survivors who may have believed they had left it too late. While individual circumstances still matter, and we recommend seeking legal advice specific to your situation, the removal of limitation periods means many survivors now have a viable path to compensation they did not previously have. See our page on limitation periods for historical institutional abuse claims in Australia for further detail.
National Redress Scheme
The National Redress Scheme may be appropriate in limited circumstances where a civil claim is not viable. For most survivors who have a viable civil claim, however, the Scheme is not the best option. Before considering the Scheme, every survivor should understand the following:
- The maximum payment under the Scheme is $150,000. This amount is rarely achieved in practice. The average payment for serious abuse is approximately $80,000, and many payments are significantly lower – the firm has seen cases resulting in payments as low as $7,000.
- Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim. This is a one-way door.
- Applications are not routinely accompanied by an offer of independent legal advice before signing.
- The Scheme is a sophisticated contract drafted by institutional experts, agreed to by those least equipped to assess what they are giving up.
- Applications close 30 June 2027, and the Scheme sunsets 30 June 2028.
The firm strongly recommends that no survivor apply to the National Redress Scheme without first obtaining independent legal advice. Please contact us before making any Scheme application. See also our articles: The National Redress Scheme – a review, 5 things you should know about the National Redress Scheme, and What happens when the National Redress Scheme expires.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a compensation claim for abuse at a De La Salle Brothers school?
Yes, in most cases. NSW has removed time limits for civil claims of child sexual abuse, which means many survivors – including those who attended De La Salle schools decades ago – now have a viable pathway to civil compensation regardless of when the abuse occurred. Individual circumstances still matter, and the right answer depends on which state the abuse occurred in, which institution was responsible, and the specific facts of your case. Koffels can assess your options in a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
How much compensation can survivors of De La Salle Brothers abuse receive?
Civil compensation claims have no cap. The amount is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered – to your physical and mental health, your career, your relationships, and your quality of life. Awards vary significantly depending on individual circumstances. By contrast, the National Redress Scheme – which the De La Salle Brothers have joined – has a maximum payment of $150,000, rarely achieved in practice, with an average payment for serious abuse of approximately $80,000 and many payments substantially lower. For most survivors with a viable civil claim, a court-based claim will significantly outperform a Scheme payment.
Are the De La Salle Brothers members of the National Redress Scheme?
Yes. The Trustees of the De La Salle Brothers are a confirmed member of the National Redress Scheme, listed on the nationalredress.gov.au register. This means former students of De La Salle institutions are eligible to apply to the Scheme. However, the firm strongly recommends obtaining independent legal advice before making any Scheme application. Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim – which for most survivors with a viable claim represents a significantly better financial outcome. Applications to the Scheme close on 30 June 2027.
What did the Royal Commission find about abuse in De La Salle institutions?
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that 328 people made claims of child sexual abuse against the De La Salle Brothers between 1950 and 2010 – 7% of all claims examined by the Commission, and 17% of all claims against religious institutes composed solely of brothers. BoysTown Beaudesert, operated by the De La Salle Brothers from 1961 to 2001, had the highest number of claims of any single De La Salle institution, with 219 recorded. The Commission found that 77% of claimants identified abuse as occurring between 1970 and 1989, and that the Brothers’ response to complaints reflected systemic failures in child safeguarding.
What if the De La Salle school I attended has closed?
The closure of a school does not prevent a civil claim. Responsibility for compensation attaches to the legal entity that operated the institution, the Trustees of the De La Salle Brothers, not to the individual school premises. We can advise you on the correct respondent and whether the institution that operated the school during the relevant period remains a viable defendant.
Do I need to have reported the abuse at the time to make a claim now?
No. The vast majority of survivors of institutional abuse did not report what happened to them at the time, and this does not affect your right to bring a claim. Courts dealing with historical institutional abuse cases understand the reasons survivors did not come forward – the power imbalance, the culture of silence within institutions, the age at which abuse occurred, and the fear of not being believed. You do not need a prior complaint, conviction, or report to pursue compensation.
How long does a civil compensation claim for De La Salle abuse take?
Most civil compensation claims for institutional abuse settle before reaching a full court hearing. For straightforward matters, settlement within 12 to 24 months is not uncommon, though more complex cases may take longer. Virtually all claims settle under confidentiality arrangements. We will give you a realistic assessment of the likely timeframe once we have reviewed your specific circumstances.
Will my identity and the details of my claim be kept private?
Yes. All consultations with Koffels are confidential and without obligation from the outset. Civil claims for institutional abuse almost always settle with confidentiality arrangements in place, meaning the terms of your settlement are not publicly disclosed. Many survivors use pseudonyms in proceedings. Privacy is taken seriously at every stage of the process, and we will discuss confidentiality options with you before any steps are taken.
Speak with us
If you experienced abuse at a De La Salle school or institution and would like to understand your options, please contact Koffels Solicitors & Barristers. All initial consultations are confidential, without obligation, and handled with sensitivity.
Call us on 02 9283 5599 or use our contact form. We act on a no-win, no-fee basis for institutional abuse compensation matters.
