Many of Australia’s government-run youth detention centres, training schools, and boys’ homes were places where children were seriously harmed. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse documented abuse across dozens of these facilities, spanning every state and territory, and the harm done to the young people held in them has been the subject of significant public inquiry, coronial investigation, and criminal prosecution.
Koffels Solicitors & Barristers acts for survivors of abuse in government-run youth justice facilities, detention centres, and boys’ homes across Australia. If you were held in one of these facilities and experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, you may be entitled to compensation regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
This page provides information about the institutions where abuse has been documented, the legal options available to survivors, and how to get advice. It does not make findings or allegations against any institution. It is intended to help former residents understand their rights and seek independent legal advice.
Compensation claims against government-run facilities
A significant distinction applies to youth detention centres, training schools, and boys’ homes compared with church-run or private institutions: when the facility is government-run, the respondent in a civil compensation claim is typically a state or territory government.
This does not prevent a claim. State governments owe a non-delegable duty of care to children placed in their custody. Where that duty was breached, the government may be held liable regardless of whether the individual staff member responsible is still alive, still employed, or has been criminally charged. Several states have also enacted legislation that expressly acknowledges government liability for historical abuse in residential care settings.
Survivors should not assume that a government-run facility is beyond reach. In many respects, government respondents are more likely to engage than private institutions, because the state cannot dissolve, relocate overseas, or restructure to avoid liability in the way some private entities can.
Institutions covered
The following facilities are among those where abuse has been documented and where Koffels has acted for, or is currently acting for, survivors. If you were held in a facility not listed here, please contact us. We may have direct experience with that facility or be able to advise you on your options regardless.
New South Wales
Daruk Boys Home, Windsor Daruk Boys Home operated under the NSW Department of Youth and Community Services. The Royal Commission heard extensive evidence of sexual and physical abuse of residents. A survivor’s account is published on this site. Read more about Daruk Boys Home
Mount Penang Juvenile Justice Centre, Gosford Mount Penang operated as a juvenile justice facility in NSW for several decades. Multiple inquiries have examined the treatment of young people held there. Read more about Mount Penang Juvenile Justice Centre
Reiby Training School, Airds Reiby Training School was a government-run facility in south-western Sydney. Survivors of abuse at Reiby have come forward as part of broader inquiries into NSW juvenile justice institutions. Read more about Reiby Training School
Keelong Remand Centre Keelong operated in conjunction with Mount Penang and served as a remand facility for young people in NSW. Read more about Keelong Remand Centre
Yasmar Boys Home, Haberfield Yasmar operated as a boys’ home in Sydney’s inner west. Former residents have come forward with accounts of abuse during its years of operation. Read more about Yasmar Boys Home
Kumanka Boys Home Kumanka Boys Home was a government-run residential facility in NSW. Former residents with experience of abuse at this facility are encouraged to contact us. Read more about Kumanka Boys Home
South Australia
Magill Youth Training Centre, Magill Magill Youth Training Centre was one of South Australia’s primary juvenile justice facilities. The Royal Commission received evidence of abuse at Magill, and the facility has been the subject of significant public inquiry in South Australia. Read more about Magill Youth Training Centre
Queensland
John Oxley Youth Detention Centre, Brisbane John Oxley Youth Detention Centre operated in Brisbane and was examined as part of broader inquiries into Queensland’s juvenile justice system. A detailed timeline of abuse inquiries is published on this site. Read more about John Oxley Youth Detention Centre
Westbrook Training Centre, Toowoomba Westbrook Training Centre operated in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. Former residents have documented serious abuse at the facility over many decades of its operation. Read more about Westbrook Training Centre
Tasmania
Ashley Youth Detention Centre, Deloraine Ashley Youth Detention Centre was Tasmania’s primary youth detention facility and remained in operation until 2024. The facility has been the subject of multiple investigations, charges against former staff, and significant media and parliamentary scrutiny. Read more about Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Western Australia
Bayswater Boys Home, Bayswater Bayswater Boys Home operated in Perth’s inner northern suburbs. Former residents have described serious abuse at the facility, and Koffels has acted for survivors in this matter. Read more about Bayswater Boys Home
Not sure which facility you were in?
If you were held in a government-run facility that is not listed above, please contact us. Boys’ homes, remand centres, training schools, and juvenile justice centres operated under many different names and were sometimes relocated or renamed during their operation. We may still be able to help, and an initial conversation is confidential and without obligation.
Your legal options
Civil compensation
Civil compensation through the courts is the pathway Koffels recommends for the majority of survivors with viable claims. A civil claim is made against the responsible government authority, typically the relevant state or territory government, and is assessed on the actual harm the abuse caused – to your health, your relationships, your employment, and your quality of life. There is no cap on what can be recovered in a civil claim.
The vast majority of civil claims settle before they reach a hearing. Confidentiality agreements are standard. You do not need to have reported the abuse to police, and you do not need to have participated in any inquiry or redress process, to bring a civil claim.
NSW has removed time limits for civil child sexual abuse claims. In most cases, survivors in other states are also able to bring claims regardless of when the abuse occurred, though individual circumstances still matter and specialist advice is important.
National Redress Scheme
The National Redress Scheme may be worth considering in limited circumstances, particularly where a civil claim is not viable. However, survivors with viable civil claims should understand the Scheme’s significant limitations before applying.
Coverage for government-run facilities under the Scheme varies by state and facility type. Not all government-run institutions have signed up as Scheme members, and eligibility is not guaranteed simply because the institution was government-run. Survivors should seek independent legal advice before assuming they are eligible or before applying.
Where the Scheme does apply:
- The maximum payment is $150,000, and this figure is rarely achieved in practice
- The average payment for serious abuse is approximately $80,000
- Payments for many survivors are significantly lower, and the firm has seen cases as low as $7,000
- Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim for the same abuse
- Applicants are not routinely offered independent legal advice before signing
The Scheme is a formal legal instrument drafted by institutional experts. It should not be signed without advice.
Applications to the Scheme close 30 June 2027.
Read the firm’s full position on the National Redress Scheme
What if the staff member has died?
A civil compensation claim is made against the institution or the responsible government authority, not against the individual abuser. If the person who abused you has died, this does not prevent you from bringing a claim. The state’s liability does not depend on the abuser’s availability.
Limitation periods
NSW has removed limitation periods for civil child sexual abuse claims, meaning there is no time limit to bring a claim in NSW. In most cases across other states, legal reform has significantly extended or removed time limits as well. However, the rules vary by state and by the specific circumstances of your claim.
If you are unsure whether you are within time, the right step is to seek advice rather than assume you are out of time. Many survivors have brought successful claims after being told – incorrectly – that they were too late.
Read more about limitation periods for historical abuse claims in Australia
A survivor’s account
One survivor of Daruk Boys Home has shared their experience on this site. Their account is published with their consent and is intended to show others that coming forward is possible, that they are not alone, and that compensation is achievable.
Read the Daruk Boys Home survivor’s account
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a compensation claim if I was abused in a government-run detention centre or boys’ home?
Yes. State and territory governments owe a duty of care to children placed in their custody, and that duty cannot be delegated away. If the government breached that duty and you were harmed as a result, you may be entitled to civil compensation. The fact that a facility was government-run does not prevent a claim – it determines who the claim is made against. Koffels has acted for survivors of abuse in government-run facilities across multiple states.
What if I don’t know the official name of the facility where I was held?
This is common and not a barrier. Many facilities operated under different names at different times, were renamed when they changed function, or were known informally by names that differ from their official designation. Please contact us with whatever details you have – approximate years, location, the type of facility – and we can work from there. An initial conversation is confidential and without obligation.
Does it matter which state I was in?
The relevant state or territory government will generally be the respondent in a civil claim, so yes, the state matters for determining which government is liable. However, it does not prevent you from making a claim regardless of where you are now living. Koffels acts for survivors across all Australian states and territories. The limitation period rules also vary by state, so getting advice specific to your circumstances is important.
Is there a time limit for making a claim?
NSW has removed limitation periods for civil child sexual abuse claims, meaning survivors of abuse in NSW facilities can bring a claim regardless of when the abuse occurred. In most other states, significant legal reform has also extended or removed time limits for historical abuse claims. Individual circumstances still matter, and the rules vary. If you are unsure whether you are within time, seek advice rather than assume you are out of time – many survivors have successfully brought claims after being incorrectly told they were too late.
What is the National Redress Scheme, and does it cover government-run facilities?
The National Redress Scheme is a government-administered scheme that pays a capped sum to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in exchange for releasing the institution from further legal liability. Coverage for government-run facilities varies significantly by state and facility type – not all government-run institutions are Scheme members. For survivors with viable civil claims, the Scheme has significant limitations: the maximum payment is $150,000 (rarely achieved in practice), the average for serious abuse is approximately $80,000, and accepting a payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim. Koffels strongly recommends independent legal advice before any application. Applications close on 30 June 2027.
What if the staff member who abused me has died?
A civil compensation claim is made against the institution or the responsible government authority, not against the individual abuser personally. The death of the person who abused you does not prevent a claim. State governments and institutions carry ongoing liability for the acts of their employees, and that liability does not end when the individual dies.
If you were abused in a youth detention centre, training school, boys’ home, or other government-run care facility, Koffels can help you understand your options.
Initial consultations are confidential and without obligation. Our institutional abuse team acts on a no-win, no-fee basis in appropriate cases.
Call: 02 9283 5599 or fill out the free and confidential call-back request form below:
