Offending Institutions: The Worst Schools in Australia
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse exposed a deep and disturbing history of abuse across Australia’s schools. From elite private institutions
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse exposed a deep and disturbing history of abuse across Australia’s schools. From elite private institutions
From the outside, Yasmar Boys’ Home may have looked like a grand heritage estate, but for the boys sent there, it was a place of
For thousands of Australian children, the name Minda evokes anything but protection. Despite its origins in an Aboriginal word meaning “shelter,” Minda Juvenile Justice Centre
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse uncovered a horrible truth: institutions designed to nurture and develop children often become places of
Allegations and convictions of historical child sexual abuse continue to emerge, with several former teachers across Australia facing serious charges. This month’s news highlights three
For decades, institutions entrusted with the care and safety of children have too often failed in their most fundamental duty—protection. The Quamby Youth Detention Centre
In this edition: a former teacher avoids jail despite being convicted of sexually abusing a student, a youth offender sues the ACT government over alleged
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from people who attended Broadmeadow High School between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s. We are looking for information about
Former Daruk Training School superintendent and federal politician Alasdair Webster has failed in his bid to have child abuse charges against him thrown out of court. Kelso Lawyers
Former federal politician and Daruk Training School superintendent Alasdair Webster was arrested and charged with a string of child abuse offences in 2020. Webster oversaw Daruk, a
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from former students who may have information regarding a particular male teacher who taught either Latin, French, Mathematics, or Technical
Australia’s most prolific paedophile priest, Gerald Ridsdale, is now facing a further 62 child sexual abuse charges. Ridsdale was a Catholic priest who committed many
Disgraced paedophile and former Anglican Dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence will be released on parole next week. Lawrence was convicted of the 1991 sexual assault
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from people who have any information regarding Paul Raymond Evans (formerly known as Brother Evans or Father Evans) during his
Cobham Youth Justice Centre, formally known as Cobham Remand Centre, has a long and shocking history of child abuse. For decades, countless children within the
Corey is an experienced abuse compensation lawyer having commenced at Kelso Lawyers in 2018 as a law student. Corey was admitted as a solicitor in
The NSW Department of Education has accepted that former teacher and principal Cletus O’Connor sexually abused indigenous boys in Western NSW throughout the 1970s and
In 2005, NSW school teacher John Fittler was charged with four child sex offences allegedly committed while teaching at Crows Nest Boys High School in
As written by the founder and principal of Kelso Lawyers, Peter Kelso As a former State Ward and long-term advocate for victims of child abuse,
School should be the one place where all children feel safe. Sadly, for thousands of Australian students, this is often not the case. Students all
William Landman was one of the worst paedophile teachers in Victoria’s history, convicted of 22 counts of child abuse committed at Chelsea Primary School in
South Australia has a long and shameful history of institutional child abuse. This was laid bare in the final report of the Children in State
Contact us to discover your options. As per the current regulations in Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA), we are unable to display certain information
David Henty was a qualified psychologist who worked as a guidance counsellor in Tasmanian schools. In 2005, he was found guilty of five counts of
John Ferris is one of NSW’s greatest shames. He committed numerous child sexual offences throughout his long teaching career, leaving a trail of devastation &
Between 1983 and 1987, the Tasmanian Department of Education transferred paedophile teacher Anthony LeClerc between four separate schools in just four years. A former priest
Former Tasmanian teacher Darrel George Harington is a convicted paedophile who was protected by the Tasmanian Government and the CSIRO for decades, despite widespread allegations of sexual
A recent independent inquiry into responses to child sexual abuse in Tasmanian schools found that the State spent decades protecting paedophile teachers and ignoring complaints
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from people who attended Chelsea Primary School (Victoria) in or around 1977. We are looking for ex-students who may have
Chevalier College is a picturesque private boarding school in the NSW Southern Highlands, boasting notable alumni, including a former NSW Premier. However, in the 1980s,
The Australian Defence Force has been a hotbed of physical and sexual abuse. Thousands of ex-servicemen and women were subjected to physical violence, sexual assaults
Contact us to discover your options. Compensation may be available. Abuse at all levels of sport is a serious problem in Australia. Child abuse in
Contact us to discover your options. Compensation may be available. Australia has a long and shameful history when it comes to youth detention. From the
School should be the one place where all children feel safe. Sadly, for thousands of Australian students, this has not been the case. Students all
Peter Kelso grew up in foster care, away from his natural family. He understands the pain and suffering experienced by countless children who have grown
Contact us to discover your options. Compensation may be available. The treatment of young people in children’s homes throughout Australia is a national disgrace. For
Church & clergy child abuse compensation lawyers The prevalence of child abuse throughout Australian religious institutions is truly shocking. Countless children across the country were
Contact us before you engage the National Redress Scheme. Otherwise you might not receive your maximum payment. What is the NRS? The National Redress Scheme
Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse, a number of changes were made to make it easier for abuse survivors to pursue compensation for
For many decades, ‘State Ward’ was the title given to children removed from their parents and assumed into the care of the State Government. Essentially,
Contact us to discover your options. Compensation may be available. As per the current regulations in Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA), we are unable
Contact us to discover your options. Compensation may be available. As per the current regulations in Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA), we are unable
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from people who attended Hendon Primary School in South Australia from around 1990-1994. We are looking for students who may
Christiaan Beullens is a former officer of Daruk Training School for Boys. From around 1970 to 1981, he lived and worked on the grounds of
As written by the founder and principal of Kelso Lawyers, Peter Kelso It was with great satisfaction that I received the news in March 2023
Located near Lismore NSW, Woodlawn College has a shameful history when it comes to child abuse. There have been allegations of abuse against several former
The statistics surrounding pedophile priests in Western Australia are alarming. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that, between 1950 and
As written by the founder and principal of Kelso Lawyers, Peter Kelso As a former State Ward and long-term advocate for victims of child abuse,
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. Child abuse in swimming is a serious problem
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. Child abuse in Australian sports is rife at
Child abuse survivors are attempting to seize Catholic Church properties, including the Sydney Headquarters, to cover legal costs after their court bills went unpaid. The
Contact us to discover your options. Additional compensation may be available. In July 2022, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) announced that it would offer financial
Contact us to discover your options. Compensation may be available. As per the current regulations in Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA), we are unable
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from former students of St Pius X High School in Adamstown who attended the school in the 1970s and 1980s.
Based on the information, interviews, complaints and quotes published by the Guardian in November 2022 In recent months, the Catholic Church in Australia has taken
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. In 2017, the Royal Comission uncovered serious allegations
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. All Australian children are guaranteed a place in
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. The Royal Commission held private sessions with 408
As written by the founder and principal of Kelso Lawyers, Peter Kelso I welcome the announcement of a state-run Care Leavers Redress Scheme for the
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from people who attended St Catherine’s School in Stirling, Adelaide, also known as Mt St Catherine’s Convent Boarding School, from
Brother Gerald Leo Fitzgerald was one of many Christian Brothers who preyed on children. He targeted boys exclusively, and the average age of his victims
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. The passing of legislation in 1864 allowed Victorian
Former Gosford Mayor Laurie Maher’s trial over historical child sexual abuse allegations began on August 29th 2022. Maher has been charged with 13 child sexual
St Patrick’s College was a day and boarding school for boys in Goulburn NSW run by the Christian Brothers. It ceased to exist in 2000
Castledare Junior Orphanage was one of four offending Children’s Homes in Western Australia, described as part of a “quadrangular scheme” for the Christian Brothers. Like
Between 1970 and 1984, at least four paedophile priests were sent to the Holy Family Parish, Doveton. Situated in one of Victoria’s most disadvantaged communities,
In 2017, the Catholic Church released the number of child sexual abuse claims made against staff from their religious schools and orphanages. The Church identified
Gill Memorial Home for Boys in Goulburn is considered one of the worst offending children’s homes in New South Wales. The boys were brutally beaten,
The Tasmanian Government has announced an immediate review into child safety and the management of complaints at Launceston General Hospital. This comes after the Commission
The Salvation Army has a lot to answer for when it comes to Captain Lawrence Wilson. Between the 1950s and 1980s, Wilson was moved between
Father Daniel Dominic Hourigan was one of many paedophile priests to fly under the radar — so much so that he died just three days
William Parker Skelland, 81, will spend at least four years in prison for sexually abusing children at Burwood Boys’ Home in 1973 and 1974. Skelland
Kelso Lawyers are seeking contact from people who attended Turner Primary School from around 1970-1974. We are looking for students who may have information regarding
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. Marist Brothers Hamilton has a horrific history of
Child Sex Offenders Queensland Some of the worst paedophiles in Queensland worked directly with children Queensland institutions have a lot to answer for. Queensland has
Child Sex Offenders Western Australia There has been an alarming number of active paedophiles in WA over the decades Institutional child abuse is rampant in
Western Australia has a historic problem of paedophiles in Perth Children and youths under the age of 21 have been sent to Australia unaccompanied since
Child Sex Offenders Melbourne From the 1950s through to the 1990s, there were a vast amount of offending paedophiles in Melbourne The number of active
Child Sex Offenders Sydney Over the decades, there has been an alarming amount of active paedophiles in Sydney As one of Australia’s largest cities, it
Child Sex Offenders New South Wales Over the decades, there have been a horrific number of offending paedophiles in NSW Child abuse is a terrible
Child Sex Offenders Victoria The Royal Commission uncovered an alarming amount of active paedophiles in Victoria Thousands of Australians know what it’s like growing up
The Burnie Supreme Court has heard that a female school cleaner abused a 13-year-old student over four months between June and September of 2021. The
WARNING: This article includes references to suicide which some readers may find upsetting. Reader discretion is advised. A Tasmanian mother known only as “Kim” has
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse did not specifically look at Tasmanian government institutions, leaving many Tasmanian survivors with a sense
The Catholic Church has a shameful history of child sexual abuse in Melbourne and the rest of Victoria — but for decades, the clergy’s behaviour
Riverview Training Farm is well known as one of Queensland’s worst-ever children’s homes. Run by the Salvation Army, the teenage residents were forced to work
The founder of the Hillsong Church, Brian Houston, resigned from the church in late March 2022 following allegations raised by two women. They accused him
Father Terrence Pidoto, like many paedophile priests in Victoria, managed to manipulate his way into the lives of underage altar boys and students. He befriended
Brother Bernard McGrath is one of the worst paedophile offenders in the history of Australia and New Zealand. His prolific offending was enabled by the
Father Richard Doyle, 85, has always denied any claims that he inappropriately touched a young girl more than 40 years ago. However, Doyle’s story gradually
Youth detention centres in Australia have a damning history. From Reiby Youth Justice Centre to Mt Penang Training School in New South Wales and Turana
Former detainees at Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre allege they were sexually abused by 55 former workers inside the facility. More than 200 submissions to
Brother Ross Francis Murrin started teaching when he was just 18 years old. He completed high school in 1972 and joined the Marist Brothers a
Brian Houston, the founder and leader of the Hillsong Church, has stepped down from his role to defend the criminal charges against him. It is
The Child Welfare Department established Clairvaux Children’s Home in Katoomba, NSW, in 1969. At the time, other state institutions like Mittagong, Brush Farm, and Werrington
In the 1960s and 70s, Salvation Army Captain John Dalziel McIver allegedly terrorised young boys in his charge at Salvation Army Boys Homes in Sydney
Brother Edward Dowlan, now known as “Ted Bales”, was part of a ring of paedophile offenders stalking the halls of St Alipius Primary School —
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