The Victorian Court of Appeal has sent George Pell back to prison to serve out his sentence like every other prisoner in the system. This means he will be locked up for at least another…
Read Article →
The orphanage was established in 1885 to accommodate children transferred from St Joseph’s Orphanage in Bucasia, Queensland. Managed by the Sisters of Mercy, with priests provided by the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton, 4,000 boys and…
Read Article →
The Christian Brothers Australian wing has paid more than $213 million in child abuse payouts and legal fees over the last six years, throwing their financial health into question. The order is expected to pay…
Read Article →
Vatican reaffirms priests don’t have to report abuse revealed in confession A document from the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary says no government or law can force the clergy to violate the seal of confession “because this…
Read Article →
Former Catholic Priest Vincent Ryan to return to jail Vincent Ryan abused children throughout the Hunter Region for decades. Under the watchful eye of the Catholic Church, Ryan sexually abused more than 30 boys under…
Read Article →
The redress scheme has been a failure in its first twelve months of operation. There hasn’t been a single piece of positive press since the scheme launched on 1 July 2018. The latest statistics are…
Read Article →
Frank Valentine was a long-serving officer of the old Child Welfare Department. He joined the public service back in the days when training was done ‘on the job’. A university degree was not needed. So…
Read Article →
Victims of institutional child sex abuse in Queensland can have their old Forde Scheme payments reviewed and topped up because of new laws. The Queensland Government have changed legislation so that courts can review previous…
Read Article →
The Marist College in Burnie, Tasmania, is under fire again with new sexual abuse allegations. According to a letter obtained by the ABC, the principal and his boss knew teacher Father Greg Ferguson was abusing…
Read Article →
NSW Magistrate Graeme Bryan Curran has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy nine times between 1981 and 1983. The boy was 13-years-old when the abuse started. Curran befriended the boys’ family and…
Read Article →
Derryn Hinch’s Joint Select Committee has issued its first set of recommendations for fixing up the National Redress Scheme. The Committee condemned the Turnbull government for deviating from many of the Royal Commission’s recommendations. In…
Read Article →
If there’s one thing that’s come from the recent sentencing of George Pell, it’s this: Just because it seems improbable that a person will sexually assault children, it doesn’t mean they won’t. Just weeks after…
Read Article →
Broadcaster Ray Hadley criticises John Howard & Tony Abbott for their support of George Pell Since Cardinal George Pell was charged with historical child sexual abuse in December, former Prime Ministers John Howard & Tony…
Read Article →
George Pell has been convicted of sexually abusing a choir boy when he was the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne. The incident happened at the same time as Pell was drafting the church’s response to victims…
Read Article →
Pope Francis admits nuns were kept as sex slaves, nuns share their stories Pope Francis has revealed several nuns were being kept as sex slaves in the Community of St Jean in France. Catholic priests…
Read Article →
Foster care abuse victims will soon be eligible for compensation The highest court in the United Kingdom has overturned a Court of Appeal decision, opening up the right to hold governments liable for the sexual…
Read Article →
The National Redress Scheme is waging a war against victims of institutional child sex abuse Eight months after the National Redress Scheme was launched by the Australian Government, one thing has become abundantly clear –…
Read Article →
We need to take paedophiles and perverts out of the neighbourhood For too long children in Australia have been at risk. They have been subject to the most horrendous abuse across the country, with little…
Read Article →
Some of the worst child abuse happens in foster care. Children have been beaten, emotionally and verbally abused, sexually assaulted and harassed. On rural properties, foster children have been used for manual labour, working the…
Read Article →
Former Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson has appealed his conviction of concealing child sexual abuse. The Newcastle Local Court found the archbishop was told about child abuse in the church and the sexual misconduct of…
Read Article →
Tough new laws to bring offenders to justice in NSW now in effect As of December 1st, 2018, new child sexual abuse legislation has come into effect, increasing child protection in New South Wales and…
Read Article →
On October 22, Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised to thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse, recognising the “dark, evil times” children suffered at the hands of priests, teachers and foster carers among a long…
Read Article →
For too long, paedophiles with sob stories have gotten away with light jail sentences. Thankfully, after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the courts have finally gotten the message – it…
Read Article →
“IF THEY GET WIND OF THIS WE COULD HAVE A REAL PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS” Institutions have been lying to victims of abuse in Australia for decades, but it’s rare they ever get caught in…
Read Article →
“Today, Australia confronts a trauma. An abomination, hiding in plain sight for far too long. Today, we confront a question too horrible to ask, let alone answer – why weren’t the children of our nation…
Read Article →
As the reality of the Redress Scheme sets in, it becomes painfully obvious what victims of institutional abuse have to do to receive redress. The National Redress Scheme is hard to apply for and even…
Read Article →
Government department attempts to intimidate Peter Kelso over redress scheme Peter Kelso has received a long legal document from the Department of Social Services regarding two domain names registered under Peter’s name. Peter owns http://nationalredress.com.au/…
Read Article →
The great scandal of the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse is the Government ignored many of its recommendations. Imagine that…five years, at a cost to the taxpayers of $372 million dollars, thousands upon thousands…
Read Article →
The National Redress Scheme for victims of historic child sex abuse is attracting a lot of media attention. Many churches and government institutions responsible for the abuse of children have signed up. It has been…
Read Article →
It is often said that if you want the truth, follow the money. Doing that with the National Redress Scheme reveals the real focus. Did you know the politicians voted for the National Redress Scheme…
Read Article →
Nine months after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse handed down its findings, the Catholic Church has rejected the recommendation to lift the Seal of Confession regarding child sexual abuse. According…
Read Article →
Terminally ill man Paul Bradshaw has reached a landmark settlement of $1 million dollars in his case against Christian Brothers. Bradshaw was bravely prepared to testify in court on his treatment while residing at Castledare…
Read Article →
We need longer jail terms for paedophiles in NSW How many times do we read about another convicted paedophile getting off lightly when he is sentenced? Only recently a paedophile was given a measly 20-month…
Read Article →
NSW will make it easier for victims to sue churches and institutions By the end of the year, it will be a lot easier for victims of institutional abuse in NSW to sue churches, the…
Read Article →
The Pope has accepted Archbishop Philip Wilson’s resignation two months after the 67-year-old was convicted of concealing the crimes of serial paedophile, Jim Fletcher, in the 1970s. Wilson was given a 12-month sentence in June…
Read Article →
National Redress Scheme begins, allowing over 60,000 victims to seek compensation The National Redress Scheme has begun, giving 60,000 survivors of child sexual abuse the chance to claim compensation against the predators who stole their…
Read Article →
Salvation Army, Scouts, YMCA, Anglican Church sign on to redress scheme Scouts Australia, the Salvation Army, YMCA Australia, the Uniting Church and the Anglican Church are all joining the national redress scheme for child abuse…
Read Article →
Western Australian Christian Brother jailed for historical abuse of child in Kalgoorlie An 84-year-old Christian Brother has been jailed for sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in Kalgoorlie in 1964. James Brian Hamilton was a teaching…
Read Article →
Kelso Lawyers are updating the name of our Facebook page from Royal Commission Child Abuse Unofficial to Royal Commission and Institutional Abuse News to reflect our wider support of victims of institutional abuse and the…
Read Article →
There is little to no published information on the culture of abuse within the ranks of the police force. Until you really start digging. And then you uncover the horrific stories of abuse and harassment….
Read Article →
Cardinal George Pell faced abuse accusers via video link Cardinal George Pell’s alleged abuse victims began testifying against him in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 5, 2018. The survivors appeared via video link before…
Read Article →
South Australia refuses to abolish time limit for victims of abuse The South Australian government has refused to abolish time limits for victims of child abuse and has said there are “no plans” to make…
Read Article →
(The Kelso Family left to right: Dr Michelle Kelso, Brendan Kelso, Lydia Kelso, Peter Kelso and Ashley Kelso.) As a father of four children, there are many proud moments in my life. I am now…
Read Article →
Former trainee priest who exposed Vatican secrets challenges Pope Francis Former trainee priest, Kieran Tapsell, has claimed the Catholic Church can heal if Pope Francis is up for the challenge. The Royal Commission heard evidence…
Read Article →
Former Archbishop of Melbourne failed to prevent child sex abuse The culture of abuse that has been exposed in the Catholic Church was allowed to continue by the actions of many of those in power….
Read Article →
You’re getting more than a lawyer with Kelso Lawyers. Kelso Lawyers is a father, son, and daughter law firm. Peter started his firm from scratch in 1986. This was a huge achievement for a man…
Read Article →
Islamic institutions overlooked by the world’s finest and best-funded Child Abuse Inquiry The Child Abuse Royal Commission finished on 15 December when Justice Peter McClellan handed the Commission’s final report to the Governor-General in Canberra….
Read Article →
Charges have been laid against Former Anglican Dean Graeme Lawrence relating to the sexual assault of a teenage boy in the 1990s. Lawrence, 75, retired from the Church in 2008 and was subsequently defrocked in…
Read Article →
Prison time for failing to prevent child abuse in schools, government departments, organisations The Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse is recommending the state government consider prison time for people working with children who do…
Read Article →
We need to boycott Mr Turnbull’s wretched redress scheme The Turnbull Government has announced that the proposed National Redress Scheme for institutional child abuse victims will exclude people with certain criminal records. If you have…
Read Article →
Abuse is beast which takes many forms. Sadly, our society is rife with human beings displaying abusive behaviour toward others. Abusive behaviour can affect every aspect of an individual’s life. Relationships, well-being, finances, self-esteem, physical…
Read Article →
Since 2012 the Australian jail system has seen a massive increase in prisoners over 50 years old. This increase has put a huge strain on the system, as jails weren’t built to accommodate the needs…
Read Article →
This time last year the Prime Minister announced the Commonwealth Government was committed to a $4.3 billion National Redress Scheme (NRS) to compensate victims of child abuse. The Scheme was applauded by advocacy groups and…
Read Article →
Did you know that State governments are refusing to compensate children abused in foster homes? Did you know that the National Redress Scheme for victims of institutional child sex abuse has shut the door on…
Read Article →
Gerald Ridsdale sentenced to another 11 years in prison for child sexual abuse Australia’s most notorious paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale has been sentenced on August 31st for abusing 12 children from the 1960’s and 80’s….
Read Article →
It’s no longer astonishing when you hear there is new evidence to suggest the Catholic Church covered up paedophile priests and teachers. It’s simply disappointing. So many young lives ruined by the actions of abhorrent…
Read Article →
There is a long history of sexual and physical abuse in the Australian Armed Forces. The Child Abuse Royal Commission has heard from 111 people with plausible stories of abuse in the armed forces. These…
Read Article →
The history of George Pell Climbing the ranks into the Vatican – how Australian Cardinal George Pell went from a small town football player to the Vatican’s third in command. 1941 – George was born…
Read Article →I have worked with victims of abuse for nearly 30 years. I have observed anger and bitterness at the very coalface. It’s the kind of bitterness which is completely warranted, considering the trauma these victims…
Read Article →
We have been told that Cardinal Pell has hired top criminal lawyer Robert Richter QC to defend him against the Victoria Director of Public Prosecutions (‘the Crown’). Richter will have one or two junior barristers…
Read Article →
Why Australia hates George Pell Cardinal George Pell is a household name for all the wrong reasons. Why is he so unpopular? Why do so many people spew hatred towards him at the mention of…
Read Article →
In this monthly wrap up we’ve got a summary of the very latest news in the Royal Commission and institutional abuse. Several charges have been dropped for a Muslim Imam who conducted the wedding of…
Read Article →
Has the Commonwealth Government got its priorities right? This week the Commonwealth Government settled a nuisance class action with 1,900 asylum seekers stuck on Manus Island detention centre. Detainees alleged they were mistreated and deprived…
Read Article →
How I found my family after 17 years This is part four of my series on my childhood as a ward of the State. If you haven’t read the previous articles you can view them…
Read Article →
Over 30 Men arrested and charged with child sex offences More than 30 men in the Pilbara region of Western Australia have been charged with close to 300 counts of child sex abuse. This is…
Read Article →Cardinal Pell may soon face child sex charges The Director of Public Prosecutions has given advice to the Victorian Police about an investigation into Cardinal George Pell. Australia’s most hated man has faced many accusations…
Read Article →
Image: Me on my sixth birthday This is part three of my series on my childhood as a ward of the State. If you haven’t read the previous articles you can check them out here…
Read Article →
What has the Child Abuse Royal Commission actually achieved? Many will be asking this question when Justice Peter McClellan hands down his final report in December 2017. What will the Commission recommend? Will anything change?…
Read Article →
If we have already declined your case, we want to explain that it’s not without cause. We understand how it feels to share your story, especially the first time. Peter in particular knows exactly…
Read Article →
The photo is of myself and my peers at Meadowbank Boys’ High Third Year – 1971 This is the second chapter of a series about my personal experiences of childhood abuse. If you haven’t already…
Read Article →
Image: Peter Kelso (highlighted) before he was removed. Shown here with (L-R) Billy, Dianne and Arthur. I was just five years old when my mother arranged to give me away to the Child Welfare Department….
Read Article →
Prolific paedophile priest admits to more counts of child abuse. 82-year-old paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale pleaded guilty to 20 counts of child abuse. He was first convicted in 1994. Ridsdale was eligible for parole in…
Read Article →
Radio broadcaster Alan Jones joins Peter Kelso’s crusade against the Royal Commission’s big mistake: its failure to investigate Islamic groups for child sex offences. Alan Jones: Well look just before we go tonight the Royal…
Read Article →
Did you know children placed with foster parents in family homes have very limited rights to be compensated by the government for any sexual, physical or emotional abuse? Foster children are some of the most…
Read Article →
Father of Salvation Army leader charged with child sex offences Ray Pethybridge has been charged with 14 sexual offences. Several of these offences were allegedly perpetrated against underaged girls. Pethybridge (whose son is a high…
Read Article →
The Parramatta Girls’ Training School was an institution sadly run like many others throughout the 1950’s to the 70’s. Sexual abuse, psychological abuse and state sanctioned slave labour weren’t just accepted regular practice at Parramatta…
Read Article →
Almost all institutions involved in the Royal Commission are offering verbal and written apologies to survivors of historical child abuse. It has become ‘standard practice’ where both parties are legally represented but agree to settle…
Read Article →
My hope for the future of the church Have you ever noticed how easily children believe in the wonder of faith? Children seem to have a natural curiosity about God. They are drawn to the…
Read Article →
Last week I wrote an opinion piece that was an inflammatory and passionate call for significant change. The piece called for a radical internal reform of the Anglican Church in Newcastle. I made the plea…
Read Article →
Newcastle Bishop resigns after sharing his story of abuse amidst pressure from the Anglican Church Newcastle Anglican Bishop Greg Thompson announced his retirement after sharing his tragic history as a victim of sexual abuse. The…
Read Article →
Everyone who lives in Newcastle and the Hunter knows the once-iconic Anglican Cathedral. The imposing building dominates the Newcastle skyline on its perch right up there on the hill above the city. The Newcastle Anglican…
Read Article →
Uniting Church apologises to victims and Jehovah’s Witnesses defend practices The Uniting Church in Australia has apologised to victims of child sexual abuse, whilst Jehovah’s Witness elders have defended their practices of shunning victims. The…
Read Article →
Guess how much money the combined churches in Australia make in one year. I’ll give you a hint – it’s a truckload of cash. Over $30 billion. The Catholic Church owns over half of that…
Read Article →
Catholic Church funds legal fees of Christian Brothers paedophile Robert Best is just one of many prolific paedophiles in The Christian Brothers – an institution within the Catholic Church. On the second of March, Best…
Read Article →
The Catholic Church has done it again. Once more the leaders of the Catholic Church have shown their blatant disregard for the law. Amidst all the heart-tugging apologies and expressions of supposed outrage from leading…
Read Article →
In 1962, when I was five, I was taken from my parents and made a ward of the state. As a child, I was a victim of institutional abuse. Now, the team at Kelso Lawyers…
Read Article →
We are 50 hearings into the Royal Commission into Child Abuse without a single hearing into child abuse within the Islamic community of Australia. With systemic abuse uncovered in a number of religious organisations across the…
Read Article →
Unprecedented level of Paedophilia in the Catholic Church In a 35-year period from 1980 to 2015 almost 4500 allegations of child abuse were made to church authorities- involving roughly 1880 offenders. This unprecedented number demonstrates…
Read Article →
The question we need to ask ourselves about the Catholic Church in Australia Have you been outraged by the sheer magnitude of the problem of child sexual abuse perpetrated by priests and religious brothers from…
Read Article →
Plus notorious paedophile’s shocking reign of terror, and convicted paedophile up for parole after serving just three and a half years. Forty years after fleeing the US to escape conviction for raping a 13-year-old girl,…
Read Article →
Proposed Government plan aims to boost adoption rates of at-risk kids in NSW Abusive parents will have just two years to turn their lives around and permanently claim back their children in care or at-risk…
Read Article →
Dear Survivors, I have been following your country’s public inquiry into child sex abuse since it started in March 2015. Unfortunately, it’s been a disaster from the beginning. The Inquiry has now appointed its fourth…
Read Article →
He was a notorious conman who not only avoided prison despite being convicted three times, but also was hired as a teacher and promoted to school principal while on a good behaviour bond for child…
Read Article →
They were all respected men. They were all trusted to care for the children under their supervision. Instead, they manipulated, groomed, abused and tortured those they were supposed to protect. They are wolves hiding in…
Read Article →
Dear Bishop Roger, I am a solicitor in Newcastle. I have lived here since 1984. I act for many survivors of institutional child abuse all around Australia. For a considerable part of my time here…
Read Article →
Let’s be honest. We all know you can’t change the past. But you can do something about improving your future. And a lump sum of compensation money, used wisely, can be life changing. People out…
Read Article →
There has been a significant drop in the number of civil cases that have ended up in the courts over the last few years. These days, claims for compensation are more often being mediated privately…
Read Article →
The current Anglican bishop of Newcastle, Greg Thompson, has told the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse that he was sexually assaulted by priest Eric Baker during the 1970s. Thompson was 19 at the time,…
Read Article →
Please note – this article has been updated in 2018. Advocacy groups have been funded for years to campaign for compensation for people who have been abused as children by clergy, teachers, foster carers, house…
Read Article →
Institutional child sex abuse survivors are set to receive up to $150,000 each under a new Federal Government compensation scheme. States, territories and institutions — including churches — can opt in to the Commonwealth program…
Read Article →
Paedophile dance teacher to serve 18 years in prison Former Sydney dance teacher Grant Davies will spend at least 18 years in prison after being convicted for child sex abuse. He repeatedly abused girls during…
Read Article →
As the dust settles on the the Child Abuse Royal Commission’s 2014 hearing into the State government’s response to child abuse at Parramatta and Hay, in my view, we need to have an in-depth review…
Read Article →
PM Turnbull commits to $4.3-billion national redress scheme Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has committed to a multi-billion-dollar redress scheme proposed by the Royal Commission into Child Sex Abuse. Turnbull’s commitment came during a private meeting…
Read Article →
Many survivors of child abuse have had their abuser living ‘rent-free’ in their head in the decades after the abuse. Receiving a genuine apology and a fair compensation payout from the institution, alongside counselling support, can…
Read Article →
If you’ve been a victim of clergy or institutional child abuse and are interested in seeking compensation, the costs and time frame involved with making the claim will be factors you’ve likely considered. We’ve outlined what you…
Read Article →
There are two pathways to seeking compensation for survivors of clergy and institutional child abuse. We have found that seeking compensation through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is much better suited to historical child abuse cases. ADR…
Read Article →
To build a case for compensation, we will need to draft a comprehensive statement that details the abuse and the impact it has had on your life. The solicitor working on your case will work…
Read Article →
Kelso Lawyers understand that revisiting past memories can be a distressing experience and we go to great lengths to ensure that our process is as supportive as possible for survivors. Once Kelso Lawyers have accepted…
Read Article →
Despite conceding that he first received a complaint about defrocked former Newcastle Dean Graeme Lawrence in 1995 and was made aware of further allegations against Lawrence in 1999, Archbishop of Perth Roger Herft has denied…
Read Article →
‘Distressing’ pornography discovered in senior priest’s home Former archdeacon of the Upper Hunter diocese, Colvin Ford, has told the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse that a collection of gay and child pornography found in…
Read Article →
Lowell Goddard has quit her post as Chair of the Child Sexual Inquiry in England and Wales. This sudden and unexplained move follows criticism of Goddard for not doing enough and for spending too much time overseas….
Read Article →
Many child abuse survivors are hesitant to engage in legal proceedings. It is often seen as a costly process tied up in red tape. We understand that. It’s for this reason that we follow a process…
Read Article →
Cardinal George Pell accused of child sex abuse across two decades Victorian police are investigating Cardinal George Pell following explosive testimony given to the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. Pell is accused of multiple…
Read Article →
Sexual assault survivor receives financial settlement from Marist Brothers Kelso Lawyers has secured a sincere apology and a substantial financial settlement from the Marist Brothers for brutal physical and sexual abuse that occurred at St…
Read Article →
A victim of child sexual abuse may be eligible to seek compensation for the suffering they’ve endured. But why should a victim seek compensation? Victim compensation is a key component in the provision of justice in Australia. The…
Read Article →
Department of Defence silent on RAAF sex crimes The Department of Defence has failed to pay the psychologist bills of a former RAAF teenage cadet who was sexually abused by a cadet instructor. The Department…
Read Article →
Two former Parramatta Girls Training School bosses charged with rape Noel Greenaway and Frank Valentine have been charged with three counts of raping girls attending Parramatta Girls Training School. Greenaway was superintendent of the institution…
Read Article →
‘Parra Girls’ forced into slave labour Survivors of brutal sexual and physical abuse whilst attending the Parramatta Girls Training School and The Hay Institution for Girls are encouraged to come forward. The abuse began during…
Read Article →
The Queensland Government has taken the first steps to remove a time limit that has prevented thousands of child abuse survivors from suing for damages. Currently, the statute of limitations in Queensland means that child…
Read Article →
St Vincent’s Orphanage routine abuse straight from Dark Ages The Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse has heard damning evidence about the abuse of children at the Sisters of Mercy-run St Vincent’s Orphanage at Neerkol,…
Read Article →
Shocking allegations of brutal sexual and physical abuse were heard as the Child Abuse Royal Commission focused its attention on the Parramatta Girls Training School and The Hay Institution for Girls. Allegations of abuse spanning…
Read Article →![Source: Stocksnap [ https://stocksnap.io/photo/A4431D9AB1] Photographer: Mikael Kristenson](https://kelsolawyers.com/au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/A4431D9AB1-e1461296982960.jpg)
Sporting clubs’ responses to child sexual abuse allegations are this month coming under the scrutiny of the Child Abuse Royal Commission, which has heard stories of horrific child sexual abuse by sports coaches. The Commission…
Read Article →
Child abuse survivors were enraged this month by Justice Peter McClellan’s decision to allow Cardinal George Pell to give evidence to the Royal Commission via video link. Pell’s $20,000-a-day lawyer had argued vigorously that his…
Read Article →
Pell’s Royal Commission appearance postponed and Jehovah’s Witnesses rebuked for inaction. Cardinal George Pell’s much anticipated appearance in the witness box at the Child Abuse Royal Commission this month has been postponed. The Royal Commission…
Read Article →
Doveton parish priest Father Peter Searson molested children in the confessional, and sexually abused a nine-year-old altar boy every Saturday for six months. Searson paid the boy a pittance to do chores around his home,…
Read Article →