ADF Abuse Lawyers

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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 and ongoing campaigns of harassment.

New recruits were often subjected to horrific violence and humiliating sexual assaults committed under the guise of ‘hazing’ or ‘initiation rituals’. Other offenders were opportunistic, using their seniority in the hierarchy to prey on men and women of a lower rank. 

For decades, children as young as 15 were admitted to ADF facilities such as HMAS Leeuwin and Balcombe Army Apprentice School, where they were at the mercy of hardened second and third-year apprentices. 

Kelso Lawyers has represented many individuals abused in these facilities, and their stories are truly horrifying.

Kelso Lawyers has also represented many brave women who experienced serious sexual abuse while serving our country. Their stories are harrowingly similar; they recount men, often senior men, coming into their living quarters at night and committing shocking acts of sexual violence against them. 

Many were too afraid to report what happened, and those who did were usually subjected to ongoing campaigns of bullying and harassment. In some cases, the women themselves were even charged after making reports. The ADF’s handling of such complaints was nothing short of disgraceful.

If you experienced abuse in the ADF, you might be entitled to compensation. We have pursued cases against the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy, and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Many survivors do not speak up for a long time. Often, they feared retribution from the offender, or else they would not be believed. Many blame themselves and live with feelings of shame and embarrassment that they should not have to carry. It is never your fault; often, the hardest step is to break the silence, reach out, find your voice and seek help.