As per the current regulations in Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA), we are unable to display certain information about our legal services to people residing in those states. If you are located in QLD or WA, please click on this link to access information on foster care abuse law.
Over the last century, many thousands of children across Australia have been removed from their families and placed in the care of the Government. These children are known as State Wards, with the government assuming parental/guardian responsibility for their care.
State Wards were placed in children’s homes, group homes and foster care, and it was the Government’s job to ensure their safety.
Unfortunately, for many children, this experience has been the furthest thing from safe. For many decades now, State Wards have been ignored, neglected, and abused. They have been subjected to horrific physical and sexual abuse in State and religious children’s homes, family group homes, and foster care.
Our founder and principal Peter Kelso is a former NSW State Ward and understands the pain and suffering experienced by children who grew up in the care and welfare system, away from their families. Click here to read Peter’s story.
These children needed care, nurturing, and protection. What they got was very different.
They were neglected and abused by the very people who were supposed to look after them, and the Government often turned a blind eye. Concerning reports about placements and carers were put in the ‘too hard basket’ with caseworkers unwilling to investigate and risk having to go through the process of finding an alternative placement for the child involved.
Whether you were abused in a children’s home, foster care or family group homes, you may be entitled to compensation. We have pursued cases for State Wards against every State and Territory Government in Australia.
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.
The first step is to contact us for an initial consultation. This can be done via our online form or by contacting us to request a phone call from our client intake team. Your information is confidential and will be treated with the utmost care and discretion.
Our solicitors will then review your information, and we will be in touch for a free consultation to discuss how we can best assist you. We will discuss all your options with you, which may include court action, alternative dispute resolution or the National Redress Scheme.
It is critical you get the right advice, as each option comes with various risks and benefits. You may cost yourself hundreds of thousands of dollars by not properly considering all your options.
If, after talking to us, you wish to proceed, we operate on a no-win-no-fee agreement, which we will explain in detail to you. Put simply, if we don’t successfully get you compensation, you won’t pay any legal fees.
We have pursued cases for State Wards all over Australia. This includes cases of foster care abuse and in notorious children’s homes such as:
These are but a few, there are many more.
74-84 Tudor Street
Hamilton NSW 2303
Mail: PO Box 1016 Hamilton NSW 2303
t: (02) 4907 4200
Freecall: 1800 650 707 (outside Lower Hunter)
f: (02) 4929 1188
e: pkelso@kelsos.com.au
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