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 compensation to athletes abused during their time at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
The Restorative Program covers 9,000 athletes who held High-Performance Scholarships between 1981 and 2013 (the AIS stopped offering scholarships in 2013). Compensation will range between $5,000 and $50,000, depending on the severity of the abuse.
The ASC Restorative Program is one of many avenues open to abuse survivors seeking justice. To understand all your options, contact the team from Kelso Lawyers today. We are here to help.
What is available under the Restorative Program?
The Restorative Program offers an opportunity to raise your concerns, be heard and be supported through three possible outcomes: counselling, “restorative engagement”, and compensation.
Counselling
Under the Restorative Program, you will have access to counselling and well-being services via the AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN), a group of experienced psychologists and mental health professionals. This is a confidential service designed to support and promote recovery.
Restorative engagement
You will also have access to restorative engagement. You will have the opportunity to engage with a senior representative from the ASC and share your story in a meeting, a letter, or another form of communication.
To help prepare for restorative engagement, you will work with a trained facilitator to help you decide what aspects of your experience you would like to share with the ASC representative and what outcomes you want to achieve.
Monetary compensation
If you choose to participate in the Program, you may be eligible for a one-off payment between $5,000 and $50,000. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and are “intended as a symbolic acknowledgement of an athlete’s experience and its impact, not as compensation”.
Criticisms of the Restorative Program
Restoration payments are not currently offered to athletes who trained at the AIS without a scholarship. Kelso Lawyers believes all athletes abused at the AIS deserve an apology and compensation. We encourage anyone who suffered abuse to get in touch with us for a full assessment of your legal options.
FAQs about the Program
The Restorative Program is currently only for AIS Scholarship holders between 1981 and 2013. The ASC will determine your eligibility for the Restorative Program and the support you will receive (including financial payments).
If you are deemed ineligible for the Program, there are other avenues you can take, including a civil claim. At Kelso Lawyers, we have helped hundreds of abuse survivors seek justice through compensation — we can do the same for you. Simply get in touch to discover your options with our team.
You can still access the AIS Be Heard Program if you are deemed ineligible for the Restorative Program. This is a free, independent, confidential service where you can share your story and seek support.
You will be linked with an independent expert from Core Integrity who is experienced in receiving, assessing and dealing with confidential or sensitive reports. They can help you find the appropriate support for your needs.
Yes. Accepting payment from the Restorative Program will not prevent you from taking direct legal action for damages against the AIS/ASC.
You may be able to take civil action for compensation — whether you were a scholarship or non-scholarship holder. If you want to understand your options better, please contact the team from Kelso Lawyers today. We’re here to help.
The Restorative Program is expected to run until 30th June 2024.
Yes. You can stop, slow down or pull out of the Program anytime.
Contact the team from Kelso Lawyers and discover your options today
If you experienced harm due to inappropriate practices or abuse at the AIS, we want to hear your story. We can guide and support you through the application process for the Restorative Program, or we can launch a civil claim on your behalf.
Get the justice you deserve with Kelso Lawyers. We want to hear your story. Call (02) 4907 4200 or complete the online form today.
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