{"id":10115,"date":"2022-02-07T15:25:49","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T04:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/?post_type=institutions&p=10115"},"modified":"2026-04-14T14:30:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T04:30:28","slug":"clairvaux-childrens-home","status":"publish","type":"institutions","link":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/institutions\/clairvaux-childrens-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Offending Institution: Clairvaux Children\u2019s Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Child Welfare Department established Clairvaux Children\u2019s Home in Katoomba, NSW<\/a>, in 1969. At the time, other state institutions like Mittagong<\/a>, Brush Farm, and Werrington Park were becoming overcrowded, so Clairvaux was opened to house another 24 wards of the state<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the beginning, the children’s home<\/a> provided accommodation for boys who were described as having intellectual disabilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clairvaux was closed in 1990, remembered only by the boys (now men) who lived there. In 2014, the grand old building was repurposed into the Clairvaux Community Centre and now serves as the operations centre for a wide range of community-based charities.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what happened behind closed doors between 1969 and 1990 was disturbing, to say the least \u2014 but you won\u2019t hear about it in the news. The boys\u2019 complaints were brushed off by their house-parents and other staff on-site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As wards of the state, they had nowhere else to turn. They lived out of sight of the community. They didn\u2019t have a voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we share the story of one individual who suffered at the hands of a cleaner who worked at Clairvaux.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Active paedophiles roamed the grounds\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A former resident of Clairvaux (who remains unnamed for privacy) was only six years old when he arrived at Clairvaux as a state ward. For the next 10 years, he was sexually abused weekly by a cleaner, who the victim remembered had red hair \u2014 a recognisable, memorable feature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The victim was often sexually abused in the cleaner’s work shed, located near the Home\u2019s pool.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cleaner subjected the child to anal penetration every single time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Believing that someone would help him or at least send The Cleaner away, the victim told his house-parents about what was happening to him. Rather than reporting the offender to the police, they ignored the complaints and the cleaner continued to work there\u2026 and continued to abuse the vulnerable child.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The victim then tried to report the abuse to the woman who cooked in the kitchen. She at least sent the child to be checked over by the nurse, but nothing was done to help him.<\/span><\/p>\n

With nowhere left to turn, the victim ran away many times but was caught every time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, the Department removed him from Clairvaux and sent him to <\/span>Reiby Youth Justice Centre<\/span><\/a>, followed by <\/span>Mt Penang Training School<\/span><\/a>. This was a common practice for boys considered \u201cdifficult to manage\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reiby and Mt Penang are known for their harsh discipline and rampant sexual abuse. Moving to Reiby and Mt Penang was not a \u201clight at the end of the tunnel\u201d for this victim. Safety was not a luxury enjoyed by the boys who lived there.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you were abused at Clairvaux, we want to hear your story<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So little information is known about Clairvaux and the boys who lived there. Their stories have been lost in time \u2014 many are too scared to come forward and tell their stories. This is not uncommon; around <\/span>60% of survivors never disclose their experiences with abuse<\/span>. Many are ashamed and fear they will not be believed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many grown men who still haven\u2019t spoken about their abuse by the red-haired cleaner, other on-site staff or by their houseparents.<\/span><\/p>\n

At Kelso Lawyers, we want to hear your story. Our specialist lawyers have helped hundreds of survivors achieve compensation across Australia. We will lend a sympathetic ear and most importantly, we will believe every word you say.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From here, we will make the compensation application process as simple and stress-free as possible. It is our goal to ensure you achieve the best possible outcome and achieve your own personal breakthrough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Get the justice you deserve with Kelso Lawyers. We want to hear your story. Call (02) 4907 4200 or <\/b>complete the online form<\/b><\/a> before you accept payment from the <\/b>National Redress Scheme.<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

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