{"id":9621,"date":"2021-08-24T09:53:28","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T23:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/?post_type=institutions&#038;p=9621"},"modified":"2025-05-08T13:44:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T03:44:38","slug":"australian-defence-force-academy","status":"publish","type":"institutions","link":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/institutions\/australian-defence-force-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Offending Institution: Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong><i>WARNING: This article may contain content that is disturbing to some. Reader discretion is advised.\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is a tri-military training establishment in the Australian Capital Territory. Here, cadets undertake military education and training combined with a university education so one day, they will be prepared to join the Navy, Army or Air Force.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hazing rituals and \u201cinitiation\u201d processes within the Australian Defence Force are well-known and documented. Young cadets (almost always under the age of 20) are bullied, harassed, beaten and sometimes even sexually assaulted as part of these rituals, leaving them with physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not limited to the armed forces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cadets in training at ADFA have also been horrifically victimised.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we recount the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce\u2019s investigation of the rampant physical and sexual abuse that occurred at ADFA in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Defence Abuse Response Taskforce commenced an investigation into ADFA abuse in 2014\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Len Roberts-Smith, the Chair of the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce, called for an investigation and potentially even a royal commission into ADFA in 2014. In his opinion:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;The only way of ensuring confidence that the allegations of very serious abuse at ADFA can be thoroughly and completely investigated \u2014 and appropriately dealt with \u2014 is by way of a royal commission&#8221;.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Taskforce started with an in-depth investigation into allegations of abuse. As of October 2014, the Taskforce had assessed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">50 complaints and plausible allegations of abuse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at ADFA. Out of 50 complaints, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">33 involved allegations of sexual abuse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that took place between the late 1980s and 2011.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All 33 victims were cadets when the abuse occurred, and so were their abusers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25 of the victims were young female cadets and 8 were male<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Most of the victims were around 17 years old at the time of the abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of the 33 victims:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28 reported at least one form of sexual abuse by other cadets, either from the same year or by more senior cadets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four reported at least one form of sexual abuse by staff members at ADFA or more senior ranking members of Defence at other locations where cadets were undertaking training or at the Canberra Area Medical Unit\u2014Duntroon (cAmu-D).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One reported at least one form of sexual abuse but was unable to identify the alleged abuser.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vast majority of victims who experienced sexual abuse were sexually assaulted, and they were all women targeted by men. Meanwhile, it was the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">men who experienced sexual abuse at the hands of multiple abusers or groups<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as part of an \u201cinitiation\u201d process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multiple male victims <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reported the practice of \u201cwoofering\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Most of the victims were assaulted on multiple occasions for initiation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u201cWhen I refused to have sex, I was groped again or pushed against a wall for refusing\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of the female victims were pressured into intercourse with their peers. One of the cadets said she was<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> subjected to a wide range of abuse<\/span><\/a>,<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> including sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault, often on a daily basis.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis usually occurred in the hallway of the female corridor \u2014 away from the rest of the division \u2014 and would sometimes involve one or more senior male cadets,\u201d she told the Taskforce.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was groped, had hands shoved down my pants and up my shirt&#8230;\u2014 on occasion, they also tried to pressure me into having sex. When I refused to have sex, I was groped again or pushed against a wall for refusing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThese people were often (in my opinion) under the influence of alcohol. This would happen as often as twice a week some weeks.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The abuse would often occur at or nearby the accommodation blocks, but sometimes in other locations like the Single Service Training Centre and in the ADFA car park. It would also often occur after celebrations in the mess hall or after social events when the cadets had been consuming alcohol.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One cadet said:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was at the back of the group and was starting up the stairs to the recreation room when I was grabbed by the arm and forced into his room. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He then proceeded to hold me down and rape me whilst making very disturbing comments<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another cadet reported a man who had been harassing her for days and proceeded to make advances at an ADFA social event:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHis advances towards me were normal and appropriate to start with but I declined. Eventually, the remarks became more scornful like \u2018look at you showing off your ass\u2019 and \u2018prick tease\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe repeatedly told me that I can\u2019t run around teasing him and not expect to \u2018put out\u2019 and that I wouldn\u2019t be a \u2018prick tease\u2019 to him if I didn\u2019t really \u2018want it&#8217;.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While many of these stories are disturbing, one of the most horrific was a cadet who is believed to have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">had her drink spiked at a social event and woke up outdoors on the ground with a male cadet assaulting her<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe next thing I remember is waking up for a few seconds and I was outside on my back. I was on the ground and it was grassy and cold\u2026 We were behind a hedge. He was having sex with me,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe was on top of me. I don\u2019t know how I got there. I tried to push him off but I didn\u2019t feel in control of my body and I couldn\u2019t do it. I couldn\u2019t move.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>\u201cI had an unloaded rifle fired at me and threatened with electrocution in the shower\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the late 1980s and 1990s, there was a cadet hierarchy, and the junior cadets suffered the most. Out of the 50 victims that the Taskforce interviewed, 20 reported horrific physical abuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This took the form of hostage situations, punching, kicking, spitting, restraining the victim, drugging, threats of physical violence, rejection of medical assistance and care, overly harsh disciplinary action and disgusting hazing rituals where the victim was forced to consume faeces, rancid food or excessive amounts of alcohol.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One cadet claimed the first-year females in her division were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forced to clean the male living spaces in their squadron<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If the job wasn\u2019t done right, they were severely punished and humiliated.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAll the first years in my division were relentlessly harassed and abused by third-year cadets. First year females in my corridor were responsible for cleaning the male living spaces in the adjoining corridor \u2014 these were senior cadets in my division\/squadron,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOn several occasions, if I had not finished this in time and was still cleaning the toilet when the senior male cadets returned from the bar that night, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they would urinate on me like I wasn\u2019t even there<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI had one incident where I was cleaning the shower and was urinated on because someone else was using the toilet and the third year cadet did not want to wait.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The women were also subjected to ongoing physical abuse for \u201cfun\u201d. One of the cadets was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forced into a cupboard, made to squat and make animal noises <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">until she was let out. Other cadets were picked up and thrown against walls, onto the floor or into the shower by male cadets.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe physically assaulted me, threw me against a wall, then on the ground and attempted to punch me around my head. Two other cadets pulled him off me. The incident happened after some banter between the cadet and myself but for some reason, he snapped and the physical attack occurred.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One male cadet said he was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apo.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/resource-files\/2014-11\/apo-nid42444.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">subjected to serious harassment, physical abuse and bullying when he tried to stand up for himself<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. On one occasion, he woke up to four senior cadets in his room who were threatening him with a hot iron that was plugged in at the wall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He managed to force them out of his room, but he was later pinned against a wall and vomited on. He was also threatened with electrocution in the shower and was once thrown out a window.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI had my hand held over a gaslighter to see how long I could endure the pain. I received bad burns,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>Defence Abuse Response Taskforce backpedalled on a royal commission into ADFA in 2016\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of the Taskforce\u2019s report into emotional, physical and sexual abuse, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2016-09-02\/taskforce-reverses-call-for-commission-into-sex-abuse-at-adfa\/7811136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Taskforce reversed its call for a royal commission into ADFA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the final report, it was noted that the Taskforce did not have the investigative power or authority to take direct action against members of the Defence Force. Instead, abuse matters were referred back to Defence to take action \u201cwhere possible or appropriate\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In regard to cases of sexual abuse at ADFA in the 1990s, the Taskforce consulted with the Australian Capital Territory Policing (ACT Policing) Criminal Investigations. The police said unless the victims consented to their allegations being referred to the civilian police, they would not initiate contact with them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final report also suggested <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2016-09-02\/taskforce-reverses-call-for-commission-into-sex-abuse-at-adfa\/7811136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">victims of abuse did not want or even support the idea of a royal commission<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The Taskforce came to this conclusion after speaking with former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;The commissioner told the Taskforce that, while she believed doing nothing is not an option, her discussions with the women she had consulted who were sexually assaulted at ADFA <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2016-09-02\/taskforce-reverses-call-for-commission-into-sex-abuse-at-adfa\/7811136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">want action to be taken but do not believe a royal commission is necessarily the best solution<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,&#8221; the final report said.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three victims, however, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2016-09-02\/taskforce-reverses-call-for-commission-into-sex-abuse-at-adfa\/7811136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">asked for their cases to be referred to the Chief of the Defence Force for disciplinary action<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was determined that a joint Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and Policing investigation would be the better solution as it would attract less media attention. However, this was also shot down as<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2016-09-02\/taskforce-reverses-call-for-commission-into-sex-abuse-at-adfa\/7811136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it did not meet the ACC\u2019s functions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Throughout the investigation, several abusers were still serving in the ADF\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the investigation, the Taskforce discovered that multiple abusers were still serving members of the ADF. In 2013, the Taskforce identified at least 12 serving members as alleged abusers in cases of serious sexual, emotional or physical abuse of female cadets in the 1990s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Taskforce made 13 recommendations where the ADF could consider taking administrative or disciplinary action where alleged abusers were still serving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2014, a further six abusers were identified as serving members of the ADF.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eight of all alleged abusers were serving in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-navy-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Navy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, five in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-army-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Army<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and three in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-air-force-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air Force<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. One had risen to the position of Commander\/Lieutenant Colonel\/Wing Commander.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite sharing all of this information with Defence, it was determined that <\/span><b>no disciplinary action would be taken against the abusers because it was outside of the five-year statutory limit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, they were working with two women to obtain civilian police records to determine if administrative action was possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ADF is constrained when taking action against historical cases of abuse. Considering the time that has passed and the limited evidence available, it was not possible at the time to take disciplinary action against the perpetrators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Taskforce, however, had this to say:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe fact remains that many of these allegations were not appropriately managed at the time they were made and the constraints on Defence\u2019s capacity to respond to them now means that a significant cluster of very serious allegations of abuse at ADFA have never been thoroughly investigated and individuals alleged to have committed very serious offences have never been called to account.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>How Kelso Lawyers helps survivors of ADF abuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Historically, the ADF has normalised a culture that supports and normalises abuse. Because of this, hundreds of serving and former members of the ADF have been forced to live with physical and emotional scars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of those who have suffered have been bullied into silence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no knowing how many incidents of abuse have gone unheard and unreported out of fear of punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Kelso Lawyers, we\u2019re here to help. Our team of expert, hard-working <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ADF abuse lawyers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have worked with a large number of former ADF members to achieve compensation for the trauma they experienced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our lawyers will listen to what you have to say and provide the support you need to take a stand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something has to be done \u2014 and we\u2019re here to help you do it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>If you have been abused while working for the Australian Defence Force, whether under 18 or as an adult, we want to hear from you. Please fill out the <a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/application-for-compensation\">ADF Claimant Information form<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feature Image: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pexels<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9623,"parent":0,"template":"","categories":[251],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9621","institutions","type-institutions","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-institutional-abuse"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Offending Institution: Australian Defence Force Academy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Physical and sexual abuse was rampant at the Australian Defence Force Academy in the 1990s. 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