{"id":1750,"date":"2017-08-07T14:59:55","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T04:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/?page_id=1750"},"modified":"2025-07-14T10:15:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T00:15:29","slug":"australian-defence-force-abuse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"ADF Abuse Lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1750\" class=\"elementor elementor-1750\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c3b4a23 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5c3b4a23\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-22634a67\" data-id=\"22634a67\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b55f766 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b55f766\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-531efdb3\" data-id=\"531efdb3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd6a1dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd6a1dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ADF Abuse Lawyers<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21d60ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"21d60ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">If you were abused within the Australian Defence Force, we want to hear from you.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b545a5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"b545a5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><nav aria-label=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"rank-math-breadcrumb\"><p><span class=\"last\">Home<\/span><\/p><\/nav><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1213ab08 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1213ab08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6b089717 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6b089717\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b56c8e3\" data-id=\"b56c8e3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0082db9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0082db9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1022\" src=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820-1-1536x1022.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536 wp-image-11172\" alt=\"adf soliders on a naval ship\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820-1-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820-1-2048x1363.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50ffac7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"50ffac7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>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 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/adf-abuse-lawyers-qld-wa\/\">click on this link<\/a><\/span> to access information on ADF abuse law.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New recruits were often subjected to horrific violence and humiliating sexual assaults committed under the guise of \u2018hazing\u2019 or \u2018initiation rituals\u2019. Other <a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/offenders\/\">offenders<\/a> were opportunistic, using their seniority in the hierarchy to prey on men and women of a lower rank.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For decades, children as young as 15 were admitted to ADF facilities such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-navy-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HMAS Leeuwin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-army-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balcombe Army Apprentice School<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where they were at the mercy of hardened second and third-year apprentices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kelso Lawyers has represented many individuals abused in these facilities, and their stories are truly horrifying.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our military compensation lawyers have also represented many brave <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/abuse-of-women-in-the-adf\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">women who experienced serious sexual abuse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u2019s handling of such complaints was nothing short of disgraceful.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you experienced abuse in the ADF, you might be entitled to compensation. We have pursued cases against the <a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-army-abuse\/\">Australian Army<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-navy-abuse\/\">Royal Australian Navy<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-air-force-abuse\/\">Royal Australian Air Force<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many survivors do not speak up for a long time. Often, they feared retribution from the ADF and the <a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/offenders\/\">offender<\/a>\u00a0themselves, 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.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea48919 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea48919\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Did you suffer abuse in the Army, Navy or Airforce? <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/application-for-compensation\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Click here<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\"> to share your story with our experienced military abuse lawyers; you may be eligible for compensation.<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-493af6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"493af6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to make a claim<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35f0fc0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"35f0fc0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step is to <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/application-for-compensation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact us<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our military compensation lawyers 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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/national-redress-scheme\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Redress Scheme<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u2019t successfully get you compensation, you won\u2019t pay any legal fees.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ceb7410 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ceb7410\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Successful ADF compensation cases<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af9306a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af9306a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our military compensation lawyers have pursued cases for abuse victims in all three branches of the ADF; 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;\">, <\/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;\"> and <\/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;\">. This includes abuse at notorious locations such as:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-navy-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HMAS Leeuwin\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/australian-army-abuse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balcombe Army Apprentice School<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kapooka<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Latchford Barracks<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/institutions\/hmas-cerberus\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HMAS Cerberus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are but a few; there are many more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7e06e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7e06e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>It doesn\u2019t matter where or when the abuse occurred; if you suffered abuse while serving in the ADF, we want to hear from you to see if we can help.\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/application-for-compensation\">Click here<\/a><\/span> to share your story with our military compensation lawyers.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d53e78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d53e78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<em>Feature Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/silhouette-of-soldiers-walking-40820\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Pexels<\/a><\/em>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"Service\",\n  \"name\": \"Australian Defence Force Abuse Claims\",\n  \"description\": \"Kelso Lawyers assists victims of abuse in the Australian Defence Force with dedicated legal support to achieve justice and fair compensation.\",\n  \"url\": \"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/\",\n  \"serviceType\": \"Legal Service\",\n  \"provider\": {\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/#Org\"\n  },\n  \"areaServed\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Country\",\n    \"name\": \"Australia\"\n  },\n  \"audience\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Audience\",\n    \"audienceType\": \"Victims of abuse in the Australian Defence Force\"\n  }\n}\n<\/script>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d35f08 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5d35f08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b449e91 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7b449e91\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Latest News<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-210b56a0 elementor-grid-tablet-1 elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"210b56a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-12015 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-australian-defence-force tag-abuse tag-adf tag-hazing\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/the-shocking-hazing-rituals-in-the-australian-armed-forces\/\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ADF_Army_June-2025-300x160.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-13379\" alt=\"Australian Army Uniform\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ADF_Army_June-2025-300x160.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ADF_Army_June-2025-1024x545.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ADF_Army_June-2025-768x409.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ADF_Army_June-2025-1536x818.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ADF_Army_June-2025-2048x1091.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/the-shocking-hazing-rituals-in-the-australian-armed-forces\/\">\n\t\t\t\tThe Shocking Hazing Rituals In The Australian Armed Forces\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 25, 2025\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Hazing rituals or &#8220;bastardisation&#8221; have been a feature in many institutions for generations. This is the practice of initiating young recruits by established members. It<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/the-shocking-hazing-rituals-in-the-australian-armed-forces\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Shocking Hazing Rituals In The Australian Armed Forces\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-13360 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/youth-abuse-cover-ups\/\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PDRY58-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-13363\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PDRY58-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PDRY58-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PDRY58-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PDRY58-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PDRY58.jpg 1592w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/youth-abuse-cover-ups\/\">\n\t\t\t\tJune News Blast: Youth abuse cover-ups exposed across three institutions\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 4, 2025\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Three shocking stories have emerged from across Australia recently, exposing deep failures in youth detention and schools.\u00a0 From historic child sex abuse charges in Tasmania,<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/youth-abuse-cover-ups\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about June News Blast: Youth abuse cover-ups exposed across three institutions\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-13301 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-news category-school-abuse\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/multiple-former-teachers-under-fire\/\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/child-crying-over-school-work-300x200.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-13302\" alt=\"young girl crying over school work\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/child-crying-over-school-work-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/child-crying-over-school-work-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/child-crying-over-school-work-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/child-crying-over-school-work-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/child-crying-over-school-work-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/multiple-former-teachers-under-fire\/\">\n\t\t\t\tMay News Blast: Multiple former teachers under fire for child sexual abuse\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 2, 2025\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Allegations and convictions of historical child sexual abuse continue to emerge, with several former teachers across Australia facing serious charges.\u00a0 This month\u2019s news highlights three<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/multiple-former-teachers-under-fire\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about May News Blast: Multiple former teachers under fire for child sexual abuse\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13728786 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"13728786\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6af2b8d9\" data-id=\"6af2b8d9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7167bd27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7167bd27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Pages<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 ADF abuse law. The Australian Defence Force has been [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":11170,"parent":20,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[175],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1750","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-defence-force"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>ADF Abuse | Kelso Lawyers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you were abused while working for the Australian Defence Force, contact Kelso Lawyers today. We can help you achieve justice.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ADF Abuse | Kelso Lawyers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you were abused while working for the Australian Defence Force, contact Kelso Lawyers today. We can help you achieve justice.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kelso Lawyers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RoyalCommissionChildAbuseUnofficial\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-14T00:15:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/ADF-Uniform.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"4288\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2848\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/\",\"name\":\"ADF Abuse | Kelso Lawyers\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/pexels-pixabay-40820.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-08-07T04:59:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-14T00:15:29+00:00\",\"description\":\"If you were abused while working for the Australian Defence Force, contact Kelso Lawyers today. We can help you achieve justice.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/pexels-pixabay-40820.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/pexels-pixabay-40820.jpg\",\"width\":2298,\"height\":1529,\"caption\":\"adf soldiers on a naval ship\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/australian-defence-force-abuse\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Our Work\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/our-work\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"ADF Lawyers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kelso Lawyers\",\"description\":\"Institutional Abuse Compensation Lawyers\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Kelso Lawyers\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/kelsolawyers_jpg.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/kelsolawyers_jpg.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1811,\"caption\":\"Kelso Lawyers\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kelsolawyers.com\\\/au\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/RoyalCommissionChildAbuseUnofficial\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"ADF Abuse | Kelso Lawyers","description":"If you were abused while working for the Australian Defence Force, contact Kelso Lawyers today. We can help you achieve justice.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"ADF Abuse | Kelso Lawyers","og_description":"If you were abused while working for the Australian Defence Force, contact Kelso Lawyers today. We can help you achieve justice.","og_url":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/","og_site_name":"Kelso Lawyers","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RoyalCommissionChildAbuseUnofficial","article_modified_time":"2025-07-14T00:15:29+00:00","og_image":[{"width":4288,"height":2848,"url":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/ADF-Uniform.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/","url":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/","name":"ADF Abuse | Kelso Lawyers","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820.jpg","datePublished":"2017-08-07T04:59:55+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-14T00:15:29+00:00","description":"If you were abused while working for the Australian Defence Force, contact Kelso Lawyers today. We can help you achieve justice.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-pixabay-40820.jpg","width":2298,"height":1529,"caption":"adf soldiers on a naval ship"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/australian-defence-force-abuse\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Our Work","item":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/our-work\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"ADF Lawyers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/#website","url":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/","name":"Kelso Lawyers","description":"Institutional Abuse Compensation Lawyers","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/#organization","name":"Kelso Lawyers","url":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kelsolawyers_jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kelsolawyers_jpg.jpg","width":2560,"height":1811,"caption":"Kelso Lawyers"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RoyalCommissionChildAbuseUnofficial"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1750"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13409,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1750\/revisions\/13409"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kelsolawyers.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}