For decades, thousands of vulnerable young people across the country have been subjected to the worst forms of violence imaginable- often by the very persons charged with protecting them.

Youth detention centres were supposed to set troubled young people on the right path; instead, they left many with lifelong psychological trauma and suffering. Some people view this as a historical problem; however, the reality is it is still happening today.

We have represented former inmates who were sexually assaulted by officers and guards, medical staff, counsellors and other inmates. Some were severely bashed and beaten by inmates, officers or, in some cases, both.

Survivors often stay silent for years, even decades. They feel a sense of shame, guilt and embarrassment that was never theirs to bear. What happened is not your fault. You were taken advantage of by predators and let down by a system that should have known better. You deserved better and are entitled to justice.

It is never too late to come forward. It doesn’t matter where and it doesn’t matter when.

Our lawyers have won compensation for survivors of abuse in youth detention centres across Australia. We have pursued cases as far back as the 1960s and as recent as the 2020s.

Some of the most notorious youth detention centres we have pursued include:

• Reiby Youth Justice Centre
• Daruk Training Centre
• Mount Penang Training School
• Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre
• Parramatta Girls’ Training School.

These are just some of many. To find out more about youth detention centres we have come across in our work, click here.