Injury & Compensation
Lawyers act for survivors of abuse in institutions, including civil claims and the National Redress Scheme.

Survivors can often choose between the National Redress Scheme and a civil claim for compensation. Law reforms in most states have removed limitation periods for child abuse claims. Specialist lawyers explain the options with care.
Survivors can seek compensation and acknowledgment for abuse suffered in churches, schools, orphanages and other institutions.
Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the National Redress Scheme was established and most states removed limitation periods for child abuse claims.
12 firms
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Law Works Compensation Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Personal Injury.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Sky Injury Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Workers Compensation.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
vbr Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Institutional Abuse Claims & National Redress.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
vbr Lawyers provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Institutional Abuse Claims & National Redress.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
Smith's Lawyers Gold Coast provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Workers Compensation and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
RHL Legal provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
RHL Legal provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
RHL Legal provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Newcastle West, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Kelso Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle West, NSW. Listed practice areas include Sports & Entertainment Law, Institutional Abuse Claims & National Redress and Personal Injury.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
RHL Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
RHL Legal provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
RHL Legal provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Understand the next step
Ask for a practitioner experienced in sensitive historical matters and explain how you would prefer to communicate. You can ask about the process before providing a detailed account.
Ask for advice before signing a release or accepting an offer that may affect other options.
Provide a chronology, relevant locations and employer or insurer details, together with forms and decisions already received.
Discuss medical, employment, incident and expense records. Ask who will obtain reports and how access, privacy and expert costs will be managed.
Have any offer, assessment or release explained before agreeing. Clarify what a resolution would cover and whether related claims need separate advice.
Ask for the written meaning of no win, no fee, including expenses, any uplift and possible other costs. The phrase alone is not enough to compare arrangements.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Ask early about notice, claim and review limits in the relevant scheme. Keep the incident date and every insurer decision available for assessment.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Most states have removed limitation periods for child sexual abuse claims, and some for serious physical abuse.
You pay the lawyer's professional fees only if the claim succeeds. You may still be responsible for costs such as medical reports, and in some cases the other side's costs, so ask for a written costs agreement.
Simple claims can settle within months. Claims involving serious injuries usually wait until your condition has stabilised so the full impact can be assessed, which can take a year or more.