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Injured because of someone else's negligence? From slip-and-falls to animal attacks, and even accidents in rental homes—public liability covers more than you might think.
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Careless drivers, defective vehicles, dangerous streets — however you're injured on the road, our award-winning team can help. We use decades of experience and expert evidence to get you maximum compensation for your claim.
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If you experienced abuse at a school, church, or other institution, a compensation claim offers essential financial support and ensures your voice is heard.
Institutional abuse refers to the mistreatment of people in settings like schools or churches. The abuse may be physical, emotional, psychological or sexual, with survivors often requiring extensive treatment and therapy. In some cases, they may be unable to work and support themselves financially.
An institutional abuse claim provides essential compensation for survivors, covering medical costs, living expenses, lost income and their pain and suffering. While money can never undo the impact of abuse, a claim acknowledges the trauma you’ve experienced and may even prevent future abuse in that institution.
Before filing a claim, it’s always a good idea to speak with a lawyer who specialises in institutional abuse cases. We’ll provide a safe space to discuss your experience and outline your legal options, completely free of charge.
Which institutions can I claim against?
Institutions are generally responsible for the people they’re connected with — like volunteers, ministers, foster parents, and employees — if those individuals abuse someone in their care.
This means you can make a claim against the institution itself rather than just the person who committed the abuse. Since institutions typically have greater resources, this approach ensures survivors have more access to compensation.
Over the years, we have helped many survivors sue institutions for abuse. Some of the most common institutions you can claim against include:
Schools (public, private, and religious institutions).
Churches or religious organisations.
Preschools and childcare facilities.
Foster care systems.
Residential and out-of-home care facilities.
Government departments, including the defence force.
Charities and community groups.
Youth detention centres.
Hospitals or medical facilities.
Immigration and refugee facilities.
This is not an exhaustive list; there are many more institutions you may have a claim against. If you’re unsure whether you can claim against a particular organisation, reach out to us today. We can investigate your situation and identify which institution you may have a valid claim against. In some cases, there may be more than one institution responsible.
What to do if you’ve experienced institutional abuse
If you or a loved one has experienced institutional abuse, it’s important to document the situation and seek support, no matter when the abuse occurred.
Even if you decide not to make a compensation claim right away, recording this information gives you the option to file a claim in the future. This ensures that your rights are protected and you have the opportunity to get justice and compensation when you’re ready.
If you’ve experienced abuse, it’s important to visit your GP as soon as you can. They can treat any physical injuries and refer you to a psychologist for mental health care. Even if the abuse happened a while ago, getting support is crucial for your well-being and will serve as key evidence for a future claim.
If you haven’t reported your sexual assault to the police yet, it’s important to do so as soon as possible. This report, along with your doctor’s and psychologist’s notes, are crucial pieces of evidence that will support your claim. Reporting early also helps ensure the evidence is fresh and accurate.
While we know it’s challenging to discuss your experience, speaking with a lawyer who specialises in abuse cases will help you understand your legal options.
During the initial consultation, we’ll listen to your story and outline all possible paths to compensation. There’s no obligation to move forward after the meeting, but if you do decide to pursue a claim, we’ll handle everything — from gathering evidence to filing documents, and ensuring you get the care and support you need.
What types of compensation can I claim?
As a survivor of institutional abuse, you may be eligible for compensation through a civil claim. This involves taking your case to state court, where the judge will decide if it’s more likely than not that the abuse happened. This standard, known as the ‘balance of probabilities’, is much less strict than the standard in criminal cases, focusing instead on the likelihood of the claim being true.
Depending on your situation, your compensation may include:
Pain and suffering: how the abuse has negatively impacted your life.
Lost wages: if you’re unable to return to work or can only work part-time.
Domestic support: whether it’s provided by family and friends or a professional.
Medical expenses: cover for medical and psychological treatment, both past and future.
Aggravated and exemplary damages: in extreme cases, the court may award additional damages to send a strong message and hold the institution accountable for its actions. These extra damages are also intended to punish the institution and deter future misconduct.
A successful claim can result in a significant lump sum payment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
For survivors of child sexual abuse or parents of an abused child, there are additional avenues for compensation.
Childhood sexual abuse compensation
Recent reports highlight the disturbing reality of widespread institutional abuse, particularly in schools and churches. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately 2.5 million Australian adults have reported experiencing physical and/or sexual abuse before the age of 16. These figures underscore the scale of the issue and the ongoing need to support and compensate survivors of abuse.
In response, the government has set up various compensation schemes. The National Redress Scheme is the largest, offering compensation ranging from $10,000 to $150,000 to institutional abuse survivors.
While the National Redress Scheme has helped many survivors, accepting an offer means you can no longer make a civil compensation claim. That’s why it’s important to consult with an experienced lawyer before making a decision. We offer a free consultation to discuss all your options, ensuring you get the full compensation you’re entitled to.
It’s never too late to start a childhood abuse claim
All states have now removed the time limits for childhood sexual abuse claims. This means that if you were abused in an institution as a child, you can file a claim at any time — even if many years have passed since the abuse occurred.
How to prove your institutional abuse claim
Unfortunately, you’ll usually need more than just your sworn statement to prove an institutional abuse claim, especially if the abuse happened some time ago. To support your claim, it’s important to include extra evidence like:
Police records: if the abuse was reported or the abuser has a prior record of similar abuse.
Medical treatment records: from both the time of the abuse and, if applicable, current records showing any ongoing physical effects.
Psychological treatment records: records of any therapy or counselling you’ve received, along with any diagnoses or ongoing treatment related to your emotional well-being.
Employment records: if the abuse has left you unable to work or you’re working less than before.
Receipts for related costs: including domestic care, medication, and therapy.
Records of the offender's presence: such as school enrolment forms, photos, employment records, church newsletters, or other documents to show that the offender was in the same environment as you. These records help establish the connection between the abuse and the institution or location.
We understand that collecting this evidence can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate the process alone. Our expert lawyers will work on your behalf to gather the necessary records from medical professionals, psychologists, employers, and institutions — ensuring that your case is supported with the right evidence. We’ll handle everything with the care and sensitivity you deserve, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
While institutional abuse claims are often difficult to prove, as we’ve discussed, the burden of proof is lower in civil cases compared to criminal ones. This means that even if a criminal case does not result in a conviction, your civil compensation claim can still succeed.
Our No Win No Fee guarantee protects your finances
We understand that financial concerns can be a major hurdle for sexual assault survivors seeking compensation. That’s why we offer a genuine No Win No Fee guarantee, ensuring all survivors have access to expert legal representation.
Unlike other firms, our No Win No Fee guarantee includes more than just your legal fees. We cover all upfront costs — from medical assessments to expert evidence — and there’s nothing to pay unless we win your claim. If we’re unsuccessful, you will never receive a bill from us.
Do time limits apply to institutional abuse claims?
Yes, there are time limits for institutional abuse claims, but there have been changes to the laws to help survivors get justice. The exact time frame depends on your state and the details of your case.
Childhood sexual abuse claims
As discussed, all states now allow child sexual abuse survivors to file compensation claims without time limits, even for cases that happened long ago. This legal reform is one result of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, giving individuals who were previously unable to seek compensation a chance to pursue justice.
Adult sexual abuse claims
State
Time limit
NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, NT
3 years from the date of the abuse
VIC, WA
6 years from the date of the abuse
What if I’m outside the time limit?
If you’ve missed the time limit, there are still options available. The law recognises that the effects of abuse can sometimes take years to fully understand, so there are specific time limit exceptions for survivors. These include:
Psychological impact: if the abuse caused severe psychological effects that delayed your ability to file a claim.
Other party misconduct: if the institution tried to mislead you or stop you from claiming.
Material facts: if you were unaware of key facts related to the abuse until after the time limit expired (e.g. not realising you were abused).
Mistake: if the delay in filing was due to an honest mistake.
Justice: if the court believes it’s just to allow your claim outside the time limit.
If you’re outside the time limit for making a claim, it’s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. They can help identify which exceptions might apply to your case and guide you through the process of applying to the court. With years of experience, our lawyers have successfully assisted many clients in having their delayed claims accepted.
Meet the team
Our team use their extensive experience to increase your chances of success. We’ve won many awards for our work, including ‘Compensation Law Firm of the Year 2020 GBM Global Awards.’
Leon Monaco
Managing Partner
English, Russian
Workers Compensation, TPD, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Public Liability
Thank you for accomplishing so much in such a short time.
Great communication, empathy and understanding. My case worker Daniella was a saint, understanding and patient and always passing on any updates in record time.
I was at rest in a very stressful situation, a bad situation. It was made to cope with because of the professionalism displayed at every turn by this super supportive team.
A Massive thank you to Daniella from me personally for all that you were able to accomplish in such a short time. To say I owe you is an understatement.
Good result! We had a complicated claim but they got the job done.
My brothers and I had a complicated claim. I found Ben Ralph to be very helpful, himself and Sally Sutton worked hard for just over a year to get through our claim. They achieved a good result and got the monies paid to myself and my brothers.
Their communication was fantastic, and they would always let us know when they had an update or when they expected an update. If I had a question Ben was always happy to answer to the best of his knowledge and do extra research if he was un-sure. We went with Ben because he specialized in super and feel that he did an awesome job with our claim, I would definitely recommend Ben and his team. He was very professional but also had some empathy and understanding which was nice 🙂
I knew it from the very first phone call: I had found a compassionate law firm.
Monaco Solicitors, I have no hesitation in recommending Daniella Dababneh and her team. After I suffered a serious workplace accident, I was in need of legal help.
From the very first phone call, I was treated with respect and I was always kept in the loop of the status of my claims, Early Release of Super & TPD. Both claims have been successful.
Monaco helped me get much more compensation than I expected.
Monaco Lawyers helped me to receive compensation for an ongoing injury I sustained after I was simply driving home from work and was driven into head on by an incompetent and negligent driver who I believe was texting at the time of the accident.
Monaco Lawyers were keen to help me, understanding and easy to work with. I received more than I thought I would get with the help of one of the Monaco Lawyers who knew exactly what she was doing, and fought on my behalf for a very good outcome.
I continue to have problems with my foot, but I feel I have received justice for something that was completely not my fault.
They helped me juggle my injury claim and my mum's full-time care.
I highly recommend Monaco Solicitors. I was claiming PI through my superannuation for workplace injuries. They were doing a no win no fee which was great as I am a carer for my mum and don’t earn much.
Everyone I dealt with were so kind and helpful. They helped me where I was finding things difficult due to caring for my mum. They kept me up to date on what was happening.
Monaco Solicitors are very professional and I would recommend them if you are looking for a good solicitor.
Monaco made the process easy for me, I wouldn't have succeeded on my own.
My experience with Monaco has been very good. Having commenced my TPD super claim myself, I soon was overwhelmed by the requirements. Although my claim was pretty small compared to others which make headlines, Monaco offered their services on a no win no fee basis.
Monaco made the process easy even though I have an acquired physical and cognitive disability. The communication was excellent throughout the process which only took about 3 months and they delivered a positive result for me. Without their services, expertise and experience I am sure I would not have succeeded on my own. The fee in the end was as expected for a result that will make a big difference. Thank you to Ben, Ginan and all those who assisted me in this first claim.
Today, after only 8 weeks, I got the best news: my claim was successful!
Today I received the best call of my life. It’s finally here, and I couldn’t be happier! I was referred to Monaco solicitors by my sister in law after sustaining work injuries. From the moment I contacted them the whole process was easy and I was always well informed.
Monaco’s have checked in on me on many occasions making sure that I was kept well in the loop during each step.
My TPD claim was lodged 8 weeks ago and today the news I had been waiting for arrived that it had been successful.
I can’t thank the staff at Monaco’s enough for all their expert advice and would highly recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat. The results were above and beyond what I had expected which I solely believe was due to their expertise and experience in this area.
Thank you so much Monaco for making my life that little bit easier.
Monaco's help reduced a 12-month process to just a few months.
My father originally found Monaco online for super claims,. They had discussed with him in great detail the processes and had been kind and very helpful a few years ago. When needing help with my mothers super claim I knew I could trust Monaco again.
Not only have we had weekly updates and a great team of support, it has been an easy process. When busy or unable to process documentation ourselves they have proceeded on our behalf and what could have been a 12 month process has only taken a few months with their constant drive and assistance along the way. Thank you to the team! You have saved me a lot of lost time and it is worth every penny spent when the amount of stress is taken away.
The bill? Surprisingly reasonable, less than expected.
Sally was very helpful and always kept me up-to-date so if you ever use Monaco Solicitors just make sure you get Sally she’s very good. And the bill was very reasonable I thought it would be higher.
I am forever thankful! God bless you for being there for me whenever I called.
Monaco Compensation Lawyers are second to no-one. Anthony and his team were there for me every step of the way. When I got disheartened or down, I would make one phone call to the team at Monaco Solicitors, and they were there for me instantly—reassuring me and consoling me.
I was completely surprised and also delighted by the outcome. Thank you so much, Monaco Compensation Lawyers. You changed my life forever; for the better. We were extremely successful and I am forever thankful. God bless this amazing team.
We know that speaking with a lawyer about your abuse can be overwhelming. That’s why our lawyers are trained in trauma-informed practices and abuse law.
After your initial consultation, we’ll work together to prepare a detailed statement that accurately reflects your experience. Your lawyer will make sure everything is accurate and complete, reducing the need for repeated conversations.
We’ll discuss both the immediate and lasting impacts of abuse on every area of your life, including your work, relationships, finances, and mental health. While this conversation can be tough, it also ensures your compensation covers the full physical, mental and financial impact of the abuse.
Once we’ve filed your claim, your lawyer will take care of all communications with relevant institutions and insurers. You can be involved in this process as little or as much as you’d like. We’ll also explore out-of-court mediation to resolve your claim efficiently, helping you avoid the stress and expense of lengthy court proceedings.
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