ADF Abuse Claims Explained

“The Australian Defence Force has, for historical reasons, had children within its ranks. While this seems unusual today, it reflects practices from an earlier era, particularly within the Royal Australian Navy.

At HMAS Leeuwin in Perth, young boys left home to join the Naval Cadets. Tragically, many were subjected to serious abuse. These were criminal acts that should never have occurred.

Many survivors have been unable to come forward for decades because of the profound psychological injuries caused by the abuse. It is common for survivors to reach a point later in life, often between the ages of 45 and 55, where changes in their psychological wellbeing or life circumstances allow them to begin speaking about what happened.

This helps explain why so many survivors eventually came forward in relation to HMAS Leeuwin, as well as other incidents of sexual abuse and mistreatment within the Australian Defence Force over many years.

To its credit, the Australian Defence Force established a compensation scheme for survivors. However, the payments available under that scheme are capped and, in many cases, represent only a fraction of the compensation that may be available under the law.

Importantly, participating in the ADF compensation scheme does not necessarily mean survivors give up their common law rights to pursue damages through the courts.

For more than 20 years, Porters Lawyers has represented former HMAS Leeuwin cadets and other former Australian Defence Force members who have suffered abuse while serving. We continue to advise survivors about their legal rights and the compensation pathways that may be available”.