Children’s home abuse lawyers

What is children’s home abuse?

Children’s home abuse refers to physical, sexual, or psychological harm experienced by a child while living in a children’s home, group home or residential care setting. These environments were intended to provide care and stability, often for children who could not live with their families. In many cases, however, that trust was broken.

Abuse in children’s homes can occur in a range of settings, including:

• government-run children’s homes
• church or charity-operated residential homes
• group homes or shared residential care
• hostels or supported accommodation for young people
• other out-of-home care facilities

Common types of abuse in children’s homes

Laws relating to institutional abuse recognise the duty of care owed to children in out‑of‑home care, and when that duty is breached, legal action may help support accountability and healing. Abuse in these settings could include:

• physical abuse: assault, excessive force, improper discipline
• sexual abuse: assault, grooming, or exploitation
• psychological abuse: intimidation, threats, humiliation or control
• neglect: lack of food, medical care, supervision, or education

These experiences can have lasting emotional, physical, and psychological impacts. 

Children’s home abuse compensation pathways

There are several compensation pathways available to people who experienced abuse in children’s homes. The right option will depend on your individual circumstances and the nature of the abuse. These may include:

• civil damages (common law) claims
• criminal injuries compensation claims
• redress payments through the National Redress Scheme

It’s important to understand how each option works before making a decision. For example, if you accept a Redress payment, you cannot pursue a civil claim against the same institution.

Our lawyers can help you understand your options clearly, so you can make informed choices about what feels right for you.