It is common for survivors of abuse to have suffered in silence for a long time, sometimes most of their lives.
Although nothing can erase the pain and impact of the abuse, you may be able to claim compensation to help support you and receive a meaningful apology and acknowledgement of the abuse from the ADF.
For those who have experienced sexual harassment or abuse during their employment with the Australian Defence Force there are several avenues of assistance available to you. These range from reparation payments, DVA payments and common law claims. Just because you have already claimed one or more of these options does not necessarily rule you out from further assistance, but understanding what an individual is entitled to claim is complex and will vary from person to person. It is our strong opinion that you seek expert legal advice from a laywer experienced in dealing with the ADF and who fully understands how common law claims and DVA claims will affect each other.
Whilst we do not process DVA claims, we have worked closely with DVA advocates over many years to ensure our clients get the best outcome possible for them.
Many survivors do not come forward due to the shame and humiliation and it is not until many years later that they tell someone for the first time. They also believe that they will not be listened to. This is not unusual for survivors. For survivors to achieve a positive outcome it is essential that claims are handled with empathy. Our experience in bringing claims for ADF survivors makes this possible.
Initial consultation.
In order to give you the best legal advice, we need to hear your story. We realise it is important that you feel comfortable sharing your story. We are happy to meet with you at a place and time suitable for you. We can meet face to face, by Zoom, Teams or telephone. There will be no charge for the initial consultation if you decide not to proceed with a claim.