Barclay v Trustees of the Marist Brothers [2024] VCC 1859 Author: Evelynn Wang Facts of the case: Between 1970 and 1974, the Plaintiff, Mr Barclay attended St Colman’s College, Shepparton, which was then operated by the Marist Brothers. In 1971, when he was approximately 14 years old, he was subjected to sexual abuse by John [...]
Dion Barber v State of Western Australia Background In September 2025, the District Court of Western Australia handed down the largest award of damages to a Plaintiff arising from institutional abuse in Western Australia’s history. The damages amounted to $2.846 million and this represented the first successful judgment against the State of Western Australia since [...]
If you have lived through childhood sexual abuse, you know the pain doesn’t end when the abuse stops. For many survivors, the trauma lingers—shaping how you feel, how you relate to others, and how you see yourself. This long-term impact often shows up as something called Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) or chronic PTSD. If you’ve ever [...]
Judgment Summary - Supreme Court New South Wales Court of Appeal Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle v AA [2025] NSWCA 72 Bell CJ, Leeming JA, Ball JA In 2024, AA brought proceedings against the Trustees for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle alleging that the Trustees had been negligent, had breached [...]
Childhood sexual abuse can have long-lasting effects on an individual's mental health, with anxiety being one of the most common consequences. In Australia, efforts are being made to address and treat anxiety arising from childhood sexual abuse, providing support and healing for survivors. Anxiety is a natural response to trauma, and survivors often experience heightened [...]
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition characterised by intense emotional instability, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and a distorted self-image. Individuals with BPD often experience rapid changes in mood and struggle with feelings of emptiness and fear of abandonment. The disorder is typically diagnosed in early adulthood and can significantly impair an [...]
In the realm of legal services, financial concerns often deter individuals from seeking justice or pursuing claims. This is where contingent cost agreements, also known as "no win, no fee" arrangements, come into play. These agreements have revolutionised access to legal representation, particularly in personal injury, employment, and consumer rights cases. In this blog, we [...]
Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is a complex disorder that can occur after a person has sustained a concussion, which is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). While most individuals recover from a concussion within a few days to weeks, some may experience lingering symptoms that can affect their quality of life for months or even [...]
Bird v DP (A pseudonym) - High Court of Australia 2024 The High Court has delivered its judgment in this case, which has been eagerly awaited by lawyers, institutions and insurers involved in the abuse law space. This decision of the High Court in this case will extensively impact the rights of abuse survivors. [...]
The respondent, Ms Marmara, was injured when a heavy oversized box containing a mountain bike fell on her from another customer’s standard size shopping trolley at a Kmart store in Woy Woy. Ms Mamara was at the self-serve checkout, when the large box toppled onto her from behind, from another shoppers trolley. Ms Marmara brought [...]