Categories of Payment under DART scheme

Reparation Payments paid under the Defence Abuse Response Team (DART) are not paid as compensation but are meant as an acknowledgement by Defence that the abuse was wrong and can have a lasting and serious impact. Further, reparation payments can be an acknowledgement that mismanagement...

What are the Eligibility Requirements to receive a Reparation Payment from the Taskforce?

Under the guidelines released by the Taskforce, you will be eligible for a reparation payment if you have suffered one, or more, instances of abuse whilst an employee of the Department of Defence and have lodged a complaint...

Funding for counselling of abuse victims announced

The Federal Government has announced that  $44 million in funding will be made available for counselling for victims of institutional child sex abuse as part of the support services being offered as part of the Royal Commission processes.

The federal government has announced...

Royal Commission reveals how it will collect victim statements

The Royal Commission has issued practise guidelines which cover the “information seeking” part of the process. 

Individuals will be able to make statements by email, mail or by telephone.  Commission Officers will be available to assist individuals in making statements and trained...

We're now taking claims for ADF Reparation Scheme

RCT will now start notifying the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce of claims for compensation for the reparation scheme recently announced. Anyone wishing to notify the Taskforce of a claim should contact us immediately.

We can advise also that while 31 May 2013 is the deadline...

Royal Commission Offers Private Hearings and Information Protection

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced that survivors of abuse will be able to tell their stories to the Royal Commission in less formal, private hearings. A person giving information in private sessions will be afforded the same protections as would apply to a...

Why hurry the ADF Reparation Scheme?

The knock on effects of the Defence Taskforce inquiry into instances of abuse within the military are still being felt, as victims and military compensation lawyers question the need for such a short claims deadline for the ADF Abuse Reparation Scheme.

In announcing the military abuse...

Compo deadline looms for Defence abuse victims

Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, has announced that victims of abuse within the armed forces will be entitled to claim up to $50,000 in compensation under the Federal Government's Defence Abuse Reparation Scheme, but new claimants will face a cut off date of 31 May...

Scottish National Confidential Forum into abuse announced

The BBC Scotland (2nd March 2013) has reported that the former Scottish First Minister Lord McConnell has told of his regret that almost ten years on since he made a landmark apology to historic child abuse victims in Scotland, they have yet to see...

A review of the Terms of Reference

On the 21 January 2013, the Honourable Len Roberts-Smith RFD, QC was appointed to lead the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce ("the Taskforce"). On the same day, the Taskforce's terms of reference were announced.

Importantly, the terms of reference confirm that the Taskforce will review all...