Camilla Receives $205,000 After Years of Institutional Neglect and Abuse
Survivor of institutional abuse secures $205k compensation through mediation.
Trigger Warning: This article contains content related to sexual assault that may be distressing or triggering for some individuals. Reader discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, please reach out to the following helpline in Australia: Full Stop Australia, NSW Sexual Violence Helpline (24/7). Phone: 1800 424 017
This image is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent our actual client.
Camilla's Story
Pseudonyms are used to protect the client's identity.
Camilla describes her childhood as unhappy and severely traumatic.
Camilla's parents divorced as her mother was caught having an affair with a man named Marcus. Marcus then moved into the family home when Camilla was 8 years old.
As soon as Marcus moved in, he began sexually assaulting Camilla.
Camilla's mother knew about the abuse. As such, Camilla has chosen not to pursue a relationship with her mother.
The abuse was the same each time. Michael would cover Camilla's mouth, hold a knife to her throat and involve oral, anal and vaginal penetration. Camilla was terrified.
This continued for two years.
When Camilla was 10 years old, her grandma found out about the abuse and took her to the police station straight away.
Unable to go back home or to her father's, Camilla was placed in a Children's home care facility. Camilla remembers that she never felt safe.
Before being placed in foster care, Camilla was assigned a social worker. He repeatedly sexually assaulted Camilla during her time at the centre and once Camilla was placed in foster care. This would occur in his car.
Camilla was sexually assaulted repeatedly by another caretaker at this Children's home. Camilla reported this abuse but was dismissed and accused of lying.
As mentioned, Camilla was eventually placed into foster care. During this time, Camilla was assaulted by a third man.
At the end of the year, Camilla raised the abuse with her grandma and was taken out immediately to live with her.
The impacts of this ongoing sexual abuse have been detrimental to Camilla's life. Camilla has struggled to form close relationships with men and has often been in abusive or violent relationships.
The abuse also had a negative impact on Camilla's relationship with her father, mother, and brothers, and she has had varying levels of contact with her children. Camilla feels deeply regretful about this but feels she has been significantly disadvantaged by not having healthy relationships with her parents or the people responsible for her care during her formative years.
Moreover, the abuse has resulted in anxiety and minimal self-confidence. As a result, Camilla has been unemployed since losing her job a year before first visiting Dormer Stanhope.
Camilla could not pay rent and lived in her car for 6 months.
Our Approach
Camilla first came to Dormer Stanhope in 2020, seeking a family provision claim for her father’s estate. During her consultation with Justeen, principal of Dormer Stanhope, Camilla shared her painful story, revealing the abuse she had endured as a child and the resulting estrangement from her father. She expressed deep disappointment in him for never offering to take her in when she needed support.
After reviewing her case, Justeen was concerned that her father’s estate was not large enough, and that any funds Camilla received would not be sufficient to cover both her physical and mental treatment, as well as secure property after a period of homelessness.
Dormer Stanhope decided to charge minimal legal fees for Camilla’s family provision case, confident in her deservingness of compensation from the children’s care facility. The firm argued that the defendant was responsible for the operation and management of the group home, which provided temporary housing for vulnerable children, including Camilla. At all relevant times, the defendant had the duty of care, supervision, and management of Camilla.
The defendant had employed and appointed staff to care for and supervise Camilla, as well as facilitated her placement into foster care. Furthermore, the defendant, through its officers and employees, was aware, or should have been aware, of the risks of harm to vulnerable children in its care, especially the risk of sexual abuse by employees.
The case was settled at mediation, with Camilla receiving $205,000.
Read about Camilla's Family Provision Claim:
Camilla Receives $30,000 After Being Left Out of Her Father’s Estate