Lawyers seek witnesses to alleged historic child sexual abuse
Leading law firm Slater and Gordon Lawyers is calling on witnesses of alleged child sexual abuse at Worimi Shelter in the early 1980s to step forward.
“Our client it a proud 57-year-old a First Nations Anaiwan man who alleges he was abused in 1983 while a detainee at the state-run Worimi Shelter. The Shelter closed in 2000,” the legal firm says.
“He alleges that, while detained at the State-run Worimi Shelter in NSW in 1983, he was abused by two male officers who were working at the facility at the time.”
Slater and Gordon Senior Practice Leader, Ciara White, said that the alleged abuse has had a profound impact on her client’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.
‘Taken advantage of’
“Our client was 15 years old when the alleged abuse occurred. He was in State care and entrenched in the youth justice system when two separate officers, each entrusted with his safety, allegedly took advantage of him.
“After the first incident, he reported the alleged abuse to another male officer. Instead of protecting him, that officer told him words to the effect of “get used to it kid, you’re in the big boy’s home now” and then allegedly abused him as well.
“Following the report, the alleged abuse continued on multiple occasions and by that point our client, a teenager, felt completely helpless,” Ms White said.
An image of the Worimi Shelter in the 1960s.
The State-run Worimi Shelter, also known as Worimi Remand Centre, Worimi Youth Centre, and Worimi Juvenile Justice Centre, had as many as 350 children pass through its doors each year during the 1980s before it officially closed in 2000.
Slater and Gordon alleges that the State of New South Wales, as operator of Worimi Shelter, failed to take necessary precautions to ensure their client’s safety during his detainment.
Alleged abuse
Ms White said that any information could assist Slater and Gordon to understand how extensive the alleged abuse was at Worimi Shelter in 1983.
“If you were employed by, or detained at, the State-run Worimi Shelter in the early 1980s, we urge you to contact us for a confidential discussion on 1800 565 892.
“Any information on the State-run Worimi Shelter or the two male officers at the centre of the allegations could assist our client in seeking justice for the alleged abuse.
“It’s vital that witnesses and victim-survivors with relevant information have the opportunity to provide their accounts safely and confidentially with a trauma-informed legal professional,” Ms White said.
