A law firm is requesting information from potential witnesses regarding alleged child sexual abuse at a former state-run detention facility in New South Wales.
Slater and Gordon Lawyers are seeking witnesses who may have information about alleged child sexual abuse at Worimi Shelter in Broadmeadow, near Newcastle, in 1983.
The firm represents a 57-year-old Aboriginal man of the Anaiwan people who alleges he was abused by two male officers at the facility when he was 15 years old.
Allegations and Background
The client alleges the abuse occurred in 1983 while he was detained in state care at Worimi Shelter. According to the law firm, the client states that after the first incident, he reported the alleged abuse to another male officer. The officer reportedly told him, "get used to it, kid, you're in the big boy's home now," and then allegedly abused him.
Worimi Shelter, also known as the Worimi Remand Centre, Worimi Youth Centre, and Worimi Juvenile Justice Centre, was a state-run facility that operated from the 1960s until its closure in 2000. During the 1980s, up to 350 children passed through the shelter each year.
Legal Claims
Slater and Gordon alleges that the State of New South Wales, as the facility's operator, failed to take necessary precautions to ensure the client's safety. Ciara White, Senior Practice Leader at Slater and Gordon, stated that the alleged abuse has had a significant impact on the client's emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Call for Information
The law firm is seeking any information that could help determine the extent of alleged abuse at Worimi Shelter in 1983. They are urging anyone who was employed or detained at the facility in the early 1980s to contact them for a confidential discussion.
- Contact Number: 1800 565 892