Major law firms inundated with compensation inquiries relating to alleged abuse in childcare centres

Concerned parents across NSW are inundating law firms with compensation inquiries relating to alleged abuse in childcare centres including unexplained injuries and sexual offences.

Concerned parents are inundating law firms with compensation inquiries relating to alleged abuse in childcare centres.

EXCLUSIVE:

Concerned parents are inundating law firms with compensation inquiries relating to alleged abuse in childcare centres including unexplained injuries and sexual offences.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that families are contacting some of the state’s biggest law firms about sexual abuse complaints and other serious incidents involving their children at daycare centres across NSW.

The surge in calls comes after heightened scrutiny within the sector including allegations of sexual abuse and several safety concerns.

Victorian childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown was charged earlier this month with more than 70 alleged offences against children in his care.

The Albanese Government last week introduced urgent new childcare laws allowing the Commonwealth to cut funds to any operator found to be not up to scratch, and also grant officials permission to conduct random spot checks at centres without a warrant.

Sheree Buchanan, head of abuse law at Law Partners, said she had received three inquiries from parents in the past week alone regarding alleged physical and sexual abuse in childcare centres across greater Sydney.

“These are harrowing circumstances and it can be extremely traumatic for the families as well as victims,” she said.

“Child abuse impacts entire families – for a parent to discover that their child’s educator has been arrested for untoward offences is undeniably distressing.”

The surge in calls to law firms comes after recent scrutiny within the childcare sector.

James Watt, head of compensation practice at Kells, said the team had received a surge in calls over recent weeks from parents seeking legal advice regarding alleged abuse at daycare centres in NSW.

“Parents appear to be increasingly apprehensive and, in the absence of any clear understanding of where to turn,” he said.

“The majority of complaints and concerns revolve around children suffering unexplained injuries while in the care of childcare centres.

“We are seeing parents collecting children from centres, not having been advised of injuries during the day, and seeking information surrounding the circumstances of the injuries.”

Mr Watt said in many cases the centres were either unaware of the relevant circumstances, or were not being transparent about it.

“This is compounded by an apparent failure to abide by policies and procedures in logging and reporting the relevant incidents.”

While other law firms including Maurice Blackburn and Shine Lawyers have not received a surge in inquiries, both are handling shocking claims of abuse within childcare centres.

Danielle De Paoli, special counsel and head of Maurice Blackburn’s NSW abuse law practice, said the law firm was dealing with recent compensation claims on behalf of children and their parents.

Ms De Paoli said she was assisting some parents with nervous shock claims, which allows them to seek compensation for psychiatric injuries due to the trauma of their children’s abuse.

“Nervous shock claims brought by parents are subject to a three year limitation period, which commences from either the date that their child was abused or arguably from the time that they become aware of the abuse perpetrated or their right to bring action,” she said.

Lisa Flynn, chief legal officer at Shine Lawyers, said its legal team was representing children and families of some of the most widely publicised childcare abuse claims across the country, involving known perpetrators.

“We’ve seen a handful of claims in NSW and a staggering response from the families impacted by this truly horrendous situation in Victoria,” she said.

“Even one case demands a need for improved supervision practices to be implemented for staff who are caring for children.

“The safety of our children shouldn’t wait for high volumes of abuse to come through first.”

Originally published as Major law firms inundated with compensation inquiries relating to alleged abuse in childcare centres