State care abuse: Indigenous man reveals horror treatment in hostel A vulnerable Indigenous boy who was routinely raped, physically abused and bullied in state care has reached a $1.3m settlement with the Victorian government. Quinton, who did not want to use his last name, was sent to the Bert Williams Hostel in Thornbury as a teenager in the 1980s after he was involved in a minor theft. He was subject to regular sexual and physical abuse, including being raped by three other residents on his first night. Arnold Thomas and Becker lawyer Lachlan Macfarlane said Quinton was a vulnerable young teenager who the state failed to look out for. “Despite many years of shame and anger, Quinton has done his best to help others, including working as a disability advocate and carer,” he said. “While compensation cannot take away Quinton’s trauma and suffering, this settlement has given him a strong sense of validation and justice, which will help him move forward.” Read more about this story in the media. Contact us As a leading Australian Abuse firm, we have helped hundreds of brave abuse survivors obtain compensation for physical, psychological and sexual abuse in intuitional settings. Money can’t take the pain away, however, it can help achieve clarity and closure. We have extensive experience in obtaining ground-breaking multi-million dollar payments for our clients. Visit our Institutional Abuse page for more information or call us on 03 9034 8433.