The family of Milly Yeoman, who left a quadriplegic after an incident at a learn-to-swim school in Ballarat, has reached the end of their civil case against the school, the instructor, and the Department of Education.
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The three defendants reached a settlement with the family after years of legal cases, understood to be one of the largest in Victorian legal history for an individual injured plaintiff.
Milly suffered spinal injuries when she was instructed to dive into a shallow pool as a 12-year-old, in 2016 - she has been a quadriplegic ever since.
The settlement sum cannot be disclosed, but Milly's parents Rebecca and Peter said it will help provide long-term support without relying on the NDIS.
"It's a weight off our shoulders, but nothing's changed," Ms Yeoman said.
"It will help because we can build a house that's fully accessible for her to live in forever, but money doesn't fix everything.
"Everybody thinks it's over but it isn't, it'll be the rest of our lives."
Milly's parents said the now-16-year-old is looking into a career in graphic design and visual communication, but her schooling has been interrupted with health issues and continual rehabilitation appointments.
"There's three carers in your house every morning, two carers every night, all the physio, OT, all the other appointments," Mr Yeoman said.
"With the new house, we'll be able to have somewhere for a carer to stay, which will make a difference.
"There's enough money in the payout that she can do what she wants to as far as education goes - she's switched on, she just has to get healthy, back to where she was 12 months ago."
There is still anger at the defendants, after what the trauma and subsequent court battles the family has faced - Mr Yeoman said they should "all hang their heads in shame".
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The family's lawyer, Nicholas Lyons from Saines Lucas, said the settlement was entered into with a complete denial of liability by all three defendants.
"It was a long and difficult case - I'm very relieved and glad for the family that it's over for them," he said.
"It's certainly the biggest case our firm's ever had."
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