National Redress Scheme Information for institutions
Information for institutions
The Government has worked with states and territories, non-government institutions and the Independent Advisory Council on Redress to design and implement the Scheme in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission.
The Scheme has been developed with the needs of survivors at the core. The Scheme provides support to people applying to the Scheme, including through free access to Redress Support Services and independent legal support.
Applications for Redress can be made at any time until 30 June 2027.
People can apply if:
- they experienced institutional child sexual abuse before 1 July 2018
- they are aged over 18 or will turn 18 before 30 June 2028
- they are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- they are applying about an institution that has joined the Scheme.
Eligible people will be able to access the three components of redress; counselling, a redress payment and a direct personal response from an institution (e.g. an apology).
Institutions are strongly encouraged to join the Scheme, so that people who were abused in their care can apply for redress.
For institutions, the Scheme provides a way to offer redress to people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
Where the Scheme receives an application naming a previously unnamed non-participating institution, the Scheme will contact the institution and the institution will be given six months to join. Should that institution fail or decline to join the Scheme within the six months, then the institution will be publicly identified by the Scheme in accordance with Scheme legislation and consequences such as becoming ineligible for future government grant funding and loss of charitable status, if applicable, will apply.
On average, institutions take between three to six months to go through the on-boarding process and be officially declared as participating. Timeframes will differ on several factors including an institution’s internal governance and decision-making processes.
If you are an institution that is interested in participating in the Scheme you can contact redressinstitutions@dss.gov.au.
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