This is the June 2023 National Redress Scheme (the Scheme) update. It includes details on Redress Support Services, knowmore Legal Service, and Scheme data regarding application processing and participating institutions.

The update contains material that could be confronting or distressing. Sometimes words or images can cause sadness or distress or trigger traumatic memories, particularly for people who have experienced past abuse or childhood trauma.

Support is available to help you if you need it. To find out more, go to 
www.nationalredress.gov.au/help-support/get-free-help-apply/redress-support-services.

If you need immediate support, 24-hour telephone assistance is available through:

Redress Support Services

Redress Support Services (RSS) provide free, confidential and specialist support for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse, and want to engage with the National Redress Scheme.

RSS provide information about the Scheme, can assist with filling out an application, can make referrals to other legal, financial or emotional counselling, and give guidance and emotional support before, during and after a person submits a Redress application.

Redress Support Services offer face-to-face, online and telephone services. Specialist support is also available for people with disability, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, care leavers and former child migrants.

There are support services in each State and Territory, or visit the National Redress Scheme website so you can find support that suits you.

knowmore Legal Service

knowmore Legal Service provides free, confidential and independent legal advice for people who are considering applying to the National Redress Scheme. Survivors of child sexual abuse may have different legal options to pursue depending on their circumstances, and knowmore can help people understand what is available to them.

knowmore also offers a free financial counselling service for people who are thinking about applying or who have applied to the National Redress Scheme.

knowmore has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, and offers telephone appointments to people in most parts of Australia. knowmore also regularly travels to different locations around Australia, offering face-to-face community education and legal advice sessions.

For more information please visit https://knowmore.org.au/(Opens in a new tab/window), or freecall 1800 605 762 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AET.

Scheme data

As at 2 June 2023, there have been 26,802 applications to the Scheme. We have contacted 13,185 applicants to advise them of the outcome of their application.

Of all applications:

  • 12,374 have been finalised (determined as either eligible or ineligible, with offers of Redress either accepted or declined)
  • 11,795 payments have been made totalling approximately $1.044 billion dollars
  • 907 have been withdrawn by the applicant
  • 13,521 applications are on hand with the Scheme, of which:
    • 739 are with applicants, awaiting a decision on their offer of Redress
    • 1,213 are with institutions, awaiting a response to a Request For Information
    • 3,484 are on hold (for reasons such as at the request of the applicant; where further information has been requested from the applicant; where there is difficulty contacting the applicant or due to a non-participating institution)
    • 8,085 are in progress with the Scheme, of which:
      • 5,460 are being actioned
      • 2,625 are temporarily unable to be actioned (for reasons such as awaiting contact from the applicant, or awaiting extra information).

Participating institutions update

The government encourages all institutions who have a history of interacting with children to sign up to the Scheme as soon as possible.

When a new institution joins the Scheme or the status of a participating institution changes, the Minister signs a Declaration which is an official list of all participating institutions. As of Declaration 2 of 2023, signed by the Minister on 8 May 2023:

  • all Commonwealth and State and Territory government institutions and 629 non-government institutions are now participating in the Scheme.
  • approximately 71,000 sites across Australia are now covered by the Scheme.
  • 102 unique institutions have been declared under the Funder of Last Resort (FOLR) arrangements.
    • These institutions are defunct and the Commonwealth and/or relevant state governments are the FOLR.

The Declarations are available on the Federal Register of Legislation:

For the latest information about institutions, visit our website:
www.nationalredress.gov.au/institutions.

Find out more

For further information about the Scheme, go to www.nationalredress.gov.au or call 1800 737 377 Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm AET from Australia or +61 2 6222 3455 from overseas.

For regular updates about the Department of Social Services and the Scheme, you can ‘like’ or ‘follow’ the Australian Families Facebook page: facebook.com/FamiliesInAustralia(Opens in a new tab/window).

The Australian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water, culture and community. We pay our respects to the Elders both past and present.

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