This newsletter provides an update on the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme). It includes details on the Scheme’s 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:

• Beyond Blue (Opens in a new tab/window): 1300 224 636
• MensLine Australia (Opens in a new tab/window): 1300 789 978
• Lifeline (Opens in a new tab/window): 13 11 14

Application progress

• As at 10 March 2023, there have been 23,810 applications to the Scheme. We have contacted 12,363 applicants to advise them of the outcome of their application.
• Of all applications:
  • 11,495 have been finalised (determined as either eligible or ineligible, with offers of Redress either accepted or declined)
  • 11,071 payments have been made totalling approximately $978 million dollars
  • 780 have been withdrawn by the applican
  • 11,535 applications are on hand with the Scheme, of which:
    • 821 are with applicants, awaiting a decision on their offer of Redress
    • 1,005 are with institutions, awaiting a response to a Request For Information
    • 2,571 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)
    • 7,138 are in progress with the Scheme, of which:
      • 4,599 are being actioned
      • 2,539 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.

As at Declaration 1 of 2023, signed by the Minister on 8 March 2023:

• all Commonwealth and State and Territory government institutions and 633 non government institutions are now participating in the Scheme.
• approximately 71,000 sites across Australia are now covered by the Scheme.
• approximately 98 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.
  • A number of institutions were recently added to the Scheme legislation.
  • This declaration is available via the Federal Register of Legislation. 
    https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2023N00044(Opens in a new tab/window)

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).