The Redress Assessment Framework has changed

In response to a recommendation of the Second Anniversary Review of the National Redress Scheme, the Government agreed to change the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Assessment Framework 2018 (Assessment Framework).

The Assessment Framework has been changed to combine the payments relating to the recognition of sexual abuse and the impact of sexual abuse into one combined amount, which is now titled recognition and impact of abuse. There is no change to the amount of redress payment amount.

The Scheme’s Independent Decision Makers (IDMs) will now assess applications using the new, updated Assessment Framework.

All new applications received by the Scheme will be assessed against the new Assessment Framework. If you are offered a redress payment, it will recognise the sexual abuse you experienced and its impact, even if you chose not to tell the Scheme about the impact in your application.

If you would like to speak to a Scheme Officer about this change, you can call us on 1800 737 377 Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.

Sixth anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

October 22 marked the sixth anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. The National Apology was delivered in response to the five-year Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The National Apology acknowledged and apologised for the abuse inflicted by institutions on vulnerable children. In a media release issued, Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth highlighted the courage of survivors and advocates who spoke out to expose the abuse in institutions.

“I recognise on this anniversary that no apology could ever change the immense trauma and pain caused by the abuse faced by many Australians,” Minister Rishworth said.

“Today is an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse through the National Redress Scheme and its continuous improvement to make it more trauma-informed, efficient, and survivor-focussed.”

You can read the full media release and acknowledgement of the anniversary on the Minister’s website(Opens in a new tab/window).

New Strategic Success Measures report

The June 2024 Strategic Success Measures report is now available on the Scheme website.

This report provides an indication of how the National Redress Scheme is performing across three priority areas:

• survivor experience
• health of the National Redress Scheme
• equity of access

The Strategic Success Measures report is one way the National Redress Scheme showcases our commitment to transparency and providing publicly available data about our performance. Visit our website, for the June 2024 and previous Strategic Success Measures reports.

Redress Scheme visits Dandenong, Victoria

A free half-day community workshop about the National Redress Scheme will be held in Dandenong, Victoria on Thursday 5 December 2024.

The workshop will provide community organisation attendees with information about the National Redress Scheme and other similar schemes that are currently active for people in Victoria. The session will discuss the different purposes and functions of the schemes, as well as how to engage with them and access free, confidential and culturally safe support.
Government representatives will be participating to share information and answer questions; plus presentations from various Redress Support Services and from knowmore Legal Service.

Please note, attendance at these workshops is limited to staff in community groups, organisations and services. There is limited capacity for each event, please register your organisation’s attendance below.

The Dandenong workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn Dandenong, from 1.00pm – 4.30pm AEDT, Thursday 5 December 2024. Register your organisation’s attendance through the online registration form(Opens in a new tab/window).

Redress Scheme visits Hurstville, NSW

As announced in the September update 2024, a free half-day community workshop about the National Redress Scheme will be held in Hurstville, NSW at the Southern Sydney Event Centre, on Wednesday 27 November from 9.30am – 1.00pm AEDT. Register your organisation’s attendance through the online registration form(Opens in a new tab/window).

These are part of a series of Redress Support Service-led workshops to raise awareness of the Scheme. To register your interest in future workshops, email mailto:DSSRedressEngagement@dss.gov.au.

Scheme data

As at 27 September 2024, there have been 48,953 applications to the Scheme. Of these:

• 19,680 applicants have had their outcomes advised. Of these:
  • 16,665 payments have been made totalling approximately $1.49 billion dollars
• 2,064 have been withdrawn by the applicant
• 27,209 applications are yet to receive an outcome. Of these:
  • 16,916 applications are actionable by the Scheme.
    • 2,628 applications are being validated with the initial contact being made
    • 10,309 applications are in the information gathering stage
    • 3,249 applications are with an IDM for a determination
    • 730 applications are being prepared for delivery of the outcome
  • 3,343 applications are unable to be actioned by the Scheme. Of these:
    • 2,097 are awaiting the applicant to provide additional information
    • 1,246 are undergoing a special assessment for serious criminal conviction/applying from gaol
  • o    6,950 applications are on hold.

Participating institutions update

The Minister's Declaration is an official list of all participating institutions. It is updated when a new institution joins the Scheme or the status of a participating institution changes.

As at 28 October 2024, data regarding participating institutions remains the same as included in the September update.

The Declarations are available on the Federal Register of Legislation(Opens in a new tab/window). For the latest information about institutions, visit the Institutions page on our website.