Application Guidebook

The Application Guidebook contains information about the Scheme and advice on each question in the application. The Guidebook is designed to be used when filling out the application form.

Application form

The application form is provided in three formats, Fillable PDF, printable PDF and online. You can choose which format suits you to apply.

• The Application for Redress form – please complete the form with as much information as possible.
• A separate Part 2 of the application form – if applying for redress for more than one institution, you must complete a new Part 2 in full for each institution.

Please note: To use the fillable PDF application form, fillable PDF Part 2 form, and fillable PDF nominee form, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Download the Fillable PDF application and PDF Part 2 forms
Step 2: Save each PDF document to your desktop
Step 3: Open the PDF documents from your computer to complete the questions.

These forms cannot be completed in a web browser. For more information, visit Fillable forms.

myGov is a secure way to access government services such as the National Redress Scheme online with one login and one password.

Creating a myGov account

To create a myGov account go to my.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window) and select create account(Opens in a new tab/window). You will be asked to accept the terms and conditions for use and then provide an email address.

If you receive benefits from Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or lodge your tax return online, you may already have a myGov account.

Enquires about myGov

Contact the myGov helpdesk for help signing in and using your myGov account. Call the myGov helpdesk on 132 307 and select option 1, Mon to Fri 7am to 10pm and Sat to Sun 10am to 5pm.

If you are calling from outside Australia, contact the myGov helpdesk by calling +61 1300 169 468 and select option 1. If you are using a landline to call Australia from overseas, you’ll need to use an international dial out code, followed by this number. Then select option 1.

Accessing the application online

Once you have set up your myGov account, signed in to your existing myGov account, you can access the online application form and submit by following the below steps.

1. click on 'View and link services(Opens in a new tab/window)'
2. select the 'National Redress Scheme'
3. click on 'Start' to get access to the application. You can save it and come back to it whenever you need to
4. when filling in the online application form, please save your progress regularly
5. review your completed online application
6. read the declaration and click on the box next to ‘I agree’
7. scan and upload any supporting documents
8. submit your completed online application. Once submitted, the Scheme will use your myGov digital authentication in place of your written signature and date
9. please print a copy of your completed online application for your records.
    

Tip: Your application for Redress can take time to complete, and the system times out after 15 minutes.  To avoid losing part of your application, you should save your progress regularly, for example every 5 to 10 minutes

Tip: You can type the longer text sections for Part 2 and Part 3 into a word document and cut and paste your response to the online application form. We note that not all word documenting software is compatible with this feature. Please be aware of this.

Getting letters online

To get letters from the Scheme in your myGov Inbox after you have applied online:

1. sign in to myGov using your details, or create a new account
2. click on 'View and link services'
3. select the 'National Redress Scheme'
4. answer or setup your security questions
5. fill in your application details and answer either ‘Use myGov Inbox’ or ‘Use both’ to the question ‘What address should the Scheme use to send you letters?’
6. submit your application
7. the next time we send you a letter it will be to your myGov Inbox.

To get letters sent to in your myGov Inbox after you have applied by paper form

1. when you fill in your paper application check the option to receive your correspondence via myGov Inbox
2. sign in to myGov, or create a new account
3. click on 'View and link services'
4. select the 'National Redress Scheme'
5. answer or setup your Redress security questions
6. click on 'Link your application'
7. type in your Redress ID and Application ID that was given to you from the National Redress Scheme. This would have been when they called you to acknowledge that your application was received
8. we will send all possible letters to you via your myGov inbox, but this is not always possible.  Sometimes you will receive a letter in the post.

See other ways to apply on the ‘How to apply’ page

Watch the Auslan translation of 'Things to keep in mind when applying' on YouTube(Opens in a new tab/window)

Free Support is available

You may want to think about talking to someone you know and trust to give you the support you might need or a specialist Redress Support Service when you apply.

Get free assistance with a Redress Support Service

Redress Support Services can provide you with:

• emotional support
• help filling in the application form
• assistance when considering an offer of redress.

knowmore(Opens in a new tab/window) Legal Service can help you with:

• legal support
• help managing your financial situation.

If you would rather talk to someone to learn more about the application process and how it may work for you, you can call us on 1800 737 377 Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm. If you are overseas, please call +61 3 6222 3455 and press 7 to be transferred to the National Redress Scheme.

What the application process involves

There are 3 steps to make an application:

1. deciding to apply
2. filling in the application
3. confirming your identity.

Step 1 - Deciding to apply

This information might help you to decide about applying:

• you can only apply for the National Redress Scheme once
• you will need to choose between applying to the National Redress Scheme or taking a civil litigation against an institution. It will not be possible to continue or take civil action against an institution or its associate institutions if you are offered and accept the redress from our scheme. Contact knowmore(Opens in a new tab/window) to discuss your options, or you can obtain your own private legal advice at your own cost
• you may need to consider how a redress payment could affect your finances, especially if you receive other government payments, such as Jobseeker or the Disability Support Pension(Opens in a new tab/window)
• you can withdraw your application anytime, up until an offer is made to you in writing
• learn more about how your personal information is used by the National Redress Scheme
• if you are terminally ill or elderly, your application can be actioned quickly so you can receive redress as soon as possible
  • the National Redress Scheme may offer an advance payment of redress for some elderly or terminally ill applicants. You do not need to ask for this payment, you will be contacted by us if you are eligible.

To apply, you need to be eligible for the National Redress Scheme. 

Click here to find out who can apply

Step 2 - Filling in the application

If you have any questions about applying for redress, you can call us on 1800 737 377 Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm. If you are overseas, please call +61 3 6222 3455 and press 7 to be transferred to the National Redress Scheme.

Get help to apply

Under the National Redress Scheme, you can appoint a redress nominee to help you apply and talk to us about your application. 

A redress nominee is a person or an organisation who can act on your behalf when communicating with the National Redress Scheme.

There are two types of redress nominees, an Assistance Nominee or Legal Nominee.

Only an appointed redress legal nominee can apply for redress on your behalf.

If you choose to have a redress nominee, you and your nominee will need to fill in the Redress Nominee Form. Your nominee will also need to confirm their identity with the Scheme before they can be appointed.

Find out more about nominees

What you need to apply for redress

To apply, you need to:

• decide if you prefer to apply online or by paper. The same questions are asked
• complete all three parts of the application. You can attach copies of supporting documents if you have them, and you will still need to complete the rest of the application
• confirm your identity
• sign and date the Redress form
  • if applying online via myGov you can fill in this form and sign it digitally
  • if you have downloaded the fillable PDF form you can use your electronic signature in Adobe Reader. Make and keep a copy of your signed application form for your records.

Apply in your own time and at at a pace comfortable for you. If applying online you can complete the application in multiple sessions if you wish. Make sure you save the information regularly.

Please be as detailed as you can. Also, please be aware, while you can provide updates or submit a new application, once a determination is made you cannot apply for redress again. Refer to the Redress Application Guidebook to help you to answer questions you are unsure about.

What’s inside the application form?

Part 1 – About you

This part asks for information about:

• your name, date of birth and contact details
• your eligibility for the National Redress Scheme
• other information to help us better support you when applying.

You need to answer all questions in Part 1.

Part 2 – Your experience of sexual abuse

This part will ask questions about your experience of child sexual abuse and related abuse for each institution.

We understand this information is sensitive and may be difficult to write about. If you need it, please seek support to fill in Part 2. Support could be from your trusted person, your doctor, counsellor or a Redress Support Service.

If you apply for redress for more than one institution, you will need to fill in a new Part 2 for each institution by following the instructions in the application form. You can refer to the Redress Application Guidebook for more information.

Part 2 will ask you to:

• identify the institution, such as its name (that you know), what type of institution it was, when it operated, when you were there, and where it was located
• write about the person/s who abused you for each institution and how they first came in contact with you at the institution. Remember to fill out Part 2 separately for each institution
• answer with as much detail as you can about the experience of sexual abuse. The Redress Application Guidebook has more information to help you
• tell us about any payments you received from the institution or another Scheme for the abuse you experienced at the institution.

Part 3 – Impacts of sexual abuse

This part will ask about the impacts of your experience of sexual abuse on your life.

We understand this information is sensitive and may be difficult to write about. If you need it, please seek support to fill in Part 3.

This part will ask you (you must answer these questions):

• if you agree to share your impacts of the experience of sexual abuse with the institutions identified as responsible
• to describe the impacts you have experienced to help inform a determination of redress.

You can choose if this information is provided to relevant institutions. If you don’t want this information to be provided to institutions, please indicate this when prompted online, or answer at question 46 on the paper application form.

Please note: The Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, and institutions are required to share information with police or child protection authorities in certain circumstances, such as an alleged abuser is in the community, or if a child is at risk. Please see our Privacy Notice for more information about how and when information can be disclosed.

Support is available to help you apply

Statements and Declaration

• you will need to sign and date the application form to tell the Scheme you have read the statements and declaration
• this statement includes information that you have read and understood the Privacy Notice outlined in the Redress Application Guidebook
• the statement and declaration includes that by signing the form, you also understand that it is an offence to provide false or misleading information and statements in a redress application. Penalties may apply
  • if applying online via myGov you can fill in this form and sign it digitally
  • if you have downloaded the fillable PDF form you can use your electronic signature in Adobe Reader. Make and keep a copy of your signed application form for your records.

If we receive your application form without your signature, or the date it was signed, we will contact you.

If you cannot sign the form either in writing or electronically using our fillable PDF form, please call us on 1800 737 377 Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm for assistance.

The Redress Application Identifier

The Scheme will create a unique identification number for your application; this is your Redress ID. Remember to keep a record of this number, as it will help if you need to make changes or ask questions about your application.

Step 3 - Confirm your identity

Confirming your identity is one way your privacy and information is protected. Please refer to the Redress Application Guidebook for more information about how to confirm your identity with the Scheme, as there are options on confirming your identity with us.

Learn more about confirming your identity

Privacy Policy for the National Redress Scheme

About this Policy

The National Redress Scheme (Scheme) is administered by the Department of Social Services (we, us, our, department) on behalf of the Australian Government. In some aspects of the Scheme, the department is assisted by Services Australia, an executive agency in the Social Services portfolio.

This Privacy Policy applies specifically to our handling of personal information in connection with the Scheme. It outlines the kinds of personal information we collect, why we collect it, and how we handle it to administer the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018(Opens in a new tab/window) (National Redress legislation).

In this Privacy Policy:

personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. It includes information about you such as your name and contact information. 

sensitive information is a subset of personal information. It includes information such as your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation or practices, criminal record, and health information.

You should read this Privacy Policy if you interact with us in connection with the Scheme or are considering doing so. This includes if you:

• have applied for redress under the National Redress legislation or are considering applying for redress (in this Privacy Policy you are referred to as an applicant once you have applied for redress)
• are a nominee for an applicant (nominee)
• are a representative of, or interact with us on behalf of, an applicant
• are a representative of an institution that is participating, or considering participating, in the Scheme (institution).

Some personal information collected for the purposes of the Scheme may also be protected information under National Redress legislation. We handle protected information in accordance with National Redress legislation.

Download full versions

The full versions of the National Redress Scheme’s Privacy Policy, Privacy Notice for Applicants and Privacy Notice for Nominees are available for download.