Redress Schemes

The benefit to people who experienced abuse in an institutional setting including out-of-home care of financial redress schemes was a recurring theme in the Lost Innocents, Forgotten Australians, and Lost Innocents and Forgotten Australians Revisited Reports to the Australian Senate. (link to Inquiries page)

While it’s widely acknowledged that these schemes in themselves aren’t going to make the trauma associated with past injustices disappear, they do provide the chance for people to have their voice heard, and for the pain of their experiences to be acknowledged.

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National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme is in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The National Redress Scheme will provide support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

This Scheme:

  • acknowledges that many children were sexually abused in Australian institutions
  • holds institutions accountable for this abuse, and
  • helps people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse gain access to counselling and psychological services, a direct personal response, and a monetary payment.

The Scheme started on 1 July 2018 and will run for 10 years.

Please click on the links below for information on the National Redress Scheme:

For more information please contact Lotus Place.

Child Migrants Trust 

For information about the Child Migrants Trust United Kingdom Payment Scheme visit the Child Migrants Trust website or contact Lotus Place.

Historical Redress in Australia

A series of reports commissioned by the Queensland and Australian Governments between 1999 and 2004, highlighted the harm which had been suffered by the more than 500 000 children who had been in church, state, foster care, detention centres and adult mental health institutions in the twentieth century.

The Report of Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions (the Forde Inquiry), and the Lost Innocents and Forgotten Australians Reports advocated for an apology from Government, churches and other organisations for the suffering endured by adults who experienced childhood abuse in an institutional setting including out-of-home care.

However they also strongly recommended that practical measures be taken up, to acknowledge and try to redress the effects of the harm suffered by these children. Their recommendations included financial redress schemes, the provision of counselling and specialist services, access to personal records, help to trace families, creating opportunities for survivors to have a voice, and the construction of memorials.

Many churches have made apologies and have individualised ex gratia payment process for individuals who have experienced abuse in institutions or group homes under their authority.

Historiacal Schemes:

Queensland

The Queensland Government created a Redress Scheme in response to the 1998-99 Forde Inquiry into institutional care of children. Eligible applicants received an ex gratia payment, ranging from $7,000 up to $40,000. The Scheme closed in 2009.

Tasmania

In 2003, the Tasmanian Ombudsman conducted a review into claims of abuse in care. A Redress Scheme was opened as a result, in 2005. The fourth round of the Scheme closed on 15 February 2013.

Western Australia

In December 2007, the Western Australian Government announced a $114 million Redress Scheme for those who were abused and/or neglected in State care in Western Australia. The Scheme closed in 2009.

South Australia

In 2004, the South Australian Government commissioned an inquiry into sexual abuse and deaths in State care. The Mullighan Report was subsequently handed down in 2008. Former residents in State care who experienced sexual abuse as children are able to apply for an ex-gratia payment, under the Victims of Crime Act. The Attorney-General decides who may be offered an ex-gratia payment, the amount of money offered, and whether there are conditions attached to receiving the money. Payments range from $30,000 to $50,000. There is currently no closing date for applications.

New South Wales

To date the New South Wales Government has not conducted any inquiries into the past abuse of children in state care, nor established a Redress Scheme.

Victoria

To date the Victorian Government's deals with offers of redress to survivors of state care, on a case by case basis. All those seeking redress must progress their case through the legal system.

For more information please contact Lotus Place.

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