National Redress Scheme

On the 31 of May 2018 the Anglican Church of Australia announced that it had reached in-principle agreement to join the National Redress Scheme established by the Commonwealth Government.

The Church’s General Synod Standing Committee called on its dioceses, schools and agencies to join the Scheme.

An independent, incorporated entity will provide a single point of engagement with the Scheme and enable Anglican entities to join as part of a national group.

In committing to participation in the National Redress Scheme, the Standing Committee:

• recognised the importance of this Scheme to enable survivors to seek justice including redress for the hurt and trauma of child sexual abuse that has occurred in Anglican institutions;
• continued to express its sorrow and grief at the failure of the Anglican Church of Australia to protect children under its care;
• continued to call on the Commonwealth Government and the Australian Parliament to ensure that the administrative arrangements and assessment framework of the Scheme are just, with a survivor focus;
• re-iterated its commitment to ensure the best outcomes for survivors through the design of the Scheme, reflecting as fully as possible the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

Anglican Participation

All 23 dioceses in the Anglican Church of Australia are participating institutions in the National Redress Scheme. The majority of Anglican schools and agencies have also joined the scheme. On 4 December 2018 the Minister for Social Services declared Anglican Representative (National Redress Scheme) Limited (ARNRSL) as the representative entity of the Anglican Participating Group, which comprises the institutions listed here for the purposes of the National Redress Scheme. This list is updated as new Anglican entities are declared as participating institutions.

What is the National Redress Scheme?

The National Redress Scheme provides acknowledgement and support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

It was created in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which estimated that 60,000 people experienced institutional child sexual abuse in Australia.

Redress is an alternative to seeking compensation through the courts.

The National Redress Scheme can provide three things:

• access to counselling;
• a payment; and
• a direct personal response from the institution (e.g. an apology) for people who want it.

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

The Anglican Church of Australia has committed to join the Scheme. This means people who were abused in the care of the Anglican Church can apply to the Scheme for redress.

People can apply now using an online or paper form.

Free and confidential Redress Support Services are available throughout the process.

They can help explain the Scheme and who can apply.

For more information, visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call the National Redress Scheme line on 1800 737 377.

Making an Application

For information about applying to National Redress Scheme visit the Department of Social Services National Redress Scheme website.