National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme (External link) (the Scheme) provides support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse to gain access to redress.

The Scheme was established in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (External link) for people who were sexually abused as children in institutional settings before 1 July 2018.

The Scheme acknowledges that many children were sexually abused in Australian institutions and seeks to hold institutions to account. 

The Scheme can provide:

• a monetary payment
• access to psychological counselling
• a direct personal response – such as an apology from the responsible institution (or institutions).

The Scheme started on 1 July 2018 and will run for 10 years. The Commonwealth Government runs the Scheme.

Independent Decision Makers consider applications for redress. These decision makers are independent from both the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth Government officials who administer the Scheme.

Victoria's role in the Scheme

The Victorian Government has joined the National Redress Scheme. This means people who experienced child sexual abuse while in the care of a Victorian Government institution may be eligible for redress under the Scheme.

Victoria also provides counselling for people who have accepted a redress offer and lived in Victoria when they applied to the Scheme. More information about these services is available on the Restore website (External link).

Participation in the Scheme is an important part of ensuring that people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse receive the recognition, respect and support they deserve.

More information about the National Redress Scheme, including who can apply for redress and how to apply, is available via the National Redress Scheme Information Line on 1800 737 377 and the National Redress Scheme website (External link).

How information is collected and shared

Applicants to the Scheme are required to provide their personal information to the Commonwealth Department of Social Services (External link) (the Scheme Operator), for the purposes of assessing their application. This can include, personal information (name and date of birth), details of the abuse, the name of the institution and details of the alleged abuser (if known), and any relevant supporting material submitted with the application.

Where a Victorian Government institution may be responsible for the abuse, the information will be provided to the Victorian Government. This information will be used to provide information to the Scheme about the abuse, to assist the Scheme Operator to determine an applicant’s redress application. The information may be provided to the relevant Victorian Government department or Victorian Government entity for a response.

The Victorian Government may also provide information about the abuse to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (External link) so they can check records  for any relevant prior payments made to an applicant.

Information may also be shared with Victoria Police or internal review processes in circumstances where the application indicates potential risk to the safety and wellbeing of a child.

Security of Information

The use of the information is protected under legislation and can only be used for the purposes of the Scheme. Significant penalties apply, including imprisonment, for unauthorised disclosure of protected information. More information about how the information is protected is on the Scheme website (External link).

All information will be stored securely and handled by the Victorian Government in accordance with the requirements under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).

Applications are exempt from release under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).

For further information about the handling of personal information please contact:

Information and Privacy Unit
Department of Justice and Community Safety
GPO Box 4356
Melbourne VIC 3001
Tel: 03 8684 0178

Email: privacy@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)

Information for institutions

The Victorian Government expects that institutions that are named in applications for redress will join the Scheme, provided that the institution can fulfil its obligations under the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018, so that survivors can gain access to redress.

In March 2020, the Victorian Government determined that any institution named in a redress application, and which is assessed as eligible to join the Scheme by the Scheme Operator, must join the Scheme as a condition of receiving Victorian Government funding.

Please read the Victorian Government Policy on Institutional Participation in the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.