Support if you experienced institutional child sexual abuse
The National Redress Scheme is for people who experienced child sexual abuse while in an institution. ACT Government institutions are part of the Redress Scheme.
About the National Redress Scheme
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse made recommendations to strengthen prevention and survivor support. The National Redress Scheme is a response to these recommendations.
The scheme provides support and acknowledgement to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse prior to 1 July 2018.
The scheme gives eligible survivors redress in 3 ways:
- access to counselling
- a payment of money (redress payment)
- a direct personal response (such as an apology) from the responsible institution.
Who can apply for redress
If you experienced child sexual abuse when in the care of an institution, or when an institution was meant to be looking after you, you might be eligible for redress under the scheme.
Applying for redress through the scheme is an alternative to seeking compensation through the courts.
What the redress scheme offers
The National Redress Scheme gives eligible people redress in 3 ways:
- access to counselling
- a payment of money
- a direct personal response (such as an apology) from the responsible institution.
How to apply for redress
To access redress from the scheme, you need to apply before 30 June 2027.
Find out how to apply for redress on the National Redress Scheme website.
Get support to apply
To apply for redress, you will need to talk or write about what happened when you were sexually abused.
Redress Support Services can help you fill in your application and provide you with practical and emotional support during the process. Redress Support Services are free and confidential.
You can access Redress Support Services on the National Redress Scheme website.