The information below is about the National Redress Scheme. Reading this information or remembering events of the past may be distressing to you. If at any time you would like to talk to a professional with experience in trauma counselling please contact the free and confidential counselling services we have listed in our Counselling Services pages.
What is the National redress Scheme?
The National Redress Scheme was created in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Royal Commission listened to thousands of people about the abuse they experienced as children in orphanages, children’s homes, schools, churches and other religious organisations, sports clubs, hospitals, foster care and other institutions.
The Scheme
- acknowledges that many children were sexually abused in Australian institutions
- recognises the suffering they endured because of this abuse
- holds institutions accountable for this abuse, and
- helps people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse gain access to counselling, a direct personal response, and a Redress payment of up to $150,000.
The Scheme started on 1 July 2018 and will run for 10 years.
Recommendations made by the Royal Commission Final Report by the Royal Commission
ADACAS can help you apply to the scheme
ADACAS is able to help Canberra and South Coast region residents apply to the Redress Scheme. We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who wish to make an application and are happy to accommodate requests for an Aboriginal member of our team to provide this support. 
We will use trauma informed practices to help you with your application. We will discuss your options with you and help you to write a personal statement that details the abuse, and how this has impacted on your life.
If you wish, we can also act as your contact with the Scheme.
Our Privacy Policy requires us to respect and protect the personal information you give us. We will only share information you tell us with someone else if you give us consent to share that information.
Make a referral for ADACAS to help you or someone you know with an application
You can contact us by either ringing or emailing us, or make a self-referral using the button below. After you have contacted us our Redress Team will then contact you by telephone and arrange to meet with you either in our office or another place you choose.
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