Senator Dean Smith, Chair of the Joint Select Committee on the Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, tabled the Committee’s Second Interim Report today.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Senator Dean Smith, Chair of the Joint Select Committee on the Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, tabled the Committee’s Second Interim Report today. The Second Interim Report builds on the Committee’s earlier findings and highlights the need for continued reform of the National Redress Scheme (NRS) to ensure no further harm is done to survivors of institutional child sex abuse. The Second Interim Report makes 21 recommendations reflecting widely expressed concerns by stakeholders, including survivors, redress support services, advocates, the Department of Social Services and the Independent Reviewer, Ms Robyn Kruk AO. The Second Interim Report recommends that the NRS acts immediately to ensure every aspect, including community education material, is culturally informed and accessible to people with a disability and care leavers. Critically, the Committee recommends that key operational aspects of the NRS, including eligibility limitations, the assessment framework, the application of indexation, application review processes, direct personal responses, funder of last resort limitations, and the current cap on payments, be reconsidered to ensure procedural fairness. The Committee has also recommended that more be done to prevent the exploitation of survivors by some law firms and survivor advocacy businesses through legal reform. The Committee urges all named institutions and governments to work together to continue NRS reform. The Committee sincerely appreciates the contributions made by survivors to the inquiry. We believe you. Media enquiries: Please contact Tait Marston at the Office of Senator Dean Smith on 02 6277 3404. For background information:  Joint Select Committee on the Implementation of the National Redress Scheme. 02 6277 4549 or redress@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site you can get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold a public hearing on Monday, 11 October 2021.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 7 October 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold a public hearing on Monday, 11 October 2021. The Committee has invited redress support services in South Australia and the Northern Territory to provide their perspectives on the operation of the National Redress Scheme and recommendations contained in the second anniversary review. The Committee will also speak with survivors from a range of institutions, including Kenja Communications, which has refused to join the National Redress Scheme. ‘The Committee has widely consulted over the past 18 months to ensure that it understands the complexities faced by survivors and redress support services’, said Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith. ‘This is essential to the Committee making informed and targeted recommendations for reform.’ Public hearing program Date: Monday, 11 October 2021 Time: 1.00 pm–3.30pm AEDT Location: Teleconference The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live and public hearing programs will be available at the Committee website prior to the hearing. For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4549 redress@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site you can get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold a public hearing on Thursday, 11 March 2021.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 10 March 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold a public hearing on Thursday, 11 March 2021. The Committee will hear from Redress Support Services and an institutional child sexual abuse survivor. Among other things, the Committee wants to better understand how Redress Support Services are engaging with the National Redress Scheme across Australia and what can be done to improve survivor engagement with the Scheme. ‘Redress Support Services across Australia must walk alongside survivors,’ said Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith. ‘The Committee wants to learn from Redress Support Services about how the Scheme can better respond to survivor needs, and what steps the National Redress Scheme can take to increase participation in the Scheme’. Public hearing program Date: Thursday, 11 March 2021 Time: 11 am–2.10 pm AEDT Location: Teleconference The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live and public hearing programs will be available at the Committee website prior to the hearing. Background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4549 redress@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site you can get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold its first public hearing for 2021 on Friday.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 21 January 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold its first public hearing for 2021 on Friday. The Committee will hear from representatives of the Department of Social Services. This public hearing will focus on matters associated with the operation of the National Redress Scheme and its ongoing support of survivors, as well as the Government’s recent National Redress Scheme December 31 Deadline Update. As at 1 January 2021, the Scheme has received a total of 9,117 applications, 4,530 payments have been made totalling about $377 million and a further 540 offers are awaiting an applicant’s decision. Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith noted that the Government’s recent figures were very encouraging, but more needed to be done. “We are still faced with several survivor groups that are being blocked from, or under-utilising, the redress owed to them – these must have the Committee’s urgent attention,” Senator Smith said. Ends. Public hearing program Date: Friday, 22 January 2021 Time: 12 noon – 1.20pm AEDT Location: Videoconference The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live and public hearing programs will be available at the Committee website prior to the hearing. For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4549 redress@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site you can get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme has agreed to the next stage of its ongoing inquiry and second interim report.

Media release issue date: Monday, 3 August 2020

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme has agreed that the next stage of its ongoing inquiry and second interim report will give close examination to the following areas: Ongoing survivor experience; Operation of the National Redress Scheme, including decision-making frameworks and processes; Provision of legal advice to survivors; Survivor and institution participation in the scheme; and Responses from jurisdictions and others to the Committee’s first interim report. Further detail on each focus area is available on the Committee website. The Committee is currently receiving submissions to inform the second interim report and anticipates that public hearings will take place in September 2020. A program of public hearings will be made available in due course from the website. The Committee is aware that its inquiry work will be taking place at the same time as the legislated two year anniversary review of the National Redress Scheme currently being supported by the Department of Social Services. The Committee wishes to clarify that the two processes are separate, the legislated two year anniversary review will report to government, and this Joint Parliamentary Committee will continue to report to the Parliament. The Committee wishes to assure survivors who participate or contribute to the second interim report that all requests for confidentiality will be respected.   For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4549 redress@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site you can get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.  

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will continue with its scheduled public hearings scheduled for Monday 6 April and Wednesday 15 April via teleconference.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 2 April 2020

Public hearing program The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will continue with its scheduled public hearings scheduled for Monday 6 April and Wednesday 15 April via teleconference. The programs for these public hearings will be available on the Committee’s website prior to each hearing. The full proceedings of these hearings will be broadcast on the Parliament House website. Anyone interesting in listening can do so via aph.gov.au/live. Date: Monday 6 April 2020 Time: 12.00 pm to 4.15 pm (AEST) Location: via teleconference Date: Wednesday 15 April 2020 Time: TBC Location: via teleconference Interim Report The Committee intends to produce an interim report on or by 30 April 2020. This report will reflect the evidence received so far by the Committee. It is the Committee’s intention that the report will inform the legislated second anniversary review of the National Redress Scheme which is to commence after 30 June 2020. The Committee is still accepting submissions and these can be made via the Committee’s website. For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4549 redress@aph.gov.au

In light of recent circumstances, the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will now be holding its public hearings scheduled for Thursday 19 March in Melbourne and Friday 20 March in Ballarat, via teleconference.

Media release issue date: Monday, 16 March 2020

In light of recent circumstances, the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will now be holding its public hearings scheduled for Thursday 19 March in Melbourne and Friday 20 March in Ballarat, via teleconference. The Committee will hear from survivors about their experiences of the process of applying to the National Redress Scheme. The Department of Social Services will also make its second appearance before the Committee to discuss its implementation of the Scheme. The full proceedings of these hearings will be broadcast on the Parliament House website. Anyone interesting in listening can do so via www.aph.gov.au/live. Public hearing program Date: Thursday 19 March 2020 Time: 9.30am to 4.45pm Location: via teleconference Date: Friday 20 March 2020 Time: 9.30 am to 1.30 pm Location: via teleconference The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4549 redress@aph.gov.au

Representatives from the Department of Social Services will discuss the National Redress Scheme at a public hearing for the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme this Wednesday.

Media release issue date: Monday, 24 February 2020

Representatives from the Department of Social Services will discuss the National Redress Scheme at a public hearing for the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme this Wednesday. The National Redress Scheme is a vital part of the response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It is critical that the Committee is fully briefed on all aspects of the scheme, including institutions who have and haven’t joined and time taken to reach a decision on a redress payment. The Committee is particularly interested in hearing more about the process of applying to the National Redress Scheme, and the steps that have been taken to make the process easier for survivors. The Committee has been established to inquire into and report on: the Australian Government policy, program and legal response to the redress related recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, including the establishment and operation of the Commonwealth Redress Scheme and ongoing support of survivors; and any matter in relation to the Royal Commission's redress related recommendations referred to the committee by a resolution of either House of the Parliament. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2020 Time: 12.45 pm to 2.00 pm Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4549 redress@aph.gov.au

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will begin its inquiry program into the implementation of the National Redress Scheme with a series of public hearings in locations around Australia.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 13 February 2020

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will begin its inquiry program into the implementation of the National Redress Scheme with a series of public hearings in locations around Australia. The Committee has been established by a resolution of both houses to inquire into and report on the Australian Government’s responses to the redress related recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, including the National Redress Scheme and ongoing support of survivors. Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said hearing from survivors and those who are navigating the process of applying to the National Redress Scheme will be a key focus for the Committee in starting its consideration. “The hearings will provide a range of opportunities for survivors to tell the Committee, in their own words, what is working and what is not with the National Redress Scheme,” Senator Smith said “as well as any other issues that they would like to tell the Committee.” ‘We invite those who would like to appear to contact the Committee at redress@aph.gov.au to register their interest.’ Senator Smith said. For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website and get details on the public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page. Public hearing program 19 March 2020 – Melbourne 30 March 2020 – Sydney 31 March 2020 – Newcastle 6-7 April 2020 – Brisbane 15-16 April 2020 – Perth Further details of hearings, including in regional locations, will be available from the Committee’s website when determined by the Committee. For background information Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 4549 or email redress@aph.gov.au