Easy read summary
This summary is about what our report says.
We wrote this report when we finished our inquiry.
Our inquiry talked about:
- What people think about the National Redress Scheme
- What the National Redress Scheme can do better.
This report explains:
- What we learned about redress
- Our recommendations (ideas for change).
You should talk to someone you trust if you:
- Become upset.
- Need help to read this report.
Who wrote this report?
We are a group of politicians from the Australian parliament.
This group is called a committee.
Our job is to tell everyone at the parliament about redress.
What is this report about?
To write this report, we spoke to lots of different people to learn about what they think about the National Redress Scheme.
The National Redress Scheme provides money and support to people who experienced child sexual abuse in Australian institutions.
Institutions can mean places like schools, churches, orphanages or sporting clubs.
The National Redress Scheme started because a royal commission said that the abuse should be redressed.
- Thousands of people have asked for redress.
- Redress could include paying money, an apology from the responsible institution and support such as counselling.
- The National Redress Scheme will stop accepting new redress applications in June 2027.
- Some people might miss out on redress if they ask for redress after it closes.
Talking about child sexual abuse and bad things that happened can be hard to do.
- Many people can find it hard to understand redress and how to get different redress.
- There are things that the National Redress Scheme should do better.
- Many people need help with redress.
- Support services are very busy.
What things should change?
We have ideas that we think will help improve the way the National Redress Scheme works. Some of our recommendations include:
1People should have more time to ask for redress. We think that 2027 is too soon to stop accepting redress applications.
2The National Redress Scheme has lots of work to do and limited time.
3Making a redress application should be a more flexible and easier to do.
4People need clearer information so that they can
- Better understand how redress works
- Better understand the reasons for redress decisions.
5Making more people aware of redress, with ads on TV, the internet or radio.
6Making it easier for people to ask for their redress decision to be looked at again if they think what they are offered is not right.
7Making it easier for people to get advice from lawyers and other help from support services.
8More work to improve consistency with redress decisions.
9Redress should be fair for everyone who asks for redress.
Support services
Some places offer free support to anyone who needs it.
Counselling support is when you:
- Talk to someone about how you think and feel
- Talk about ways to help you feel better.
You can call these places and talk to someone at any time.
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
13YARN: 13 92 76
Getting help with your redress
We cannot:
- Give you redress
- Answer questions about your redress.
If you have questions, you can contact the National Redress Scheme.
knowmore Legal Service can also help.