Another 130 institutions have signed up to the National Redress Scheme including three named in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Institutions named in either the Royal Commission or applications to the Scheme must provide a clear written statement with their intent to join no later than 30 June 2020.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston thanked the institutions which have now joined the Scheme for their commitment to ensure survivors had access to the redress they absolutely deserve.
“As the deadline looms the time for institutions to act is now. The Government expects any institution with a history of working with children to join to make sure all survivors who come forward can access the Scheme,” Minister Ruston said.
“It is unacceptable that applications for redress remain on hold because survivors have named institutions that have not yet completed the necessary steps to join the Scheme.
“I have warned institutions that failure to fulfil their moral obligation to join the Scheme will have consequences including financial sanctions as well as being publicly named on 1 July.”
Of the institutions which recently joined the Scheme, the Sisters of Mercy (North Sydney), the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers were named in the Royal Commission.
To date the Commonwealth, all state and territory governments and 222 non-government institutions covering more than 50,960 sites such as churches, schools, homes, charities and community groups across Australia are participating.
As at 12 June 2020, the Scheme has received a total of 7133 applications, 2501 payments have been made totalling almost $202 million and 623 further redress offers are awaiting an applicant’s decision.
Minister Ruston also thanked the New South Wales Government for agreeing to be a funder of last resort for Inasmuch Children’s Home.
@Anne_Ruston
/AnneRuston