Knowmore has made a submission to a major inquiry into the National Redress Scheme for victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
Our submission highlights the growing pressure on the National Redress Scheme, as we approach the deadline for applications in less than 18 months’ time (on 30 June 2027) and the end of the redress scheme a year later (on 1 July 2028).
Victims, survivors and support services face an uncertain future, with little publicly available information about how the National Redress Scheme will end, or what redress and justice-making options will be available for victims and survivors after the end of the redress scheme.
Knowmore is advocating for the Australian Government to immediately prioritise planning for the deadline for redress applications and the end of the National Redress Scheme. This planning should:
- take place via a transparent process
- be in partnership with victims, survivors and support services, including Knowmore and Redress Support Services
- be communicated in a way that is survivor-focused, trauma-informed and culturally safe.
As part of this planning, the Australian Government must ensure that victims and survivors have ongoing access to meaningful redress and justice-making options. This must include ongoing funding for Knowmore and Redress Support Services to provide the legal and related support needed to effectively navigate redress and justice-making options.
Child sexual abuse remains a widespread problem in Australian society, including in Australian institutions. We particularly note the systemic failure to protect young children from sexual abuse in early childhood education and care centres, highlighted by recent media reports and inquiries. Children who experience abuse today are not eligible for the National Redress Scheme.
The Australian Parliament is considering these issues as part of a major inquiry into the National Redress Scheme. Read Knowmore’s written submission here.
Knowmore continues to advocate for meaningful redress and justice-making options for all victims and survivors of child abuse.