The National Redress Scheme
PrintThe Congregation of the Sisters of Charity has joined the National Redress Scheme which provides acknowledgement and support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
It was created in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which estimated that 60,000 people experienced institutional child sexual abuse in Australia.
Redress is an alternative to seeking compensation through the courts.
The National Redress Scheme can provide three things:
- Access to counselling
- A payment; and
- A direct personal response from the institution (eg: an apology) for people who want it.
The scheme started on July 1, 2018 and will run for 10 years.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity has joined the scheme as a participating non-government institution. This means that people who were abused in the care of the Sisters of Charity can apply to the Scheme for redress.
People can apply now using an online or paper form.
Free and confidential Redress Support Services are available throughout the process. They can help explain the scheme and who can apply.
For more information, visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call the National Redress Scheme line on 1 800 737 377.
DIRECT PERSONAL RESPONSE
If you have accepted an offer of Redress and would like to receive a Direct Personal Response from the Sisters of Charity of Australia, please email redress@rscoffice.com and include your phone number in the email if you would like us to ring you.
A Direct Personal Response from the Sisters of Charity will be offered by the Congregational Leader. It might be a face-to-face meeting in a convenient location or a written response. The choice is yours to make.
In response to a request, the Congregation’s contact person will liaise with you about what sort of Direct Personal Response you prefer. If you choose to meet with the Congregational Leader, we will appoint an independent facilitator who will work with you to make arrangements which suit you. You, and a support person if you want one, would attend the meeting with the facilitator and the Sister and we would meet all reasonable costs for this meeting.
If you prefer a written response (no meeting) we will ask what you would like included and where to post it. We will send it within 3 weeks of your request.
If you have questions about your eligibility for the National Redress Scheme, or about how it works, please contact the Scheme on 1800 737 377.