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National Redress Scheme

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National Redress Scheme

Support lines

This resource talks about the National Redress Scheme, and experiences of child sexual abuse. Please take care when using this resource.

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

If you need to talk to someone, please contact one of the following support lines (24hr unless otherwise specified).

Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578 or 1800 211 028

MensLine: 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Suicide Line: 1300 651 251

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Lifeline: 13 11 14

13YARN (First Nations people): 13 92 76

Blue Knot (complex trauma, 9am-5pm AEST/AEDT, 7 days a week): call 1300 657 380 and press 1

Rainbow Door (LGBTQIA+ communities, 10am – 5pm AEST/AEDT, 7 days per week, excluding public holidays) call 1800 729 367 or SMS 0480 017 246.

Important dates

  • Applications for the National Redress Scheme are open until 30 June 2027.
  • The National Redress Scheme is scheduled to end on 1 July 2028.
  • Current estimated wait time: 18 – 26 months

You can read more about eligibility and how to apply below.

What is the National Redress Scheme?

The National Redress Scheme (NRS) is a redress scheme for people who were sexually abused in institutional settings while under the age of 18 and before 1 July 2018.

It acknowledges institutional child sexual abuse in Australia, holds institutions responsible and provides support and reparation to survivors.

What is child sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse is when someone under the age of 18 is exposed to or involved in sexual activities they don’t understand and do not or cannot consent to. This includes:

  • Sexual acts done by an adult of any gender, to a child of any gender
  • Sex of any kind with a child
  • Sexual touching of a child
    • This can be clothed or unclothed
    • This can include touching with an object
  • Exposing a child to sexual activity or materials
    • This includes a child being exposed to sexual acts or being made to view pornographic material.
  • Sexually indecent exposure to a child or of a child
    • This includes being tricked or forced into showing your private parts; or an adult showing you their genitals.
  • Manipulating, preparing or encouraging (grooming) a child to engage in sexual behavior
  • Persuading or forcing a child to engage in sexual behavior

Child sexual abuse is always wrong, and it is never the child’s fault.

Eligibility

  • You must be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident.
    • If you are a former child migrant, you may be exempted from this requirement. Former child migrants who are now living overseas are still able to apply for NRS.
  • You must be aged 18 or over by the end of the scheme on 30 June 2028.
  • You experienced sexual abuse in an institutional setting.
    • This happened before 1 July 2018.
    • This happened while you were under the age of 18.
  • You must apply before 30 June 2027.
Examples of institutions

Examples of institutions may include:

  • Schools
  • Sport, hobby, or community clubs
  • Camps
  • Religious organisations
  • Charities
  • Welfare-related services
  • Daycare
  • Places where children volunteer
  • Children’s homes and orphanages
  • Missions
  • Group cottages
  • Dormitories
  • Disability, medical or mental health facilities
  • Youth justice facilities
  • Foster care
  • Kinship care (for example, legally fostered by a relative)
  • Any placement you were in because you were made a ward of the state

Important to note

  • If you were in kinship or foster care, it needs to have been agreed to or arranged by the state.

If you experienced physical abuse, emotional/psychological abuse and/or neglect while you were in ‘care’ in Victoria you can apply for the Victorian Redress Scheme (VRS).

  • If you think you are eligible for both, apply for VRS first.

Incarceration

Eligibility may be affected if you have been sentenced to prison for more than 5 years for a single offence.

You may be be required to undergo a special assessment process. You can call the redress support line on 1800 737 377 to discuss this, or contact a service like Knowmore.

Outcomes

Potential Redress Outcomes

  • A payment of up to $150,000
  • 20 counselling sessions (which can be used with a provider of your choice, or used for psychiatric assessment)
  • A personal, formal acknowledgement

You can choose which outcomes you accept or decline.

How are outcomes decided?

An independent decision-maker will assess your application and provide an offer. The offer is based on the institution’s responsibility for the abuse and the severity of the abuse.

Responsibility

The scheme will assess the institution’s responsibility for the abuse. Responsibility may look like:

  • A child coming into contact with the abuser because of the institution (for example, a child’s school and a teacher; a child’s basketball team and a coach; a child’s local church and a priest)
  • The abuse occurring while at the institution or under the care of the institution (for example, a school, camp, orphanage or church).
Examples of institutions

Examples of institutions may include:

  • Schools
  • Sport, hobby, or community clubs
  • Camps
  • Religious organisations
  • Charities
  • Welfare-related services
  • Daycare
  • Places where children volunteer
  • Children’s homes and orphanages
  • Missions
  • Group cottages
  • Dormitories
  • Disability, medical or mental health facilities
  • Youth justice facilities
  • Foster care
  • Kinship care (for example, legally fostered by a relative)
  • Any placement you were in because you were made a ward of the state

Important to note

  • If you were in kinship or foster care, it needs to have been agreed to or arranged by the state

You can search the NRS website for institutions that have formally registered with the scheme.

  • This means that the institution has previously been named in an application, and has agreed to co-operate with the NRS.
  • If the institution is not on the list, they may still be in the process of signing up, or they may not have registered yet.
    • The NRS will prompt them to register when they receive your application.
    • If they don’t register, they will be publicly named on the NRS website, will be unable to receive government grants, and may lose their charitable status.
  • If the institution no longer exists, you can still apply.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is of upmost importance to the scheme.

  • Your application or information will not be provided to the abuser.
  • Your name, date of birth, and some information about the abuse will be provided to the institution to verify your claim.
    • The institution is legally required to keep all information confidential and use it only to assess your claim.
  • The abuse will not be reported to police unless there is reason to believe children may be at risk today, such as if the abuser currently works with children.
    • If this is a concern, the NRS will speak to you before they make this report, and your information does not have to be included.

National Redress vs Civil Claim?

Accepting an NRS offer means you give up your right to pursue a civil claim against the institution or institutions involved in the abuse.

Civil Claims

  • A civil claim is a legal compensation claim for abuse that occurred under the care of an institution. You can also directly claim against the abuser.
  • There is no limit on the compensation available, and people with successful civil claims often receive far more substantial outcomes.
  • You will need to engage with a civil lawyer.
    • Several work on a “no win, no fee” basis, and Knowmore can refer you directly.
    • Getting a lawyer who has already been vetted by Knowmore is the best way to avoid hidden fees.
  • Many claims are settled outside of court, but many do go to court.
  • The timeframe is similar to NRS – often around 2 years.
  • Many people choose not to go civil because of the psychological burden and re-traumatisation involved in the process – there is much more evidence gathering involved.

To find out more about making a civil claim for institutional abuse, contact Knowmore on 1800 605 762

NRS

  • The scheme provides recognition for institutional sexual abuse specifically.
  • The payment is capped at $150,000.
    • The amount offered is decided by the scheme, and the highest amount is rarely offered.
  • Free counselling and a personal apology from the institution are also offered.
  • You will not have to go to court, or engage a lawyer
  • The information requested is limited in comparison to a civil claim

Finances

  • They can talk you through what a payment from the NRS might mean for you in terms of Centrelink, My Aged Care, tax, and social housing.
  • They can also help if you have concerns about financial abuse, or if you have bills or debts you’re worried about.
  • You don’t have to speak with one of their lawyers to access their financial counseling service.
 
Generally speaking:
  • Payments from the NRS are exempt, which means they generally do not count as income or assets, and cannot be used to reduce your Centrelink payments.
  • If you put your NRS payment into an account that earns interest, Centrelink can count that interest as income and reduce your payments.
    • Many people chose to place their NRS funds into a no-interest account for this reason.
    • It is best to provide Centrelink with a statement of your NRS payment, along with information about any interest earned, straight away.
  • NRS payments cannot be considered assets when moving into residential aged care, but they may impact aged care supports at home.
  • NRS payments are also exempt from Centrelink debt recovery.
  • If you live in public or social housing, an NRS payment might mean that you have to pay more in rent.

You can read more about NRS payments and things you might need to know here.

Why use a Redress support service to apply?

Some people feel that working with a support service for NRS is not necessary. Here are some reasons it can be helpful:

  • Redress support workers have usually seen many redress applications through from beginning to end.
    • They know the process well, can offer advice and answer questions.
  • They are familiar with the assessment criteria and usual outcomes
    • They know what information is useful to include and to highlight.
      • Something you may not even have considered as worth including, or even as ‘counting’ as experience of neglect or abuse, might be really  valuable to include.
    • They will know if you are offered an outcome that is lower than usual, and can advocate for a different one.
  • They can help make sure all required identity documents and information are included in the first instance.
    • This minimises your contact with the scheme.
  • With your permission, they can be the main contact for the scheme.
    • This means that the scheme can contact them with questions and they can check the status of your application on your behalf.
  • The process can be emotionally overwhelming.
    • Having someone in your corner to talk it through with can make it less scary.
    • They can connect you with external supports to help support you with the emotional weight of the application.

Sometimes people feel that they shouldn’t use a support service because it is ‘taking resources from people who need them more’.

  • Most people feel like this! And if no one uses the support services, they won’t exist.
  • Everyone deserves to access the scheme and everyone deserves the support.

National Redress Support services

These services are free and will not ask you to pay for their support.

If anyone asks for payment to help you apply to the scheme please contact the National Redress Scheme on 1800 737 377 or Know More on 1800 605 762.

NRS support services in Victoria
  • Windermere – 1300 946 337
  • Blue Knot – 1300 657 380
  • National Survivors Foundation – 1300 12 44 33
  • Beyond Brave – 1800 272 831 or (07) 5552 3000
  • Drummond Street Services – (03) 9663 6733
  • Relationships Australia Victoria – 1800 052 674
  • Full Stop – 1800 211 028
  • Connecting Home – (03) 8679 0777

Important information to include

Recounting traumatic experiences is very difficult, and it can often be re-traumatising.

Engaging with a support service can help reduce retraumatisation and make sure the necessary information is provided in the first instance, so that you don’t have to recount anything further.

If you choose not to use a support service, here is some guidance:

  • Name the institution involved
    • If you don’t remember the name of the institution, that’s okay – that’s not uncommon.
    • The NRS team can use any information you do remember to try to locate the institution. This might include:
      • any non-official names or nicknames you knew the institution (or part of the institution you were in) by
      • the address, general location and/or area it was in
      • any landmarks located near buildings
      • why you were there and what the institution’s role was in the community 
  • Explain how you came into contact with the institution
    • For example, you might have attended an extra-curricular class there.
      • Additional details – like who enrolled you, how the class was paid for, how you got to and from the class, and so on – can be helpful to include.
  • Provide information about the abuser/s.
    • If you know their name, include it – but it is okay if you don’t.
    • Description of their appearance, and anything else you remember about them.
  • Explain how you came into contact with the abuser through the institution
    • For example, if they were a teacher, security personnel, or another child at the institution.
  • Provide as much specific detail as you can about what happened during the abuse.
  • If you can, write about how this experience impacted you then and, if it does, how it still affects you.
  • If other forms of abuse took place at the institution, like neglect, non-sexual physical abuse and or emotional abuse, you can include some information about that if you are comfortable doing so.
    • It is not required if you do not feel comfortable doing so.
  • You do not need to provide reports or physical evidence.
    • You can provide supporting documents if you would like, and if you have them, but it is not required.

If more information is needed the scheme will reach out to you and let you know.

Application

There are six main parts to the application:

  • basic information about you
    • your name, date of birth, your contact details
    • your eligibility for the NRS
    • documents to confirm your identity
  • your experience of abuse
  • how the abuse has impacted you
  • information to help the redress team locate the institution and decide who is responsible
    • information about the institution
    • information about when the abuse happened
    • information about the person or people who abused you
    • information about your circumstances when the abuse happened (such as disability, if you were a child migrant and/or ward of the state)
  • additional information to help the redress team decide your outcome (if you have received any prior payments relating to your time in care)
  • submission
    • You can either post a physical application to the NRS, or submit through MyGov.
    • After you have submitted, you will be able to log in to the portal and see which stage your application has reached.
    • The current estimated wait time is 18 to 26 months.
If you are planning to apply without using a support service, you can refer to the NRS application pack, which explains each part of the application, as well as some of the resources below.

Resources

People with Disability Australia recorded a webinar about the NRS in 2025. The webinar is Auslan interpreted, and has closed captions.

The webinar covers:

  • overview of the National Redress Scheme
  • applying for redress
  • redress outcomes available
  • support for people with disability
  • application process and length of time
  • barriers for people applying for redress
  • records and information required
  • legal assistance
  • appealing a decision
  • reporting abuse

Auslan resources

You can find the NRS Auslan videos here.

This includes:

Easy Read resources

You can find the NRS Easy Read resources here.

This includes:

National Redress Scheme - key contacts

  • Phone: 1800 737 377
    • Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, excluding public holidays
      • Select 1 for general enquiries
      • Select 2 to enquire about a submitted application
    • For interpreters, call through TIS on 131 450, then then provide the 1300 737 377 number.
    • For National Relay, contact through your preferred channel then provide the 1300 737 377 number.
  • Free legal support for NRS: Contact Knowmore.

Feedback

Redress is a form of reparations, and acknowledgement of the things that were done to you.

If any part of the application or outcome process is upsetting, confusing, or re-traumatising, it can be valuable to give feedback to NRS or to the Department of Social Services. DSS can use this feedback to improve the redress schemes, and when it designs similar schemes in the future.

Your experience is important.