The Australian National Redress Scheme (the NRS) published updated statistics earlier this week. 

The statistics highlight a familiar story for the NRS, that there are still significant delays in processing applications to final determinations/outcomes.

In addition to processing delays, the NRS still faces ongoing criticism from victims and survivors that it only provides redress in relation to child sexual abuse and the impact of same.

As of 31 January 2025, there have been 55,740 applications to the Scheme.

  • 21,071 applicants have had their outcomes advised. Of these 17,810 payments have been made totalling approximately AUS$1.59 billion dollars
  • 2,516 have been withdrawn by the applicant
  • 32,153 applications are yet to receive an outcome. Of which
    • 20,673 applications are actionable by the Scheme.
  • 4,152 applications are being validated with the initial contact being made
  • 12,207 applications are in the information gathering stage
  • 3,807 applications are with an IDM for a determination
  • 507 applications are being prepared for delivery of the outcome
  • 4,580 applications are unable to be actioned by the Scheme. Of these, 
    • 3,012 are awaiting the applicant to provide additional information
    • 1,568 are undergoing a special assessment for serious criminal conviction/applying from goal
  • 6,900 applications are on hold.

Victorian Redress Scheme for Historical Institutional Abuse

On 12 October 2022, the former Victorian Premier announced that the Victorian Government would develop a separate redress scheme to recognize the trauma and provide redress for people who experienced physical, psychological, or emotional abuse and neglect as a child in institutional settings before 1990.

Before 1990, more than 90,000 children were placed in institutional care in Victoria. The Victorian Government accept that many children experienced harm, and carry that trauma and grief with them as adults, at times leading to poverty and homelessness

The Victorian Budget 2024/25 allocated AUS$165 million for redress after the formal apology in Parliament in February 2024 by the Premier.

The Victorian Redress Scheme for Historical Institutional Abuse (Victorian Redress) began accepting applications on 10 December 2024 and will operate for 18 months. It is open to people who:

  • lived as a child (before the age of 18) in a Victorian institution for at least six months (in total) before 1 January 1990
  • experienced physical, psychological, or emotional abuse or neglect in the Victorian institution
  • the institution or organisation responsible for the abuse has joined the scheme
  • the person applying is an Australian citizen or permanent resident

Under the Victorian Redress Scheme, people found eligible will be offered: 

  • a payment up to AUS$20,000,
  • a personal apology – in person or in writing, 
  • up to 20 funded counselling sessions.

Applications for payment will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, reflecting the severity and impact of the abuse experienced. A payment from the Victorian Redress Scheme can be considered a ‘relevant prior payment’ by the NRS and may reduce any award of redress made by the NRS in some circumstances. Applicants will still be able to apply to the NRS even if they have received Victorian Redress.