Inquiry into the continuing operation of the National Redress Scheme
Submission Date: 6 February 2026
The Law Council of Australia provided a submission to contribute to the Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme’s inquiry into the continuing operation of the National Redress Scheme.
The Redress Scheme was established on 1 July 2018 in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission) to provide support for those who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.1 Pursuant to section 193 of the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 (Cth), the Redress Scheme is scheduled to end on 30 June 2028.
The Law Council has received feedback from the profession that the Redress Scheme has been a valuable support and healing mechanism for survivors of child sexual abuse through its counselling and psychological care component, its redress monetary payment, and the Redress Scheme’s facilitation of direct personal responses from the participating institutions responsible for the abuse.
For the reasons set out in this submission, the Law Council supports an extension of the Redress Scheme proposed end date, together with further resourcing for community-based support services that assist survivors to access the Redress Scheme. On balance, we are of the view that the Redress Scheme should be extended for at least a further five years.
1 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report – Redress and civil litigation report recommendations (15 December 2017) https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/file-list/final_report_-_redress_and_civil_litigation.pdf
Last Updated on 03/03/2026
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