Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme

All institutions where the sexual abuse of children occurred must be accountable for that abuse and should join the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme) without delay.

When the Scheme was established in July 2018, institutions named in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission) and/or in an application to the Scheme were asked to join the Scheme by 30 June 2020. This was later extended to 31 December 2020.

From 1 January 2021, when the Scheme receives an application that names an institution which had not been previously named, that institution will have a period of six months from their first engagement to join the Scheme.

A list of institutions that were either named in the Royal Commission and/or in an application made to the Scheme, and failed to meet this requirement is listed below.

  • CYMS Basketball Association, VIC
  • De La Salle Caringbah Junior Rugby League Football Club, NSW
  • Devonport Community Church, TAS
  • Forrest Tennis Club, ACT
  • Kenja Communication, ACT, NSW & VIC
  • Woodlands Golf Club, VIC

This list does not include institutions that are defunct, meaning they no longer exist.

The Scheme will continue to encourage these institutions to join the Scheme. Applicants impacted by these institutions not joining the Scheme are notified of this by the Scheme prior to publication, and are encouraged to contact a Redress Support Service.

Failure to join the Scheme within six months means that such institutions may be publicly named, will have financial sanctions applied and may lose their charitable status until they join the Scheme.

This list will be updated frequently as the Scheme is continuously working with institutions that have been named in applications or identified by other means.

The list may not include all names used by an institution, for example, each school or home operated by an institution.

This list is published consistently in accordance with Scheme legislation.

Financial consequences for institutions who do not join the Scheme

The Commonwealth has introduced financial consequences for institutions who continue to refuse to join the Scheme, with the aim of encouraging institutions to join the Scheme.

Where the Scheme receives an application that names a previously unnamed non-participating institution, they will be given six months to join the Scheme from their first engagement with the Scheme before the consequences apply.

As the institutions listed above did not join the Scheme within the required timeframe, they will be subject to the following consequences:

  • Being restricted from accessing future Commonwealth grant funding, and
  • Risk losing their charitable status and associated tax concessions and benefits.

The restriction on grant funding for institutions who do not join the Scheme does not remove access to any funding they currently receive from the Commonwealth, but rather will remove the ability for the institution to access future grant funding.

A new Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) governance standard has commenced which requires all registered charities to take all reasonable steps to join the Scheme if an application has been made which names them or is likely to name them. Where a registered charity fails to join the Scheme or take reasonable steps to participate in the Scheme, they will be subject to the suite of ACNC’s existing compliance powers, including deregistration. Deregistration would result in the entity losing access to a range of Commonwealth benefits and tax concessions.

In addition, charities classed as ‘basic religious charities’ (BRCs) may lose their BRC status if they do not join the Scheme within six months of being named in a redress application. Charities that lose their BRC status will be required to abide by the governance standards.

The list of institutions above is updated on a regular basis to ensure it remains current and will be the reliable source of information for departments and agencies administering grant opportunity and the registration of charities.

Words used on this page

Application
The application is available online or by paper. You can make an application at any time between now and 30 June 2027.
Institution
An institution means an organisation, such as a school, a church, parish, mission, a club, an orphanage or Children’s Home; or government department.
National Redress Scheme
The Australian Government set up the National Redress Scheme to provide redress to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse. The offer of redress can include: access to counselling, a redress payment and a direct personal response.
Non-government institution
An institution or organisation that is not run by a government. May include, churches, charities, schools, and sporting clubs.
Redress
Redress means acknowledging harm done. The National Redress Scheme provides counselling, a direct personal response and a Redress payment.
Scheme
The National Redress Scheme for people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse. See National Redress Scheme.