Second anniversary review - Frequently asked questions

What is the review?

The National Redress Scheme review is required under the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 (the Act). The review will consider the implementation and operation of the Act, including the survivor experience of making an application to the review, the operational framework, the elements of redress and other stakeholder views, including participating institutions, on how the scheme is working for them. The review will also consider the recommendations of two Joint Select Committee reports. The review commenced in early July and is expected to report to the Minister in February 2021.

Who is doing the review?

Ms Robyn Kruk AO has been appointed as an independent reviewer. Ms Kruk is currently chair of Mental Health Australia and is a former Secretary/Director General of national and state government agencies. Ms Kruk also served as the Reparation Payments Assessor for the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce from 2013 to 2016. Ms Kruk has a background in biological sciences psychology and management. Robyn was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to public administration in New South Wales, and was subsequently appointed as an Officer for her contribution to food standards and broader health reform including mental health.

Is the review independent?

Ms Robyn Kruk AO has been appointed as an independent reviewer. Ms Kruk is supported by a small team of contract staff and a senior departmental liaison staff member.

How do I make a submission?

You can provide feedback by making a submission and/or participating in a feedback study.

You can choose to make a submission and participate in the study, or just choose one, whichever works best for you. Submissions are now open. The feedback study will be available in September 2020. Information about this study will be available on the National Redress website: www.nationalredress@dss.gov.au .

We will not ask you to share your personal experience of abuse, and you do not have to include any personal information unless you want to. A submission allows you to write about your experience with the Scheme in your own words in your own way. It is open and flexible, and can be as long or short as you want it to be. You can send your submission to the review to the following address: redressreviewsubmission@dss.gov.au .

Submissions will be published when the review is completed and ONLY with the express permission of the person making the submission. You can say no.

Who can make a submission to the review?

Anyone can make a submission to the review. For example, you can make a submission if you are:

  • an abuse survivor;
  • stakeholder institutions, including states and territories, and other participating and non-participating institutions;
  • survivor support services; legal services, community organisations, advocacy services, care and psychological support services; and
  • other individuals, including carers, individuals supporting survivors, people involved in the implementation and delivery of the national redress scheme, or anyone who has an interest in how the scheme is operating for survivors.

What other opportunity for input is there?

Currently, the reviewer is conducting a comprehensive series of consultations with survivors, states and territories, support services, participating institutions, advocacy groups and individuals. These consultations will continue until the end of September.

The review is also undertaking a feedback study for survivors. This study is currently being developed and will be accessible via the www.nationalredress.gov.au website in mid-September for a period of four weeks. Survivors are encouraged to undertake this survey so that the review can gain a good understanding of your experience of the scheme.

If I make a submission will it impact on my application?

Making a submission WILL NOT impact on the application process. Submissions will not be made public until the completion of the review and will only be made public with the express permission of the submitter. Access to the submissions is restricted to the reviewer and the review team. Submissions will not be able to be accessed by anyone else and will not be considered as part of your application.

Will my submission be published?

Submissions will not be made public until the completion of the review and will only be made public with the express permission of the submitter.

Can the review intervene on my behalf in the application process?

The review is not able to intervene on an applicant’s behalf with the scheme. The review is restricted to identifying how the scheme is operating, what is not working well currently, what needs to change and how things can be made to work better, particularly for survivors. The review necessarily needs information about the application process but is not able to intervene in individual cases.

When will the review finish and when will its report be made public?

The review will be completed in early 2021, and is expected to report to the Minister for Families and Social Services by the end of February 2021.

The Minister for Families and Social Services will decide if the report is to be made public. If the Minister agrees the report will be published after the reporting date of 28 February 2021.