The end of the year can be a difficult time for many people. Please be aware this update contains material that could be confronting or distressing. Sometimes words or images can cause sadness or distress or trigger traumatic memories, particularly for people who have experienced past abuse or childhood trauma.
Support is available to help you if you need it. To find out more, visit the Redress Support Services page on our website.
If you need immediate support, 24-hour telephone assistance is available.
Please note, the National Redress Scheme’s 1800 737 377 phone number and main Prison line will be closed from 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025 to Thursday 1 January 2026, inclusive. The phone line will reopen on Friday 2 January 2026.
Incarcerated applicants will be able to reach out to their prison Social Worker if they require any immediate assistance.
Ministers’ Redress Scheme Governance Board meeting:
On Monday 8 December 2025 the Ministers’ Redress Scheme Governance Board (the Board) met to discuss the governance of the Scheme.
An official communique(Opens in a new tab/window) has been released by the Board, available on the Department of Social Services Ministers website.
End of year closedown period:
The Department of Social Services will have a closedown period from 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025 to Thursday 1 January 2026, inclusive. The Scheme’s 1800 737 377 phone line will not be taking calls during this period.
The Scheme phone line will resume its normal operating hours from Friday 2 January 2026.
The end of the year can be a difficult time for many people. Support is available to help you if you need it. If you need immediate support over the New Year period, you can reach out to 24/7 supports who can help you in a crisis.
Scheme data
As at 30 November 2025*:
- There have been 71,485 applications to the Scheme
- 25,061 applicants have had their outcomes advised. Of these 20,395 payments have been made totalling approximately $1.82 billion dollars
- 3,750 have been withdrawn or closed
- 42,674 applications are yet to have their outcome advised. Of which:
- 28, 398 applications are actionable by the Scheme.
- 8,615 applications are being validated with the initial contact being made
- 13,498 applications are in the information gathering stage
- 5,544 applications are with an IDM for determination
- 741 applications are being prepared for delivery of the outcome
- 8,374 applications are unable to be actioned by the Scheme. Of these:
- 6,617 are awaiting the applicant to provide additional information
- 1,757 are undergoing special assessment for serious criminal conviction/applying from gaol
- 5,902 applications are on hold
- 28, 398 applications are actionable by the Scheme.
Over the last six months the Scheme has received an average of 1,512 applications per month
There were an average of 357 applications received per month in FY18-19, 262 per month in FY19-20, 316 per month in FY20-21, 499 per month in FY21-22, 894 per month in FY22-23, 1,360 per month in FY23-24, 1,644 per month in FY24-25, and 1,501 per month in FY25-26.
Over the last six months 199 reviews have been requested and 125 have been completed, of those completed 28.8% resulted in an increase in redress payment
For the month of November:
- 883 applications have been resolved
- 35.4% of survivors have identified as a First Nations person
- 30.0% of survivors have indicated they are living with a disability
- 35.4% of survivors are Care Leavers**
- 54.5% of survivors accepted a Direct Personal Response (DPR) as part of their redress offer
- 6 survivors completed a DPR with 6 institutions
- 11 survivors made contact with 18 institutions to begin the DPR process
*Counts provided will slightly differ from previous versions as closed cases are now included, closed cases include applications that are not eligible to apply to the Scheme.
**Care leavers are defined as applicants who indicated any of the following on their application: they were a foster child, in relative kinship, court-ordered care or a child migrant.
Participating institutions update
The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Declaration 2018 (the Declaration) is an official list of all participating institutions. It is updated when new institutions join the Scheme as either fully-participating, partly-participating or defunct institutions, or the status of a participating institution changes.
Three declarations have recently been signed by the Department’s Chief Operating Officer, declaring new participating, Funder of Last Resort and partly-participating institutions to the Scheme. As at 17 December 2025, there are 694 fully-participating institutions, 152 defunct institutions and 26 partly-participating institutions declared as participating in the Scheme.
The following non-government institutions have most recently been declared as participating incorporated lone institutions:
- Albany Youth Support Association Incorporated
- Australian International Academy of Education Incorporated
- Burnie Police and Community Youth Club Inc.
- Christian Youth Camps Limited
- Coffs Harbour Christian Community School Ltd
- Diabetes Victoria
- Directions Health Services Limited
- Frankston Y.C.W. Football Club Inc.
- Free Serbian Orthodox Church-School Congregation of St Sava at Hindmarsh SA Incorporated
- Generation City Church Limited
- Heights College Ltd
- Hockey NT Incorporated
- Idameneo (No 123) Pty Ltd ACN 002 968 185 as trustee for the Artlu Unit Trust
- Jubilee Christian College Limited
- Junction Support Services Ltd
- Kincoppal - Rose Bay School
- Mornington Youth Club Inc.
- Muirden College Pty Ltd
- Nepean Area Disabilities Organisation Limited
- Noosa Lions Football Club Inc.
- Ormiston College Limited
- Port School Inc.
- Rivermount Education Limited
- Schools Ministry Group Incorporated
- St. Michael’s Association Incorporated
- Stars Foundation Limited
- The Australian Outward Bound Foundation
- The Greek Community of Newcastle Limited
- Thrive Group Tasmania Inc.
- W.E.C. International
- Werribee Gymnastics Club Inc.
- Woodcroft College Incorporated
- Yes Unlimited
- YLO (Residential Care Services) Pty Ltd
The following non-government institution has been declared as an unincorporated lone institution with a representative:
- Twin Rivers Christian Family represented by Twin Rivers Christian Family Property Ltd
The following non-government institutions have most recently been declared as participating groups:
- Carry On (Victoria)
- Christian College Geelong
- Church of the Foursquare Gospel (Australia) Limited
- Dalby Christian Family Church Ltd
- Diving Australia Limited
- Equipping for Life Ltd
- J and B Bus and Coach Pty Ltd
- Lay Institute Mariana Pty Ltd
- Life Education Centre Foundation Queensland Inc.
- Melbourne Christian Fellowship Incorporated
- St Pauls Grammar School Penrith Ltd
- The Knox School Limited
- The Trustees of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers
Additionally, Hockey New South Wales Limited, which is already a participating lone non-government institution, will become the representative for, and member of, a participating group which includes 6 institutions.
The following institutions have most recently been declared as FOLR institutions under section 164 and 164A of the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018:
- Dundalli Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Youth Services (QLD)
- Guardian Youth Care Limited (NSW)
- HGMC Pty Ltd (SA)
- Moongoong Darwung Aboriginal Council (WA)
- Southwest Christian Community Schools Incorporated (WA)
- The Garfield Clinic (QLD)
- Toowoomba Aboriginal Corporation for Cultural and Recreational Activities, renamed South-East Queensland Aboriginal Community Care Agency Aboriginal Corporation (QLD)
- Townsville Area Street Kids Association Incorporated (QLD)
- True Vine Christian Community (NSW)
- Wiltja Hostel (as operated by the Aborigines Advancement League between 1956 and 1978) (Commonwealth)
- Woorarra Inc (VIC)
The following institutions have been declared as partly-participating institutions under section 164B:
- Bindarra Children’s Daycare Centre Inc (QLD)
- Bundeena Christian Training School/Fellowship Limited (NSW)
- Calvary Family Church (QLD)
- Hope Central Limited (NSW)
- Indooroopilly Canoe Club Inc (QLD)
- Lions Club of Donnybrook Inc. (WA)
- Mordialloc Sailing Club (VIC)
- Northern Illawarra Family Day Care Scheme Inc. (NSW)
- South Australian Christian Endeavour Union Incorporated (SA)
Additionally, the Declaration most recently revoked the following institutions as participating institutions of the Scheme.
- Co-Ordinated Support Services Pty Ltd
- Our Lady of Sion College Ltd (part of The Congregation Des Religieuses De Notre Dame De Sion Property Association, as the trustee for the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion Property Trust participating group).
- The Christian Reformed Church of Wonga Park (part of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia Synodical Board participating group).
Current applications, or applications lodged prior to the revocation of these institutions, will be funded by the institutions.
Updates to the Declaration are available on the Federal Register of Legislation(Opens in a new tab/window). For the latest information about institutions, visit the Institutions page on our website. If you have concerns because of an institution’s participation status with the National Redress Scheme, please contact the National Redress Scheme on 1800 737 377 to speak to someone about your application.