Thank you for visiting this website. In the period preceding an election, the Australian Government assumes a caretaker role.
The Department of Social Services hosts this website and the department will manage it in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions.
SA Redress Support Services
Victim Support Service Incorporated
South Australia
The Victim Support Service (VSS) offers support to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who are considering and/or applying to the National Redress Scheme. VSS tailors supports to meet each survivor’s unique needs. This includes helping survivors to understand the Scheme, complete the application, help access to legal advice, obtain records, as well as providing emotional support throughout the process.
The VSS offers support across the South Australia, with offices in Adelaide, Murray Bridge, Mt Gambier, Berri, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla and Port Lincoln. The VSS offers face-to-face support and access to telephone and other means of support where required. Counsellors are tertiary qualified and have extensive experience working with trauma, and complex trauma in particular.
Hours of operation: 9am to 5pm (local time) Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Phone: 1800 842 846
Type of support: Face-to-face support, counselling, outreach services and telephone support.
Relationships Australia South Australia – Elm Place
South Australia
Elm Place at Relationships Australia SA supports people who are wishing to access the National Redress Scheme. The service provides free, individualised, non-judgemental, confidential, and culturally appropriate casework, counselling and advocacy.
The service assists survivors to:
- Understand the National Redress Scheme.
- Complete applications.
- Explore options regarding Redress or civil claims, including access to Direct Personal Response and Counselling and Psychological Care.
- Access State Care records.
- Connect with related services that can provide further support.
Elm Place provides state wide services with offices available in the Adelaide CBD, Marion, Salisbury, Port Adelaide and Berri, with state wide regional visits available upon negotiation. Elm Place also works with survivors in all South Australian prisons, via phone and face-to-face appointments.
Hours of operation: 9.00am to 5.00pm (ACST) Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Phone: 1800 998 187
Type of support: Support is available via face-to-face, phone or telehealth appointments.
Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc
South Australia
Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors of child sexual abuse and their family members engaging with the National Redress Scheme, by providing a culturally safe service and therapeutic support. The Nunkuwarrin Yunti team also provides assistance to anyone applying for Redress and connection to other specialist services.
Services are based in Adelaide with outreach available to other areas of South Australia.
Nunkuwarrin Yunti is also funded to provide support to people engaging with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Hours of operation: 9am to 5pm (local time) Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Phone: (08) 8406 1600 or (08) 8254 5300
Type of support: Face-to-face support, counselling, information and referrals and outreach services. Includes culturally appropriate support for Indigenous Australians.
Survivors & Mates Support Network
South Australia
SAMSN provides professional and peer support for male survivors of child sexual abuse who are considering engaging with the National Redress Scheme.
Hours of operation: 9am to 5pm (Sydney time) Monday to Friday
Phone: (02) 8355 3711 or Free Call 1800 472 676
Type of support: telephone counselling for individuals and their families, support groups and workshops for men and their supporters, information and referrals
Blue Knot Foundation
All States and Territories
The Blue Knot Helpline provides trauma informed telephone and video conferencing support to people engaging with the National Redress Scheme, with a particular focus on supporting people living in rural and remote areas. We provide information, short-term counselling, referral, application support and case management.
Blue Knot is also funded to provide support to people engaging with the Disability Royal Commission who have experienced or witnessed violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.
Hours of operation: 9am to 5pm (Sydney time) Monday to Sunday
Phone: 1300 657 380
Type of support: Counselling, information and referrals, and telephone support.
Sexual Assault Counselling Australia
All States and Territories
Sexual Assault Counselling Australia is a national service available 24 hours 7 days a week to provide telephone counselling with trauma specialists. Face-to-face counselling and support is available for people in New South Wales engaging with the National Redress Scheme. Telephone counselling is also available for people who are in a New South Wales gaol.
Hours of operation: The telephone line operates 24 hours 7 days a week. Face-to-face appointments available by telephone.
Phone: 1800 211 028
Type of support: 24/7 support, face-to-face support, counselling, information and referrals, outreach services and telephone support.
Bravehearts
All States and Territories
Bravehearts offers free and confidential support to individuals and affected family members engaging the National Redress Scheme through face-to-face supports, telephone supports and online supports through our e-health service.
Bravehearts can provide information about the National Redress Scheme, assist with completing the Scheme’s application and provide support throughout the process.
Bravehearts offers face-to-face support within South East Queensland from Service Centres located in Arundel, Springwood, Spring Hill and Strathpine. Outreach services are also available to other areas of Queensland.
Hours of operation: 8:30am to 4:30pm (Brisbane time) Monday to Friday
Phone: 1800 272 831 or (07) 5552 3000
Type of support: Face-to-face support, information and referrals, outreach services, telephone support and online support.
People with Disability Australia
All States and Territories
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) provides confidential and free support to people with disability who are considering applying for Redress.
Our Wayfinder Hub information and referral service is available by telephone or email across Australia. The Hub provides accessible information about the Redress Scheme and seeks to connect people with disability to Redress support services in their area, where possible.
Individual Advocates support people with disability in New South Wales and Queensland through the application process. We can support you to consider your options, decide if you want to apply and provide assisted referrals to other support services. We can also assist with other Advocacy matters.
Hours of operation: 9am to 5pm (AEST) Monday to Friday
Phone: 1800 422 015 or TTY 1800 422 016
Type of support: Information and referrals, face-to-face support and telephone support.
knowmore
All States and Territories
The knowmore legal service is for anyone who is considering applying for redress under the Scheme. It is free, confidential and independent. knowmore can assist you:
- with information on options available to you, including access to compensation through other schemes and common law rights and claims
- prior to the application, to ensure you understand the requirements and the application process
- after you receive an offer of redress and you elect to seek an internal review of the decision
- with advice on the effect of accepting an offer and what that means for future claims.
There are offices in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Phone: 1800 605 762 or TTY: 1800 555 677, then 1800 605 762
National Relay Service: 1800 555 727, then 1800 605 762
Type of support: Legal advice, face-to-face support, information and referrals, outreach services and telephone support.
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) Inc.
All States and Territories
CLAN is a specialist service run by care leavers, for care leavers and their families. All staff are informed on the support needs facing care leavers. For care leavers engaging with the National Redress Scheme, CLAN can offer support, advocacy and counselling as well as assistance with redress applications and accessing records.
Face-to-face support and counselling is available at Bankstown (New South Wales) and Melbourne (Victoria), and outreach support is available throughout Australia.
Hours of operation: 9am to 5pm (Sydney time) Monday to Friday
Phone: 1800 008 774 or (02) 9709 4520
Type of support: Face-to-face support, counselling, information and referrals, outreach services, telephone support and online support.
Child Migrants Trust
All States and Territories
Child Migrant Trust provides social work services to former child migrants from the UK and Malta wishing to participate in the National Redress Scheme, including help to prepare and submit applications. Child Migrant Trust social workers provide counselling and professional support to those disclosing institutional child abuse and offer a trauma informed service. Staff can travel to other locations across Australia to meet with former child migrants as needed, and have regular visits to major locations such as Sydney.
Child Migrant Trust’s UK office also provides assistance relating to the National Redress Service for those former child migrants originally sent to Australia but now living in the UK or other countries overseas.
Child Migrant Trust’s services are free and confidential, and are completely independent from involvement or connection with any agencies responsible for the deportation of children through child migration schemes.
Hours of operation: 9am to 5pm (Melbourne time) Monday to Friday
Phone: 1800 040 509
Type of support: Face-to-face support, counselling, outreach services and telephone support.
In Good Faith Foundation
All States and Territories
In Good Faith Foundation is a service providing independent advocacy, case work, referral and support for people who experienced religious institutional child sexual abuse, their families and communities. Face-to-face support, including when engaging with to the National Redress Scheme, is available to people living in Victoria.
Hours of operation: 9:30am to 4pm (Melbourne time) Monday to Thursday, Fridays by appointment.
Phone: 1300 12 4433
Type of support: Face-to-face support, information and referrals, and telephone support.