National Redress Support Services

Redress Support Services (RSS) are specialist, trauma-informed, culturally safe, survivor centred services. Free, confidential, practical and emotional support is available before, during and after people make, or consider making, an application to the National Redress Scheme. RSS can refer survivors to knowmore for free legal advice and financial counselling, as well as other community services as needed.

National RSS offer online and telephone support services, noting face-to-face services are available in some locations, specified on the relevant State or Territory page.

Blue Knot Foundation

Bravehearts – Beyond Brave

Care Leavers Australasia Network Incorporated (CLAN)

Child Migrants Trust Inc. (CMT)

Full Stop Australia

In Good Faith Foundation (IGFF)

People with Disability Australia (PWDA)


Blue Knot Foundation

Blue Knot Helpline and Redress Support Service provides trauma-informed culturally safe redress information and referral as well as casework for survivors of institutional childhood sexual abuse.

Our team of experienced trauma counsellors supports survivors considering their options re applying to the Scheme or civil litigation. It also provides end-to-end counselling support through the redress application, outcome, post outcome and Direct Personal Response processes. Applicants receiving casework support work with the same counsellor throughout their redress journey and receive weekly application support or fortnightly outcome support, over the phone or by videoconference.

The process is survivor-led and focusses on safety, trust, and empowering survivors through choice and collaboration, and reflective practice.

Short term counselling support is provided by different members of a team of trauma specialist counsellors between casework appointments, as needed, on the Blue Knot Helpline 7 days per week, over the telephone or web chat. Face-to-face support is not available.

Primary locations: Online and telephone support are delivered nationally in urban, regional and remote areas in every State and Territory.

Phone: 1300 657 380

Email/online contact: redress@blueknot.org.au

Website: https://blueknot.org.au/survivors/redress-information-application-support

Operating hours: Blue Knot Helpline: 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday


Bravehearts - Beyond Brave

Beyond Brave offers free and confidential support to individuals and affected family members wishing to participate in the National Redress Scheme.

Beyond Brave can:

  • help you to understand the Scheme and if you are eligible;
  • provide assistance to complete and submit the application form
  • support you through the process of applying, whilst waiting for an outcome and after an offer is made; and
  • provide counselling, information and referrals.

Support is offered face-to-face in Queensland, with online and telephone support services available throughout Australia.

Primary locations: Arundel, Loganholme and Strathpine in Queensland

Outreach locations: National via online and telephone, and in Cairns, Townsville, Palm Island, and other areas of North Queensland, including Queensland gaols.

Phone: 1800 272 831 or (07) 5552 3000

Email: redress@bravehearts.org.au

Website: https://bravehearts.org.au

Operating hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday 


Care Leavers Australasia Network Incorporated (CLAN)

CLAN is a specialist service run by Care Leavers, for Care Leavers and their families. All staff are both Care Leaver informed, and trauma informed. For Care Leavers engaging with the National Redress Scheme, CLAN can offer support throughout the entire Scheme process, including assistance completing the redress application form, support, advocacy and counselling as well as assistance with accessing records.

CLAN offers national telephone counselling and support as well as face-to-face support in Melbourne, Geelong and Bankstown.

Primary locations: Bankstown, NSW. Melbourne and Geelong, Victoria

Outreach locations: National via online and telephone support

Phone: 1800 008 774, (02) 9709 4520 or 0425 204 747

Email/online contact: support@clan.org.au

Website: www.clan.org.au

Operating hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday 


Child Migrants Trust Inc (CMT)

CMT provides an independent, specialist social work service in all States and Territories to former British and Maltese child migrants seeking help to address issues of historical institutional abuse, and the loss of family and identity arising from chid migration.

Social workers provide counselling and professional support to those disclosing institutional child sexual abuse, and offer a trauma informed service to assist with preparing applications for the National Redress Scheme.

CMT’s United Kingdom office also provides assistance relating to Australian and the United Kingdom redress schemes for those former child migrants originally sent to Australia but now living overseas.

Services are free, confidential, and completely independent from any of the agencies responsible for the deportation of children through Commonwealth Child Migration schemes.

A National service is provided by telephone, office interviews and outreach visits from our services based in Victoria and Western Australia.

Primary locations: Perth, Western Australia and Melbourne, Victoria

Outreach locations: National cover via outreach visits and telephone support.

Phone: 1800 04 05 09 (Toll free within Australia)

Email: melbourne@cmtrust.org or https://www.childmigrantstrust.com/contact

Website: https://www.childmigrantstrust.com

Operating hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, with an emergency telephone service over major national holidays.


Full Stop Australia

The National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service is available 24 hours 7 days a week, providing telephone counselling with trauma specialist counsellors. Support includes counselling, information, referrals, and practical support to access the National Redress Scheme. Support and information are also extended to family, friends & colleagues. Trauma specialist counsellors provide debriefing and support to mitigate the risks associated with vicarious trauma for frontline workers involved in the Scheme.

Our national services are provided through telephone and video counselling.

Telephone counselling and redress support are also available for eligible clients who are in correctional facilities.

Primary locations: Telephone support available throughout Australia

Outreach locations: Various locations across NSW can be arranged on request.

Phone: 1800 385 578 (Full Stop Australia) or 1800 211 028 (Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service Line)

Email: intake@fullstop.org.au

Website: http://www.fullstop.org.au

Operating hours: The telephone line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Scheduled video counselling by appointment only. 


In Good Faith Foundation (IGFF)

IGFF is a national charity supporting survivors, families and communities impacted by institutional abuses for over 20 years.

IGFF works closely with Government (all jurisdictions), stakeholders and the survivor community to advocate for systemic change while providing trauma-informed support to survivors, secondary survivors and whistle-blowers with a wrap-around care model.

Every recovery journey is unique.

At IGFF we work collaboratively with survivors to widen their goals and options, ensuring that the voice of the Survivor is central to every step.

These options may include, but are not limited to:

  • information about legal advice and accessing knowmore
  • engaging with the National Redress Scheme
  • practical welfare and therapeutic referrals
  • professional advocacy and mediation
  • providing wrap-around support through the redress journey.

Our services provide a wrap-around model of advocacy and case management, referring survivors to therapeutic care and social welfare supports, fostering connections with the broader community of survivors and advocates Australia-wide.

Our systemic advocacy work reflects survivors’ stories to improve responses, shape procedures and seek accountability.

Primary locations: Docklands

Outreach: National via online and telephone support

Phone: 1300 12 IGFF (1300 12 44 33)

Email/online contactigff@igff.org.au

Websitehttps://igff.org.au

Operating hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday


People with Disability Australia (PWDA)

PWDA provides free, trauma informed and confidential support to people with disability (including mental health) who are considering applying for the National Redress Scheme.

People are supported face-to-face where possible across NSW and Queensland, and nationally by online and telephone support.

Accessible information and disability aware support is provided throughout the entire redress and Direct Personal Response process, including providing information about other options so that you can make informed choices. Assisted and supported referrals to other services are provided if needed.
PWDA can also assist with separate disability advocacy matters.

Our friendly staff are highly experienced in working with people with disability who are survivors of childhood institutional sexual assault, and utilise holistic, trauma informed and capacity building approaches.

Primary locations: Sydney

Outreach locations: Regional and remote areas of NSW, and also Queensland

Phone: 1800 422 015, 0434 692 845, or TTY 1800 422 016

Email/online contact: pwd@pwd.org.au

Website: https://pwd.org.au

Operating hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday