Melbourne City Mission and the National Redress Scheme

As of August 2020, after an exhaustive process which commenced at the end of 2019, MCM was approved by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services to join the National Redress Scheme.

MCM understands the importance of recognising and addressing the prevalence of past institutional abuse in organisations such as our own and we take our role seriously as part of the National Redress Scheme to alleviate past traumas people have suffered.

As an organisation committed to supporting people through some of the most difficult times in their lives, our role in the National Redress Scheme ensures we are providing a pathway for people who have suffered sexual abuse to access redress so they can move forward and have closure.

About the National Redress Scheme

One of the key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was the establishment of a National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, which estimated that 60,000 people experienced in educational institutions, religious groups, sporting organisations, state institutions and youth organisations in Australia between 1950 and 2010.

The Commonwealth Government has established an independent agency to manage the Scheme and on 1 July 2018, the National Redress Scheme commenced, which allows survivors of child sexual abuse to approach the scheme at any time until 30 June 2027.

Redress allows for an alternative to seeking compensation through the courts for:

• Access to counselling;
• a payment, and
• a direct personal response from the institution for those seeking one.

For more information about the National Redress Scheme visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call the National Redress information line on 1800 737 377.