Hundreds apply to join redress scheme

A national redress scheme for people sexually abused as children while in the care of institutions has received 500 applications in its first month.

More than 500 people applied to be part of an Australian redress scheme for child sexual abuse survivors in its first month of operation.

The national scheme began on July 1 to provide redress to about 60,000 people who were sexually abused as children while in the care of institutions.

It provides access to counselling, a redress payment and a direct personal response such as an apology from an institution, if the survivor wants it.

Social Services Minister Dan Tehan says the scheme will run for 10 years so people have time to understand the process before they apply.

"It takes incredible courage and resilience for survivors to take that first step and make an application for redress," he said in a statement.

A quarter of those who applied to join the scheme in July were from Queensland, while about a fifth were from NSW.


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Source: AAP


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Hundreds apply to join redress scheme | SBS News