Survivors want more signed on to redress

Survivors of child sex abuse say more institutions still need to sign on to the national redress scheme just 30 days before it starts.

File image of Care Leavers Australia Network executive Leonie Sheedy.

Care Leavers Australia Network head Leonie Sheedy says abuse survivors may die before they're paid. (AAP)

Child sex abuse survivors say more institutions need to sign up to the national redress scheme, just 30 days before it starts.

The Anglicans, Salvos, the Scouts and the YMCA on Thursday joined the Catholic church in promising to sign up for the $3.8 billion scheme.

But Care Leavers Australia Network chief executive Leonie Sheedy said some of the smaller churches and institutions still needed to sign on.

"People are fed up with the delays of the churches and charities," she told AAP.

She also said some survivors are worried they won't last until the scheme opens on July 1, while others who were physically or psychologically abused will miss out.

"They are extremely anxious that they won't be alive to see their redress. Our oldest member is 95," she told AAP.

The scheme now covers four out of five child sex abuse survivors.

Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said those organisations that had yet to sign up would be judged by the public and he thanked those that had.

"For owning up to past wrongs, to owning up to behaviour that can only be described as despicable and deplorable, to turn a page," he told reporters.

The Anglican Church has reached an "in-principle agreement" to join, and will form an independent entity to cover Anglican dioceses, schools and welfare agencies.

"We think this will be a very important part of the process for the healing of survivors of abuse," Bishop Stephen Pickard told reporters.

The YMCA also said it was working with all 19 YMCAs across Australia to help ensure it can be part of the scheme when it starts.

Scouts Australia chief commissioner Neville Tomkins praised the government for providing the scheme to recognise the impact of "horrific crimes", while Major Brad Halse said the Salvation Army was "profoundly sorry" for the abuse children had suffered.

Mr Tehan said the scheme could begin on July 1 if it passed the Senate.

The Catholic Church has estimated it will itself be liable for about $1 billion in compensation.

Western Australia has not signed up but an agreement has been reached with state attorney-general John Quigley.

The scheme will cover about 60,000 institutional child sexual abuse survivors nationally, with compensation payments capped at $150,000.


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Source: AAP


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