First Anglican organisations join National Redress Scheme
Federal Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher, has welcomed the first group of Anglican institutions into the National Redress Scheme and has encouraged more to join.
“Ten Anglican organisations have now finalised their arrangements, allowing claims from people who experienced child sexual abuse in these institutions to proceed”, Mr Fletcher said.
The newly joined institutions – four dioceses, four organisations and two institutions representing several Anglican schools – are:
- Ballarat Anglican Diocesan Corporation Ltd
- The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane
- Perth Diocesan Trustees
- Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Rockhampton
- Anglicare Tasmania Inc.
- Anglican Community Services (trading as Anglicare Sydney)
- Sydney Anglican Home Mission Society Council
- The Committee of the Church of England Homes
- The Anglican Schools Commission Western Australia (Inc.)
- Trinity Grammar School, Kew.
“The redress payment is an important step in recognising the suffering of people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse have experienced,” Mr Fletcher said.
“I call on other institutions to move quickly to join the Scheme. It is time for them to turn their words into action.”
Mr Fletcher said institutions have to demonstrate their capacity to pay redress and to show how they will provide a meaningful direct personal response, if requested.
They need to provide details of current and historic institutional information, complete relevant training and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Social Services.
The National Redress Scheme can provide counselling, a direct personal response (such as an apology) from the responsible institution for people who want it, and a redress payment.
For more information, including a searchable list of the local sites that have joined the Scheme visit www.nationalredress.gov.au/institutions