Deadline looms to join the National Redress Scheme

Another 130 institutions have signed up to the National Redress Scheme including three named in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Institutions named in either the Royal Commission or applications to the Scheme must provide a clear written statement with their intent to join no later than 30 June 2020.

Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston thanked the institutions which have now joined the Scheme for their commitment to ensure survivors had access to the redress they absolutely deserve.

“As the deadline looms the time for institutions to act is now. The Government expects any institution with a history of working with children to join to make sure all survivors who come forward can access the Scheme,” Minister Ruston said.

“It is unacceptable that applications for redress remain on hold because survivors have named institutions that have not yet completed the necessary steps to join the Scheme.

“I have warned institutions that failure to fulfil their moral obligation to join the Scheme will have consequences including financial sanctions as well as being publicly named on 1 July.”

Of the institutions which recently joined the Scheme, the Sisters of Mercy (North Sydney), the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers were named in the Royal Commission.

To date the Commonwealth, all state and territory governments and 222 non-government institutions covering more than 50,960 sites such as churches, schools, homes, charities and community groups across Australia are participating.

As at 12 June 2020, the Scheme has received a total of 7133 applications, 2501 payments have been made totalling almost $202 million and 623 further redress offers are awaiting an applicant’s decision.

Minister Ruston also thanked the New South Wales Government for agreeing to be a funder of last resort for Inasmuch Children’s Home.

Attachment A – Institutions joining the Scheme

The new non-government institutions that joined the Scheme recently are: 

• Australia Christian Training Ministries Pty Ltd (QLD)
• Blessed Sacrament Fathers (VIC)
• Brighton Grammar School (VIC)
• Circular Head Christian Schools Inc (TAS)
• City First Ltd (TAS)
• Church of the Foursquare Gospel Australia (VIC)
• Darlinghurst Christian Fellowship Incorporated (WA)
• Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (NSW, QLD & VIC)
• Don Road Property Inc. (TAS)
• Gateway Community Care Limited (TAS)
• Generation Now Bankstown Inc (NSW)
• Harvest Australia Church Inc (SA)
• The Ivanhoe Grammar School (VIC)
• Key Assets the Children’s Services Provider (Australia) Limited (National)
• Korowa Anglican Girl’s School (VIC)
• Kyabra Community Association Inc (QLD)
• The Legacy Club Goulburn Incorporated (NSW)
• The Legacy Club of Western Australia (WA)
• Life Church Queensland Ltd (QLD)
• Life Without Barriers (ACT)
• Mary Aikenhead Ministries (NSW, QLD, VIC)
• Mt Gambier Christian Centre Ltd (SA)
• North Gate Church Inc (QLD)
• Presbyterian Church of Victoria (VIC)
• Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (QLD) 
• The Range Christian Fellowship Ltd (QLD) 
• The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia Inc (National) 
• Riverstone Community Church of Christian Brethren (NSW) 
• Scripture Union ACT Limited (ACT) 
• Sisters of Mercy (North Sydney) (NSW)
• Southern Life (SA)
• Stairway Church Whitehorse Inc (VIC)
• St John Ambulance (NT) Inc. (NT)
• St John Ambulance Australia – Tasmania (Inc) (TAS)
• St John of God Health Care Inc (WA)
• Sureway International Christian Ministries Australia Inc (VIC)
• Townsville Christian Broadcasters Assn Inc (QLD)
• Victory Life International (VIC)

The addition to the A2A participating group is:  

• Gateway Church (Australia) Ltd (VIC)

The addition to the ACC Schools participating group is:  

• Mackay Christian Colleges Ltd (QLD)

Additions to the Anglican Church of Australia participating group include: 

• Anglican Board of Mission – Australia Limited (NSW)
• Anglican Church of Australia General Synod (NSW)
• Anglican Health and Welfare (TAS)
• Beaconhills Christian College Limited (VIC)
• Bishop Druitt College Council (NSW)
• Bunbury Diocesan Anglicare Council (WA)
• Camberwell Girls Grammar School (VIC)
• Defence Force Anglican Chaplaincy Incorporated (ACT) 
• Lindisfarne Anglican School (NSW) 
• Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School (VIC) 
• Melbourne Girls Grammar (VIC) 
• Mission To Seafarers (Albany Branch) (WA)
• Mission To Seafarers (WA)
• Pulteney Grammar School Inc (SA)
• St Andrew’s Cathedral School Foundation Ltd (NSW)
• St George’s Community Care Dunsborough (WA)
• St Mary’s Community Care Busselton (WA)
• St Mark’s College Inc. (SA)
• St Michael’s Grammar School (VIC)
• St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School Inc. (SA)
• St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School Incorporated (SA)
• Tintern Grammar (VIC)
• The Trustee for Anglican Church of Australia General Synod (NSW)

Additions to the Australian Christian Churches participating group include:  

• Alphacrucis College Ltd (NSW)
• Altona Assembly of God Inc. (VIC)
• Assemblies of God In Aust Qld Conf Lighthouse Christian Church (QLD)
• Bowen Christian Family Centre (QLD)
• Capital Edge Community Church Incorporated (ACT)
• Christian New Life Centre Frederickton/Kempsey Incorporated (NSW)
• Cross Central Inc (NSW)
• Coober Pedy Community Church (SA)
• Destiny Church Atherton Ltd. (QLD)
• Equip Church Inc (VIC) 
• Fatherhood Foundation Incorporated (NSW) 
• Genesis Church Incorporated (VIC) 
• Harvest Christian Church Assembly of God Horsham Inc (VIC) 
• Heaven’s Song Philadelphia Christian Center, The Church of Jesus King of Kings and Lord of Lords Incorporated (NSW) 
• Hope Sydney Christian Church Inc (NSW)
• Inspire Child Care Foundation Ltd (NSW)
• Inspire Church Ltd (NSW)
• Inspire Church Macarthur Incorporated (NSW)
• Inspire Community Services Incorporated (NSW)
• Kids R Us National AOG Children’s Ministry Movement Inc. (QLD)
• Life City Church Perth Inc (WA)
• Living Word Culcairn Incorporated (NSW)
• Mannahouse Ministries Incorporated (NSW)
• Melbourne Chin Assembly of God Church Inc (VIC)
• Oberon Christian Life Centre Incorporated (NSW)
• Reach Church (NSW)
• Sydney Training Institute Incorporated (NSW)
• Surfside Church Inc (NSW)
• St George ACC Church Ltd (QLD)
• Sussex Inlet Christian Life Centre (NSW)
• Transcend Church (NSW)
• Tumby Bay Life Church Incorporated (SA)
• Word Of Life Christian Church Inc (VIC)

Additions to the C3 Churches participating group include:  

• C3 Church Hobart Inc. (TAS)
• C3 Church Liverpool Ltd (NSW)
• C3 Church Watson Incorporated (ACT) 
• Christian City Church Bridgeman Downs (QLD) 
• Christian City Church (Central Coast) Inc (NSW) 
• Christian City Church Kingscliff (NSW) 
• Faith Centre Darwin Inc (NT)
• River of Life Christian City Church Ltd (WA)

Additions to the CRC Churches participating group include:  

• Booleroo Ministry Centre Incorporated (SA)
• Bridgewater New Life Christian Church (VIC)
• Christian Family Centre Warragul & District Inc (VIC)
• Christian Fellowship Centre (VIC)
• Christian Resource Care Ltd (VIC)
• Christian Resource Ministries Incorporated (VIC)
• Lighthouse Ministries Moonta Church Incorporated (SA)
• OneVine Resource Ministries Incorporated (VIC)
• Twin City Christian Centre Ltd (VIC)

The addition to the Crosslink participating group is:  

• Hunter Christian Church Incorporated (NSW)

The addition to the Full Gospel Churches of Australia participating group is:  

• Spirit Alive Church Ltd (VIC)

The addition to the Restoration Fellowships International participating group is:  

• Sydney Christian Fellowship Incorporated (NSW)

The addition to the United Pentecostal Church of Australia participating group is:  

• United Pentecostal Church of Townsville Inc (QLD) 

The addition to the Victory Life International participating group is:  

• Albany Lighthouse Ministries Incorporated (WA)

Additions for the Youth With A Mission participating group include:  

• Youth With A Mission (Brisbane) Inc (QLD)
• Youth With A Mission Melbourne Inc (VIC)
• YWAM Medical Ships – Australia Ltd (QLD)
• YWAM Townsville Assoc. Inc. (QLD)

 More information, including a searchable list of institutions that have joined the Scheme and support services to help people apply for redress, is available at: www.nationalredress.gov.au