A parliamentary committee inquiring into the operation of the National Redress Scheme is currently looking into a range of areas, including, the experience of First Nations applicants and applicants with disability in their dealings with the scheme and accessibility, performance and effectiveness of support services and legal advice for survivors and their advocates.
Other matters for attention include, barriers and complications experienced when accessing the scheme, such as with language, communication and cultural safety, the need for increased resources for redress legal services and counselling support services to better meet demand and reduce long waiting periods, and concerns regarding delays processing applications, the consistency of redress outcomes and the transparency of decisions.
The National Redress Scheme was established in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Committee’s role is to oversee implementation of the Royal Commission’s redress-related recommendations.
The committee has received around 31 submissions and is continuing to consider new submissions.
Committee chair Senator Catryna Bilyk said the committee has heard compelling evidence about the experiences of victims and survivors and drawing on the evidence received during the inquiry is looking to identify possible recommendations to improve the Redress Scheme. “We would like to hear a range of perspectives and further public hearings are planned to hear from more witnesses,” she said.
To make a submission or find out more, email the Committee Secretariat at: redress@aph.gov.au