5 things you should know about the National Redress Scheme
The National Redress Scheme published its final report for 2nd-year review. The following are five things you must know before you make an application with the National Redress Scheme.
1. How much will I get under the National Redress Scheme?
The National Redress Scheme provides a maximum payment of $150,000. However, the average redress payment by the National Redress Scheme is $83,000.
If the sexual abuse was non-penetrative, the maximum payment a survivor can get under the Redress is $50,000.
2. How long it takes for the National Redress Scheme to make a decision?
On average, the Scheme takes 12.5 months to process an application and 13.4 months to process a priority application. That appears inconsistent as priority takes longer than standard.
The National Redress Scheme compensates survivors who were abused in an institution.
If you are eligible for compensation under the National Redress Scheme. We strongly encourage you to explore your civil claim options before you apply for the National Redress Scheme.
3. What if I do not agree with the payment offered?
One person can only make one application in their lifetime. Once an offer is made by the Redress, the applicant has 6 months to accept the offer. If they reject the offer, they cannot make another application anymore.
Applicants can request an internal review. However, nearly 80% of reviews affirmed the original determination, meaning no change was made to the offer.
4. Can I make a civil claim after I accept the National Redress Payment?
No.
Under the current law, once you receive the National Redress Payment, you cannot a civil claim against the institution.
5. The One thing you MUST KNOW before applying for the National Redress Scheme.
Know your civil rights before you apply.
For those who were abused in an institution, it is very important to know that you should only use the National Redress Scheme as your last recourse for compensation.
We strongly recommend all survivors of child abuse explore their civil claim options before applying for the National Redress Scheme and only use the National Redress Scheme if a civil claim does not work out for you.
Benefits of a civil claim for child abuse compensation:
Owning your claim and getting a sense of closure
Unlike the National Redress Scheme, which is a self-serve box-ticking exercise, by making a claim against the institutions, most of our clients feel powered and are able to get a sense of closure after the claim is settled.
Higher amounts of compensation:
Our success rate has been 100% of all the claims we have made for clients that have been fully prosecuted by us and our clients receive compensation that is much higher than what they would have been compensated under the National Redress. It is a multiple of what they would have received.
Check out any of our success stories on our Child Abuse Compensation Client Testimonials page.
Personal apology
Our clients have the opportunity to receive personal apologies from the institution as part of the settlement process. This has been proven to be a great step towards healing.
Access to proper legal advice
A good lawyer with a better understanding of psychiatric injury and trauma will be able to work with you, explore all the aspects of your claim and put forward the best claim possible.
Talk to a lawyer at our firm that is trauma-informed and really understand how complex trauma affects your life.
4 replies to 5 things you should know about the National Redress Scheme
I applied for compensation with Redress but they dismissed my claim. I did receive compensation though with a legal firm
. Am I entitled to make a claim with Redress ?
I recently sent an application for redress about 2 weeks ago but now I realise I should’ve went for a civil claim ..I haven’t heard anything back from redress yet ..can I cancel that application and go for a civil claim?
You don’t need to accept it their offer and can always make a civil claim you just can’t accept it then make a claim it’s your choice.
They will contact you to make contact and acknowledge the application if u don’t answer they will send an email to myGov and if u don’t ring them before a deadline your claim is canceled.
I applied through redress and took the time to detail everything first go. And I received a call from them 2 days later, so my advice is, no matter how hard it is, try and tell them as much as you can straight up