The National Redress Scheme is an Australian Government scheme created to recognise and respond to institutional child sexual abuse. It is an alternative to a civil compensation claim, and it is separate from court-based legal claims.
This page provides general information only. Eligibility and outcomes depend on individual circumstances and the institution involved.
Speaking with a National Redress Scheme lawyer
A National Redress Scheme lawyer does not lodge redress applications, because the Scheme is designed for survivors to apply directly. What a specialist lawyer does is advise you on whether applying for redress is actually in your best interests, or whether a civil compensation claim would produce a significantly better outcome in your circumstances.
This distinction matters because accepting a redress offer permanently extinguishes your right to pursue a civil claim against the same institution. The maximum payment is $150,000, many payments are significantly lower, and some survivors accept an offer without realising they are giving up a civil claim worth substantially more. Before making any decision about the Scheme, speak with a specialist lawyer.
Koffels Solicitors & Barristers provides independent legal advice on the National Redress Scheme, including whether redress or a civil compensation claim is the better pathway for your circumstances. Initial consultations are free and confidential. Call 02 9283 5599 or use the contact form below.
What is the National Redress Scheme?
The National Redress Scheme is an administrative scheme, not a court process. It was established following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Scheme is designed to provide:
- recognition of harm experienced by survivors
- access to counselling and psychological support
- a monetary payment in some cases
Redress focuses on acknowledgement and response rather than determining legal fault or liability.
Who may be eligible to apply?
You may be eligible to apply for redress if:
- you experienced child sexual abuse before 1 July 2018
- the abuse occurred in an institutional context
- the responsible institution is a participating institution under the Scheme
Applications are made by survivors as adults. You do not need to have reported the abuse at the time it occurred.
What does redress include?
If an application is successful, redress may include one or more of the following:
- Monetary payment: payments are capped under the Scheme and assessed according to its framework
- Counselling and psychological care: funding to support access to treatment
- Direct personal response: such as an apology or acknowledgement from the institution, if requested
Not all applicants will receive the same components.
Which institutions are covered?
Only institutions that have joined the National Redress Scheme can provide redress. Participating institutions include many schools, religious organisations, care providers and residential facilities, and youth and community organisations. If an institution has not joined the Scheme, redress may not be available through this pathway, even if abuse occurred in that setting. Read more about what sort of institutions are in the National Redress Scheme.
How is redress different from a civil compensation claim?
The National Redress Scheme and civil compensation claims are separate pathways with significantly different outcomes.
| Civil compensation claim | National Redress Scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| Process | A legal claim, almost always settled before any hearing | An administrative application |
| How much | Assessed on the actual harm suffered, with no cap | Up to $150,000, rarely reached. The average for serious abuse is around $80,000, and many payments are lower |
| Focus | Legal responsibility and full compensation | Recognition and response |
| Standard of proof | Balance of probabilities | Reasonable likelihood (a lower standard) |
| Independent legal advice | Your own lawyer acts for you throughout | Not routinely offered before you sign |
| Finality | None until you settle | Accepting a payment permanently extinguishes your right to a civil claim against the same institution for the same abuse |
What a civil claim can be worth: one Koffels result
On 5 October 2018, the Supreme Court of New South Wales entered judgment for a Koffels client, a survivor of child sexual abuse, for $1,548,488.75 plus costs. That is more than 10 times the maximum redress payment. The court-appointed referee assessed the claim as follows:
| Head of damage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Non-economic loss (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life), assessed at 50% of a most extreme case | $306,500 |
| Past economic loss | $474,462 |
| Interest on past economic loss | $189,595 |
| Past superannuation loss | $52,191 |
| Future income loss | $405,420 |
| Future superannuation loss | $50,427 |
| Past medical expenses | $10,988.75 |
| Future medical expenses | $58,905 |
| Total (plus costs) | $1,548,488.75 |
Every claim is different, and this result does not predict the outcome of any other matter. It shows what the Scheme leaves out: a civil claim can compensate for lost income, lost superannuation and lifelong treatment costs, none of which a capped redress payment is designed to cover.
For a fuller comparison of both pathways, including our assessment of the Scheme’s limitations, see Understanding Australia’s National Redress Scheme: key insights and comparisons.
Should you apply for redress or pursue a civil claim?
This is one of the most important decisions a survivor will make. The right choice depends on the strength of available evidence, the severity and ongoing impact of the abuse, whether the institution participates in the Scheme, and your personal circumstances. Our article 5 things you should know about the National Redress Scheme covers the points survivors most often miss.
We recommend getting independent legal advice before deciding. Koffels Solicitors & Barristers offers a free, confidential consultation to help you understand which pathway is most appropriate for you. Call 02 9283 5599 or use the contact form below.
What evidence is required?
The Scheme takes a flexible approach to evidence, particularly for historical abuse. Evidence may include personal statements, institutional or placement records, medical or counselling records, and other material supporting your experience. You do not need to have made a formal complaint at the time of the abuse. Read more about the burden of proof in the National Redress Scheme.
Timeframes
Applications can take time to assess. Timeframes vary depending on the complexity of the application, the institution involved, and whether more information is needed. If you receive an offer, you can take time to consider it before deciding.
Getting advice about the National Redress Scheme
The National Redress Scheme can have long-term legal consequences, particularly for your civil compensation options. Independent legal advice can help clarify whether redress is available in your circumstances, what accepting an offer would mean, and how redress compares with a civil claim.
For a detailed analysis of the Scheme’s strengths and limitations, see The National Redress Scheme: a review.
The Scheme closes 30 June 2027
Applications to the National Redress Scheme close on 30 June 2027. Each week until the deadline, we publish one fact survivors need to know before applying, or before deciding not to. Read the NRS countdown series. To understand what the closing date means for you, see what happens when the National Redress Scheme expires.
Frequently asked questions
What does a National Redress Scheme lawyer actually do?
A National Redress Scheme lawyer does not prepare or lodge redress applications, because the Scheme is designed for survivors to apply directly. A specialist lawyer’s role is to advise you on whether applying for redress is the right decision in your circumstances, or whether a civil compensation claim would produce a better outcome.
This advice is critical because accepting a redress offer permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim against the same institution. The maximum payment is $150,000, and in practice many payments are significantly lower. Koffels provides this advice free of charge and without obligation. Call 02 9283 5599 or use the contact form below.
How much is a National Redress Scheme payment?
Payments range up to a maximum of $150,000, which is rarely reached. The average payment for serious abuse is around $80,000, and many payments are significantly lower. By comparison, a civil compensation claim is not capped and is assessed on the actual harm suffered. In one Koffels matter, the NSW Supreme Court awarded a survivor $1,548,488.75 plus costs.
Is the National Redress Scheme the same as compensation?
No. The National Redress Scheme is separate from civil compensation. It provides capped payments and support services rather than court-assessed damages. The maximum payment under the Scheme is $150,000. Civil compensation has no cap and is assessed on the actual harm suffered, including psychological injury, economic loss and treatment costs.
Can I apply if the abuse happened a long time ago?
Yes. Many applications involve abuse that occurred decades ago, provided the abuse happened before 1 July 2018 and involved a participating institution. Applications close on 30 June 2027.
What if the institution has not joined the Scheme?
If an institution has not joined the Scheme, redress may not be available through this pathway. However, other legal options, including a civil compensation claim, may still exist. Contact us to discuss your circumstances.
Do I have to accept an offer of redress?
No. If an offer is made, you can consider it and decide whether to accept or decline. You should never feel pressured to accept. Before accepting any redress offer, we strongly recommend getting independent legal advice, which is free at Koffels and can be arranged before you make any decision.
Can I still bring a civil claim after accepting redress?
Generally, no. Accepting a redress offer permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim against the same institution for the same abuse. This is one of the most important consequences of accepting redress, and it is why independent legal advice before accepting any offer is essential.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for redress?
You do not need a lawyer to apply for the National Redress Scheme. However, accepting a redress offer permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim against the institution for the same abuse, so independent legal advice before you decide is important. A lawyer can explain how the Scheme differs from a civil compensation claim, whether a civil claim may be viable in your circumstances, and what accepting an offer would mean for your future legal options. Applications close on 30 June 2027, so it is worth getting advice well before then.
Does Koffels help with National Redress Scheme applications?
We do not prepare or lodge National Redress Scheme applications. The Scheme is designed as a self-help process where survivors apply directly.
However, we provide independent legal advice on whether a civil compensation claim or a Scheme application is likely to achieve a better outcome in your circumstances. Some survivors receive significantly more compensation through a civil claim than through the Scheme, and we will advise you honestly on which option suits your situation. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation on 02 9283 5599.
Related information
- Institutional abuse compensation in Australia
- Institutional child sexual abuse lawyers
- Time limits and historical abuse claims in Australia
- 5 things you should know about the National Redress Scheme
- Understanding Australia’s National Redress Scheme: key insights and comparisons
- The National Redress Scheme: a review
- NRS countdown: 52 facts before the Scheme closes
