A parliamentary committee inquiring into the operation of the National Redress Scheme is continuing to look closely into a range of areas, including:
- The experience of First Nations applicants and applicants with disability in their dealings with the Scheme.
- Accessibility, performance and effectiveness of support services and legal advice for survivors and their advocates.
While the Committee inquiry continues to explore the issues raised, examples of matters brought to the Committee’s 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.
- Concerns regarding delays processing applications, the consistency of redress outcomes and the transparency of decisions.
About the inquiry
Full details of what the inquiry is examining can be found in the terms of reference on the Committee’s website. An easy English guide to making a submission is also available.
Senator Catryna Bilyk, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, said:
‘The Committee has received important evidence to date, and we thank those people who have come forward to share with us this valuable information. We are committed to continuing our inquiry into any issues that people wish to raise about the operation of the National Redress Scheme.’
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.
