The Albanese Labor Government is expanding eligibility under the National Redress Scheme for Institutionalised Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 to allow former child migrants who were sent to Australia from the United Kingdom and Malta, to apply to the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme).
The crucial change will ensure former child migrant survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents are able to receive recognition of the suffering they endured, regardless of residency status.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said the eligibility amendment will ensure the Scheme continues to provide survivors with acknowledgement, recognition, and support for the suffering they have endured.
“The Government recognises that some of the children sent to Australia under the child migration schemes went on to experience institutional sexual abuse in Australia,” Minister Rishworth said.
“Children sent to Australia under the child migration schemes deserve the opportunity to apply to the Scheme and seek redress for their experiences, regardless of residency status.”
Currently the Scheme’s legislation requires an applicant to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time they apply for redress. The change implements a decision of the Ministers’ Redress Scheme Governance Board and was agreed to by all jurisdictions.
This expansion is in addition to other key amendments that have been introduced to Parliament and, subject to the passage of legislation, will also improve the scheme, including:
- allowing applicants to provide additional information when requesting a review;
- reducing the circumstances where applicants must undertake a special assessment process;
- removing restrictions preventing incarcerated survivors from lodging an application and;
- enabling reassessment of finalised applications if a relevant institution later joins the Scheme.
Now former child migrants who were sent to Australia from the United Kingdom and Malta, and who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, will be able to apply to the scheme.
More information is available at the Department of Social Services website and the National Redress Scheme website.