Royal Commission & Redress Schemes
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
Waller Legal has represented 20 survivor and related witnesses at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse public hearings. We are at the forefront of work for survivors of sexual abuse.
We represented Christine and Anthony Foster in Case Study 16 into the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Melbourne Response.
We represented Mr Manny Waks (and other witnesses) in Case Study 22 into Yeshivah Melbourne and Yeshivah Bondi.
We represented 10 witnesses in Case Study 28 into Catholic Church Authorities in Ballarat. We attended hearings in Ballarat, Melbourne and Sydney.
We represented former state wards in Case Study 30 into State Run Youth Training and Reception Centre’s including Turana, Winlaton and Baltara.
The Royal Commission made its final report public on the 15th of December 2017.
You can read more about the Royal Commission here: https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/
Redress Schemes – Compensation for Institutional Abuse
Waller Legal supports the work of the Royal Commission and Federal Government's announcement of a National Redress Scheme to pay compensation to survivors of institutional abuse.
While few details about the scheme are available, the key details are that:
- The scheme will commence in 2018 and run for 10 years, with an option to extend the scheme.
- Compensation will be capped at $150,000.00.
- The scheme is “opt-in”, meaning that states and organisations cannot be compelled to participate in the scheme.
Participating in the scheme
It is difficult to know whether it is advisable to participate in the scheme, as few details are currently available.
It is important to have the advantage of legal advice in order to know what the best option is for you. Survivors might have a viable compensation claim that exceeds the $150,000.00 cap.
The Royal Commission has recommended that people who have previously signed settlement agreements should be allowed to participate in the scheme.
We recommend that you register with us so that we can act promptly for you when further details of the national redress scheme become available.
Feel free to contact us on 03 9415 9999.
The Victorian Government may also establish a redress scheme for people sexually assaulted in institutional care.
We recommend that you register with us so that we can act promptly for you when further details of the national redress scheme become available.
A media release in relation to the National Redress Scheme is available here.