National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme began on 1 July 2018. The scheme will provide support to people who were sexually abused as children while in the care of an institution.

For information and to apply, visit the National Redress Scheme website (https://www.nationalredress.gov.au/) or call the National Redress Information Line on 1800 146 713.

​Support services
Be assured you are not alone, there are many services and support groups available to assist in dealing with your trauma. Some options for advice and support are listed on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse website. Some are listed below:
 

• 1800 Respect

Call 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au
24/7 telephone and online crisis support, information and immediate referral to specialist counselling for anyone in Australia who has experienced or been impacted by sexual assault, or domestic or family violence.
 

• Lifeline

Call 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention

 

Further information and reports

• Attorney- General:

https://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/Australian-Government-Response-to-the-Royal-Commission-into-Institutional-Responses-to-Child-Sexual-Abuse/Pages/default.aspx
 

• Australian Institute of Family Studies:

https://aifs.gov.au/research-aifs-royal-commission-institutional-responses-child-sexual-abuse
 

References

• Chou, K.-L. (2012).     Childhood sexual abuse and psychiatric disorders in middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 73(11), e1365-1371. 

• Dorrepaal, E., Thomaes, K., Hoogendoorn, A. W., Veltman, D. J., Draijer, N., & van Balkom, A. J. L. M.  (2014).     Evidence-based treatment for adult women with child abuse-related Complex PTSD: A quantitative review. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), 23613. DOI: 10.3402/ejpt.v5.23613. 

• Mills, R., Kisely, S., Alati, R., Strathearn, L., & Najman, J. (2016).     Self-reported and agency-notified child sexual abuse in a population-based birth cohort. Journal of psychiatric research, 74, 87-93. 

• Maniglio, R. (2011).     The role of child sexual abuse in the etiology of substance-related disorders. Journal of addictive diseases, 30(3), 216-228. 

• Pereda, N., Guilera, G., Forns, M., & Gómez-Benito, J. (2009).     The international epidemiology of child sexual abuse: A continuation of Finkelhor (1994). Child Abuse & Neglect, 33(6), 331-342. 

• Elzy, M. B. (2011).     Examining the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and borderline personality disorder: Does social support matter? Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 20(3), 284-304. 

• Pfeiffer, M. (2014).    The Presence and Relationship of Depression, Anxiety/panic Disorder and PTSD Among Adults who Were Physically And/or Sexually Abused as Children. Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco.  

• Shlonsky, A., Albers, B., & Paterson, N. (2017).     Rapid evidence review on the availability, modality and effectiveness of psychosocial support services for child and adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Sydney. 

• Courtois, C. A. (2004).     Complex trauma, complex reactions: Assessment and treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, research, practice, training, 41(4), 412-425.

• Cloitre, M., Courtois, C. A., Charuvastra, A., Carapezza, R., Stolbach, B. C., & Green, B. L. (2011).     Treatment of complex PTSD: Results of the ISTSS expert clinician survey on best practices. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(6), 615-627.