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ANAO finds slow processing and uneven oversight in the redress scheme and presses DSS to tighten planning before 2028.

The way a national redress scheme exceeding $5 billion has been managed by the Department of Social Services (DSS) has been deemed partly effective overall, with improvements recommended for governance arrangements, administering processes, monitoring and reporting.

An Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) review of the scheme — which was established in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse — aimed to assure parliament that it was being administered effectively by bureaucrats.

The ANAO found arrangements to monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the national redress scheme were “partly appropriate”, and also warned application processing would need to be accelerated to meet the intended sunset date by mid-2028.

“Effectiveness of the department’s administration can be improved through stronger planning, more timely processing of applications, enhanced reporting, and coordinated evaluation of engagement activities,” the audit report read.

“With 60%of applications awaiting an outcome as at 4 July 2025, improving service delivery, stakeholder communication and processing efficiency is needed to ensure the department can manage the legislated end of the scheme in 2028.”

The audit office recognised that the scheme’s administration and governance arrangements had matured since its establishment, but also underscored how strategic planning between DSS and Services Australia was inconsistent, as well as delays over end-of-scheme planning and a failure to consider business plans until five years after the scheme was underway.

“Of the 15 communications strategies, plans and frameworks, 10 had not been evaluated, and there was a lack of overall coordination,” the audit report read.

“By June 2025, the scheme had engaged with 63,738 applicants and 911 institutions. The lack of comprehensive communications evaluation and shared risks reporting limited the department’s ability to identify and act on opportunities to improve scheme performance.”

In order to finalise planned work of the redress scheme by mid-2025, the report also suggested DSS find faster ways to manage application processing and institutional onboarding.

The department would further need to operationalise decision-making quality mechanisms, standardise reporting to improve visibility of complaints and revocations, and leverage insights to support continuous improvement, the ANAO found.

The scheme, which acknowledges ‘many children were sexually abused in Australian institutions and seeks to hold institutions to account for this abuse and help people who have experienced abuse gain access to redress’, commenced in July 2018 and is set to run until 30 June 2028.

Nearly 64,000 applicants have engaged with the scheme since it came into operation, and a total of $1.7 billion was paid to survivors as of 4 July 2025.

Survivors who successfully claim against the scheme can receive $150,000, may access counselling and psychological support (or a monetary payment of ($5,000), and receive a personal response from the institution responsible (those institutions that are partly participating in the scheme).

Approximately 60% of applications to the scheme are waiting for DSS to make a decision about their outcome. The average waiting time for an application to be processed just exceeds 16 months, and a favourable outcome is given to applicants where “there is a reasonable likelihood” they are eligible for redress.

The ANAO also highlighted DSS’ arrangements to monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness, which were deemed to be “partly appropriate”.

“The [scheme’s performance] measures lacked comprehensive tracking of application processing, progress and efficiency,” the report read.

“No departmental oversight existed for Services Australia’s delivery against service levels, limiting insight into effectiveness.

“Since 2018, six reviews have made 142 recommendations, with 76% agreed to by the government and 88% of those were implemented by June 2025.

“Monitoring and reporting limitations constrained the department’s ability to assess the scheme’s efficiency and achievement of intended outcomes.”

The audit findings were made publicly available on Monday, with DSS agreeing to all five of its recommendations made in the report.

DSS Secretary Michael Lye said many of the ANAO’s recommendations for the management of the scheme aligned with work already underway, and that a reviewed project management and governance arrangement was adopted in August.

“The department is close to finalising an updated communication plan that will underpin a revised communication framework, informing messaging through to the end of the scheme,” Lye said.

“The scheme’s independent decision-making quality framework has been endorsed, and resourcing has been assigned to its implementation.

“The department is also working with Services Australia to establish a joint governance body with the scheme to ensure oversight and reporting of service delivery standards.”

The estimated funding profile scheme over its life is more than $5.7 billion as of July 2025, including special appropriations.

The costs of redress should be directly shouldered by non-government participating institutions.

CLAN Homepage > About > About CLAN to be found under the heading Annual Report Archive.

Final design for National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

12 November 2025

The Albanese Labor Government, working together with victims and survivors, has selected the final design for the National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.

The chosen design embodies protection, strength, and enduring connections, and offers a space for healing and reflection shaped by the voices of victims and survivors.

This important step towards a completed National Memorial comes on National Survivors’ Day, which recognises and commemorates the courage and journeys of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and their supporters across Australia.

The new design was selected through a two-stage procurement process managed by the National Capital Authority. The process was informed by advice from the National Memorial Advisory Group, an important body comprised of survivors and community leaders.

The National Capital Authority will manage SUPERSENSE STUDIO to deliver this critical project with construction to commence next year.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended a national memorial to help survivors who felt that remembering was one way to help prevent child sexual abuse and protect children in the future.

Support is available 24/7 for anyone who is experiencing emotional distress on the National Redress Scheme website.

Renders of the National Memorial are available here.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:

“We know victims and survivors have been waiting a long time for the construction of this Memorial.

“Today, on National Survivors’ Day, we recognise the pain, suffering, and trauma experienced by victims and survivors, and the long-term impacts this has on lives and families.

“We continue to listen to – and acknowledge – all those who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

“This new design brings us one step closer to creating a place of remembrance, reflection, truth, healing, and hope.”

Quotes attributable to Senator for the ACT, Katy Gallagher:

“The establishment of the National Memorial here in Canberra is a powerful recognition of the courage and resilience of victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

“This memorial will offer a dedicated space for reflection, healing, and hope, a permanent reminder of our commitment to listening, learning, and ensuring these experiences are never forgotten.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain:

“The Government is proud to be delivering this project of National significance in the Canberra, and establishing a memorial on the national estate that has a strong meaning to those it represents.

“With this project we invite survivors and their families to share a space where they can experience a moment of personal peace and shared understanding.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne:

“This memorial being in the Nation’s capital is significant as a place for all Australians to reflect on what this space means for so many victims and survivors.

“I’m proud to be part of a Government that is committed to listening to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, and supporting them through their healing journey.”

Thank you to CLAN President Sue Whittington-Stevens who acted as the CLAN representative in the National Memorial Advisory Group.

With the Scheme scheduled to conclude on 30 June 2028, the inquiry will primarily examine the outstanding case management load, the availability and effectiveness of support services for applicants, and the transition arrangements as the Scheme approaches its end.

The Committee will also assess whether the Scheme is achieving its intended objectives and meeting the expectations of survivors and the broader community.

Committee Chair, Ms Jodie Belyea MP, said ‘We know the Scheme matters to many people. As we move closer to its scheduled conclusion, the Committee is focused on assessing its effectiveness and exploring what a thoughtful, well-managed transition looks like’.

‘This inquiry is an opportunity to explore how the Scheme can better support survivors now and into the future.’

The Committee welcomes submissions in response to the inquiry terms of reference by Friday, 6 February 2026. Submissions are encouraged from a wide range of stakeholders, including government, legal and support bodies, researchers, and survivors.

Full details of the inquiry, including the terms of reference, are available on the Committee’s website.

To view the Joint Media Release by Minister Tanya Plibersek & Attorney-General Michelle Rowland 22.10.2025 please click here

Please know the CLAN office will be closed from 9am-5pm Monday 6th October 2025 for Labour Day in NSW.

We encourage you to ring the office on 1800 008 774, leave a voicemail and the CLAN team will return your call.

Dion Barber was awarded a landmark $2.85million payout after the state department took him BACK to his childhood abuser while in care: ‘Sheer negligence’ By Australian Associated Press Published: 9 September 2025

Enjoy some snapshots of our 25th Anniversary day and night from Saturday 6 July 2025 when we celebrated 25 years of CLAN caring for Care Leavers!

Co-Founder of CLAN Joanna Penglase, NSW & CLAN Committee member Carol, South Australia

Former Royal Commissioners Robert Fitzgerald AM now the Age Care Discrimination Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission & CLAN Patron Bob Atkinson speaking about the significance of gaining Clannies’ trust during the Royal Commission

The Rev. Bill Crews, Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek & Edith, Queensland

CLAN Volunteer & Committee member Anne, Victoria & CLAN Vice President Heather, NSW in lovely Christmas in July outfits for dinner

Participants were surveyed every two years about daily lives, including usual activities, social connections, and perceptions, before undertaking tests on cognitive functions like episodic memory.

The researchers identified three distinct profiles: people who are socially isolated and feel lonely, people who are not socially isolated but still feel lonely, and people who are socially isolated but do not feel lonely.

They then investigated whether each profile had a different trajectory of reduced cognitive function, finding those with hearing impairments who felt lonely experienced faster cognitive decline — regardless of their level of social isolation.

That combination of perceived loneliness and hearing impairment could put people at two to three times’ the risk of such decline.

‘‘We found that people who were not socially isolated but who felt lonely saw their cognitive decline accelerate when they were deaf,’‘ co-author and university professor Matthias Kliegel said.

With about 30 per cent of people over 60 having hearing loss, the findings underscore the importance of addressing the social and emotional aspects of hearing loss as well as its physical elements.

The World Health Organization estimates almost 2.5 billion people will have some form of hearing loss by 2050, 700 million of whom will require hearing rehabilitation.

I want to say thank you all Clannies CareLeavers & our Supporters who show their support in many varied ways:

Thank you to everyone for donating your precious items to the Australian Orphanage Museum

Thank you for your service and for the support you have given me over the last 12 months, it has been invaluable to me

Finally we need some MEN to join the Committee for 2023–2024. Glen joined the Committee in 2019 and is now retiring to write his book. So come on you blokes, help us by nominating for the Committee.

Redress scheme for institutional child sexual abuse: Audit warns processing too slow

Final design for National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:

Quotes attributable to Senator for the ACT, Katy Gallagher:

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain:

Quotes attributable to Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne:

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