The Catholic and Anglican Diocese of Ballarat have officially joined the National Redress Scheme.
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Hundreds of Ballarat institutions will now be searchable on the National Redress Scheme’s website, allowing survivors of institutional sexual abuse to begin making redress claims.
Both denominations are using limited corporations to streamline their responses - the Ballarat Anglican Diocesan Corporation Limited, and the Australian Catholic Redress Limited.
Non-government institutions have this option to provide representatives for groups of institutions.
According to the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat’s professional standards coordinator, Michael Myers, the system will make it easier for survivors - the body will represent more than 5000 diocese-led institutions, which does not include institutions run by other groups, such as the Christian Brothers.
“In general terms, it includes Centacare, our social welfare arm, all the primary schools, and it includes all the parishes, and it also includes schools that no longer function, but were previously operating under diocesan control - if one closed, that’s still on the list,” he explained.
“If a person is claiming abuse at that school, then they can search the list (on the National Redress Scheme website), and it will be one of the 5000 institutions.”
Ballarat diocese Bishop Paul Bird signed a deed of participation last week, which was then reviewed by the Federal Minister for Social Services, Paul Fletcher.
The Anglican Diocese was added to the list on Monday, and according to business manager Paul Jarvis, about 150 Ballarat institutions are included.
The incorporated bodies provide a single point for the government to “invoice” when a decision on redress is made - Mr Myers described it as a “conduit for the bishops”.
“My understanding of administrative arrangement, when information about the claim is relayed by the institution through the Australian Catholic Redress to the government, the government makes a decision about the redress that should be paid, and whether there should be an apology or counselling if the person wants that,” he said.
“Then the government will pay the person if there’s a lump sum redress, the government sends a cheque to the person, and the government will recover the money from the Catholic institution in question via the Australian Catholic Redress.
“The money will be paid by the diocese, Australian Catholic Redress is simply an administrative structure designed to streamline the church’s involvement.
“The point is that the Australian Catholic Redress Ltd doesn’t make any decisions, the government makes the decisions.”
READ MORE: Ballarat Diocese to support redress scheme
The Ballarat Anglican Diocesan Corporation works in a similar way, according to Mr Jarvis
“The benefit is, it’s completely independent of all the institutions that are members,” he said.
Other organisations that are separate from the diocese-controlled institutions will have to sign up to the National Redress Scheme separately, which includes some schools, hospitals, and orders in Ballarat.
At the first Ministers’ Redress Scheme Governance Board meeting this week, Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher joined ministers from all states and territories to urge non-government institutions to fast-track their entry to the scheme.
“The biggest constraint on offers of redress being made to survivors is that many institutions have not yet joined the scheme,” Mr Fletcher said in a press release.
“Everybody around the table expressed the strong view that this needs to happen as soon as possible because of the impact of delay on survivors of abuse.
“The communique from the meeting highlighted the shared view of ministers about the importance of institutions joining the scheme as soon as possible.
“The board indicated that it intends to start public reporting on the scheme early in the New Year, including naming institutions that have, and have not, joined.”
The board noted that as December 10, 11 non-government institutions had started in the Scheme, 21 payments had been made and 12 offers for redress were with applicants for consideration.
The National Redress Scheme is one way survivors can seek compensation, which does not deal directly with institutions.
A Department of Social Services spokesperson said four groups were using limited companies as their representatives.
“The Department of Social Services welcomes Australian Catholic Redress Limited into the National Redress Scheme and continues to work with other non-government institutions who have made commitments to join,” they said.
“All participating groups under the scheme’s legislation must have a representative. For this reason a number of groups have decided to set up new companies to act as the group’s representative.
“The Department strongly encourages all institutions, no matter how small or large, to join as quickly as possible. All institutions have until June 30, 2020 to join the scheme.”
If you or someone you know may be affected by this story, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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