National Redress Scheme news Funder of Last Resort announced for Fairbridge It was a long battle for survivors of abuse at Fairbridge institutions to have arrangements put in place for their claims to be paid under the National Redress Scheme. In a welcome development in March 2021, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston announced that the Australian state and federal governments would step in and take responsibility for paying Fairbridge claims. “This announcement means that applications can now be progressed, which name these institutions and where a government played a role in placing the child”, Minister Ruston said. Key players in achieving this positive outcome are Richard Hinch, President of the Old Fairbridgians’ Association WA, and Senator Dean Smith, Chair of the of the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme. Both were active in seeking to resolve the funding impasse, to allow NRS claims to be progressed. This development will affect approximately 70 applications by Fairbridge survivors, which are currently ‘on hold’, as well as future claims received by the Scheme. It had originally been hoped that Prince Charles’s personal charity the Prince’s Trust Group, and associated
entity Fairbridge Restored, would sign up to the Redress scheme, but after lengthy negotiations there is still no resolution in sight. “We will continue to work with the Prince’s Trust but we think the survivors should not have to wait any longer,” Minister Ruston said. Photo: Old Fairbridgians Mike Baker, Ric Hinch and Graham Bennett
But what about those who missed out? The announcement of a Funder of Last Resort for Fairbridge will be a bitter pill to swallow for those Fairbridge survivors who have already accepted a part payment under the National Redress Scheme. In cases where an institution hasn’t opted in to the Scheme, applicants can choose to accept a part payment straight away, but in doing so they waive their rights to full payment – even if the institution opts in at a later date, or an alternative funder is found – as has happened with Fairbridge. Obviously, this situation is unfair. The great majority of redress applicants are elderly, and many are in poor health with little money. They should not be forced to choose between accepting a half payment now, or waiting an unknown length of time for the possibility of full payment – hoping that the institution responsible for their childhood abuse decides to opt in to the Scheme. We call for National Redress Scheme guidelines to be amended so that applicants who accept a part payment can have it ‘topped up’ to the correct amount when a funder is
Tuart Place calls for NRS guidelines to change so that applicants who accept a part payment can have it ‘topped up’ to the correct amount when a funder opts in
found, or the responsible institution opts in. In the case of Fairbridge, Ric Hinch and his Committee continue to press for the UK Prince’s Trust to take direct responsibility for paying redress to survivors of abuse at Fairbridge institutions. It seems particularly important for this source of redress to be made available to those who missed out under the National Redress Scheme. In March 2021, a Prince’s Trust spokesperson welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to fund payments under the Scheme, and said that “the Trust remains committed to providing Fairbridge with funds to support victims and survivors.” We hope this commitment results in speedy action to alleviate the distress and ongoing uncertainty for survivors of abuse at Fairbridge institutions.
Review of the National Redress Scheme
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Survivors, advocates, and support services are eagerly awaiting the report of the second anniversary review of the National Redress Scheme, conducted by independent reviewer Robyn Kruk AO in August/September last year. A further online feedback survey was conducted throughout October 2020. A wide range of individuals and organisations contributed to the Review via written submissions and oral evidence, including participants and staff at Tuart Place.
The review was due to report to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston, by the end of February 2021. The Minister will decide if the report is to be made public. If the Minister agrees, the report will be published after 28 February 2021. Minister Ruston has committed to finding ways to improve the Scheme for survivors. We are looking forward to the Minister making public the findings of this important review.
