Acknowledging the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

22 October 2025

Wednesday 22 October 2025 marks the 7th Anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. This apology acknowledged the profound harm caused by decades of abuse in institutions that were meant to protect children, and recognised the courage of victim-survivors who came forward to share their stories.

The National Apology followed the landmark Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which ran from 2013 to 2017. The Royal Commission heard from over 8,000 victim-survivors and made 409 recommendations to improve child safety and institutional accountability.

During the Royal Commission, our Reclaim Support Service provided counselling, information, advice and support free of charge to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse, their families and employees of institutions or organisations where abuse took place. Our Open Place Support Service also supported Forgotten Australians who shared their stories to the Royal Commission.

One of the most significant outcomes of the Royal Commission was the establishment of the National Redress Scheme, designed to provide victim-survivors with:

• a direct personal response (an apology) from responsible institutions
• access to counselling and psychological care
• a monetary payment as recognition of the harm suffered.

Through our Redress Support Services, and Open Place National Redress Scheme service for Forgotten Australians, we offer trauma-informed, confidential support to help victim-survivors understand their options, navigate the application process, and access therapeutic support.

‘I felt cared for and nurtured through the whole Redress process. It was something I hadn’t experienced before. I had been to counsellors in the past, but I had never felt validated liked this. Through the Redress service I felt very validated. Every person I’ve spoken to in this whole process has made me feel cared for.’ – Redress Support Services client

As we commemorate this anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting victim-survivors and to creating safer institutions for future generations.

Find out more about our Redress Support Services, and our Open Place National Redress Scheme service for Forgotten Australians.

Redress Support Services are funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

The Open Place suite of services is funded by the Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and the Australian Government Department of Social Services.