Improve trust and confidence in the redress system

State claims processes are currently managed by the same institutions where survivors experience harm. 

This has resulted in low trust and concerns about the integrity of claims outcomes.  

At present, survivors seeking to challenge settlement decisions outside of redress agency review processes must go through lengthy, resource-intensive processes, creating barriers to timely and fair resolutions. Lack of system wide reporting limits the ability of survivors and the public to understand how the redress system is performing.  

The improvements

The improvements will enhance survivors’ trust and confidence in the redress system through the delivery of: 

• An independent review function for survivors with concerns about their settlement offer 

• A common monitoring and reporting framework incorporating survivors insights on their experiences seeking redress 

• The appointment of an independent Redress Officer to ensure financial payments to survivors with convictions for serious violent and sexual offences would not bring the redress system into disrepute 

• An independent review of the impact of the system changes. 

Independent review function

A new independent review function is being developed for survivors unhappy with the outcome of their claim. The function will sit outside of redress agencies and will enable survivors to seek a review before accepting a settlement offer. The completion of this work, including the appointment of independent reviewers is expected to be completed by June 2026.

Common monitoring and reporting framework

A common performance and reporting framework will be developed and in place by June 2026, and aligned with the delivery of an integrated operating model. 

Independent Redress Officer to consider redress for survivors with convictions for serious violence and sexual offences

A new process will be used to assess access to redress payments for survivors with convictions for serious violent and sexual offences. This will be overseen by an independent decision maker to determine that a redress payment would not bring the scheme into disrepute.

This will require legislation that will be enacted by June 2026 and the appointment of an independent decision maker by September 2026. An interim process is currently in place that enables the processing of new redress applications submitted since May 2025.

Review of system changes in 2027

The government will conduct an independent review of the impact of the redress improvements described in this website. The review is expected to be completed by October 2027.