Victorian Redress Scheme

Redress for Historical Institutional Abuse is for people who experienced physical, emotional or psychological abuse and neglect as children in institutional settings in Victoria before 1990.

Applications opened on 10 December 2024 and are expected to be open for 18 months. Victorian Redress will be managed by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. 

If you apply and are found eligible, you will be offered: 
•    a payment of up to $20,000
•    a personal acknowledgement or apology
•    counselling.

You can choose any or all these options.

To be eligible, you need to meet the following criteria: 
•    lived as a child in a Victorian institution for at least 6 months before 1 January 1990
•    experienced physical, psychological, or emotional abuse or neglect in the Victorian institution.

When you apply, you will need to:
•    tells us what you know about the institution including the names and dates (approximate) you lived there
•    provide a brief description and examples of the abuse and/or neglect you experienced (approximately 300 words).

Please note, family members cannot apply on behalf of a person who has died.

You may not be able to apply for Victorian Redress, if you were placed in a justice facility as a child because you were found guilty of an offence, and you were not a state ward or under any other protective order. If you aren’t sure about your eligibility or institution, you can contact Open Place on 1800 779 379 or the Victorian Redress Support team on 1800 716 870 Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm or email victorianredress@dffh.vic.gov.au. 

What types of abuse and neglect is covered
Physical abuse
Psychological or emotional abuse 
Neglect

Victorian Redress does not cover sexual abuse. For more information on the National Redress Scheme, you can contact Open Place on 1800 779 379 or the National Redress Scheme on 1800 737 377.

What is included in Victorian Redress

Payment
Victorian Redress payments are to acknowledge harm and to support healing.
If you have received a prior payment from other Redress schemes or institutions, the payment will be deducted from the $20,000.

Personal acknowledgement or apology
You can receive a personal acknowledgement or apology from the institution/s responsible for the abuse and neglect you experienced as a child.

Counselling
You can access a counselling service, which will include 20 sessions delivered by qualified professionals. If you already receive counselling from a practitioner, you can continue with them.

Please contact the Coordinated Support Team at Open Place 1800 779 379 for more information or support to make an application for Victorian Redress.