National Redress Scheme Claim vs a Civil Claim
Survivors of historical child abuse may file either:
- A civil abuse compensation claim, or
- A National Redress Scheme claim.
Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Federal Government established the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
While the National Redress system provides an important and extremely valuable service, survivors should be aware that civil claims can often result in higher payouts — and that accepting a settlement under the National Redress System precludes you from seeking further damages.
For this reason, we strongly recommend that survivors of historical abuse speak to a specialist lawyer before accepting payment through the scheme.
A common misconception in historical abuse cases is that a perpetrator has to face criminal charges before civil claims can be filed. This is not true. If you or a loved one is a childhood sex abuse survivor, you can sue for compensation even if no criminal charges have been filed. This often means that civil action can succeed where criminal action has failed.
If you’re considering filing a claim, the first step is to book a free, confidential consultation with an experienced abuse compensation solicitor.
