National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (2025 Measures No. 8) Declaration 2025
I, Patrick Hetherington, delegate of the Minister for Social Services, make the following Declaration.
Dated 09.10.2025
Patrick Hetherington
Chief Operating Officer
Department of Social Services
Contents
1 Name...................................................1
2 Commencement............................................1
3 Authority................................................1
4 Schedules................................................1
Schedule 1—Amendments 2
National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Declaration 2018 2
1 Name
This instrument is the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (2025 Measures No. 8) Declaration 2025.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information |
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Provisions | Commencement | Date/Details |
1. Sections 1 to 4 and anything in Schedule 1 not elsewhere covered by this table. | The day after this instrument is registered. | |
2. Schedule 1, items 1 and 6. | Immediately after the commencement of the provisions covered by item 1 of this table. | |
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
3 Authority
This instrument is made under subsection 115(2), section 119, subsection 134(1) and subsection 137(1) of the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018.
4 Schedules
Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1—Amendments
National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Declaration 2018
- Section 11 (at the end of the table)
Add:
194 | The Autism Queensland Limited institutions as at paragraphs (b) – (c) of Item 834 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Autism Queensland Limited |
195 | The Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated institution as at paragraph (b) of Item 835 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated |
196 | The Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc institutions as at paragraphs (b) – (c) of Item 836 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc |
197 | The Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited institution as at paragraph (b) of Item 837 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited |
- Subsection 15(1) (Item 284, Column 1)
Omit the words “paragraph (a) of”.
- Subsection 15(1) (Item 285, Column 1)
Omit the words “paragraph (a) of”.
- Subsection 15(1) (at the end of the table)
Add:
286 | The Autism Queensland Limited institution as at paragraph (a) of Item 834 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Autism Queensland Limited |
287 | The Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated institution as at paragraph (a) of Item 835 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated |
288 | The Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc institution as at paragraph (a) of Item 836 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc |
289 | The Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited institution as at paragraph (a) of Item 837 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited |
290 | The Sunrise Christian School Incorporated institutions as at Item 838 of the Table in Schedule 1 to this instrument | Sunrise Christian School Incorporated |
- Schedule 1 (at the end of the table)
Add:
823 | Athletics Essendon Inc. |
824 | Bridgewater Police and Citizens Youth Club Incorporated |
825 | Brisbane Christian College |
826 | Calvary Temple Christian Colleges Ltd. |
827 | Chameleon Regional Community Housing, Accommodation and Welfare Association Inc. |
828 | Girton Grammar School Ltd |
829 | Kings Christian Education Ltd. |
830 | Rissalah College Ltd |
831 | Snowy Mountains Grammar School Limited |
832 | SOS Children’s Villages Australia (SA) Incorporated |
833 | Tyndale Christian School – Salisbury East Incorporated |
- Schedule 1 (at the end of the table)
Add:
834 | Autism Queensland Limited - Autism Queensland Limited
- Autistic Children’s Association of Queensland Limited
- Autism Queensland Inc
|
835 | Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated - Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated
- Peel Street Chapel (in existence from 1900 to 31 December 2022)
|
836 | Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc - Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc
- Outreach (360 Fairbairn Avenue Pialligo ACT 2612)
- Outreach Incorporated (360 Fairbairn Avenue Pialligo ACT 2612)
|
837 | Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited - Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited
- Toowoomba Rugby League (in existence from 1919 to 1990)
|
838 | Sunrise Christian School Incorporated - Sunrise Christian School Incorporated
- Temple Christian College Incorporated
- Sunrise Christian School Whyalla Incorporated
- Adelaide Christian Schools Early Learning Centres Incorporated
|
Overview
The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (2025 Measures No. 8) Declaration 2025I was enacted to amend the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018. This legislation was introduced to address the need to expand the list of institutions covered under the National Redress Scheme, ensuring that more victims of institutional child sexual abuse have access to redress and support. The Declaration was made by Patrick Hetherington, the delegate of the Minister for Social Services, under the authority granted by the Act. The policy objective of the amendment is to provide a comprehensive framework for redress, recognising and addressing the harm caused by institutional child sexual abuse.
This amendment expands the list of institutions subject to the National Redress Scheme by adding several new institutions and correcting previous omissions. The changes are designed to ensure that victims from these institutions can seek redress through the Scheme. The amendments include specific institutions such as Autism Queensland Limited, Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated, Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc, and Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited, among others. These additions are intended to provide broader coverage and support for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.
Scope and Application
The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (2025 Measures No. 8) Declaration 2025I amends the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Declaration 2018, which is made under the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018. This legislation applies to entities that have been identified as institutions where child sexual abuse occurred, including the addition of new institutions such as Autism Queensland Limited, Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated, Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc, and Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited, among others. The amendments extend the scheme's reach to cover these additional institutions, ensuring they are included in the processes for providing redress to victims. The changes made by this Declaration commence on specific dates, with certain provisions taking effect immediately after the commencement of other specified provisions. The amendments do not exclude any particular entities or types of abuse from the scheme, thereby broadening the scope of entities accountable under the Act. This instrument operates within the Commonwealth jurisdiction, affecting entities across Australia that fall under the identified institutions.
Key Provisions
The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (2025 Measures No. 8) Declaration 2025I, made under the authority of the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018, amends the existing legislation to further expand the list of institutions eligible for the National Redress Scheme. Sections 1 to 4 of the Declaration, as well as certain items in Schedule 1, commence the day after the instrument is registered. Specific provisions within Schedule 1, however, come into effect immediately after the initial commencement date.
The amendments primarily involve adding new institutions to the list of those eligible for the scheme, ensuring that a broader range of entities are covered under the National Redress Scheme. This includes adding institutions like Autism Queensland Limited, Peel Street Gospel Chapel Incorporated, Richmond Fellowship ACT Inc, and Toowoomba Rugby Football League Limited, among others. Additionally, the amendments also involve making specific adjustments to certain subsections to correctly reference these newly included institutions.
The obligations and requirements imposed by this legislation on the parties involved are primarily administrative and compliance-based. Institutions that are newly added to the list must comply with the existing requirements of the National Redress Scheme, which includes establishing processes for handling claims of child sexual abuse and ensuring transparency in their operations. The Act mandates these institutions to report any incidents of abuse, cooperate with investigations, and participate in any redress processes as required.
Breaching the obligations set forth by this legislation can lead to various consequences. While the Declaration itself does not specify detailed penalties, the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 outlines potential civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Institutions that fail to adhere to the requirements could face fines, legal action, and reputational damage. In severe cases, individuals within these institutions could also face criminal charges, depending on the nature and severity of the non-compliance.