Elise Archer,Attorney-General
Minister for Justice
Expressions of Interest have now opened to establish a register of providers to receive referrals and deliver counselling for eligible Tasmanian applicants under the National Redress Scheme.
This is an important step toward delivering an important component of the National Redress Scheme.
The register will identify practitioners as having appropriate capabilities to provide counselling and psychological care to people affected by child sexual abuse. This will ensure access to highly qualified providers, skilled in working with survivors with complex trauma, and an understanding of the effects of institutional child sexual abuse.
The delivery of specialist counselling services, at an estimated cost of $8 million during the life of the Scheme, is a key recommendation of the Royal Commission's Redress and Civil Litigation Report.
The Hodgman Liberal Government joined the National Redress Scheme last year and committed $70 million towards it, which is in addition to the estimated $8 million cost of delivering counselling services.
We know that nothing can undo the suffering and damage caused by institutional child sexual abuse. However, we will continue to do what we can to provide practical and meaningful assistance for Tasmanians to deal with the trauma associated with sexual abuse.
