The Australian Jesuits have welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s Redress Scheme for survivors of past institutional child sexual abuse, tabled in Parliament last week.
‘The Scheme assists in acknowledging the harm that has been suffered by survivors and we hope it will be adopted nationally and go some way towards their healing’, the Jesuit Provincial, Fr Brian McCoy SJ, said.
‘The Australian Jesuits welcomed this Scheme back in November 2016, when it was first proposed. We are hopeful that the States, and non-government institutions, including all Catholic institutions, will join to make this a national reality.
‘In contrast to the bill that has been tabled, we believe the Scheme should follow the Royal Commission’s recommendations in these areas, that all survivors should have access to the Scheme, the maximum payment should be $200,000 and the Scheme should run for longer than 10 years’, Fr McCoy said.
The Australian Jesuits introduced the Australian Childhood Foundation’s, Safeguarding Children Program in 2016 and aims to have all parts of the organisation accredited by 2019. A five-person Professional Standards Consultative Panel has also been established to independently advise the Provincial on safeguarding children and young people.
Find out more about the Province’s safeguarding policies and activities here.