Advance redress payments (previously called hardship payments) offer a one-off payment to people who were physically, psychologically or emotionally abused or neglected as children while living in institutional settings in Victoria before 1990, and who are now terminally or critically ill.
Applications for advance redress payments will be open until 5pm, Monday 9 December 2024.
After this date, we will not be accepting applications.
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (the department) will still assess your application if you applied before 9 December 2024.
If you have a question, please contact Redress Support team by:
Following stakeholder consultation on best reflecting the nature of the payments in the name, these are now called advance redress payments (previously called hardship payments).
These advance redress payments were announced, along with the establishment of redress, for Victorians, who were placed in institutional settings as children before 1990 and experienced physical, psychological and emotional abuse or neglect.
Redress will be co-designed and administered by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (the department). Advance redress payments are for people who, due to their illness, are unlikely to be able to access redress when it starts.
For more information about redress and other support that is available, visit People who lived in institutional settings before 1990.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a one-off $10,000 advance redress payment, a person abused or neglected as a child in Victorian institutional settings will need to:
- have been placed in Victorian institutional settings for at least 6 months before 1990
- have a terminal or critical illness.
The person should be alive when the completed application is submitted.
For more information view the Questions and answers about the advance redress payment (Word).
To apply
- read the application form instructions
- complete the Application form on a computer or paper. The form has been updated with instructions on nominating one or more beneficiaries or your estate to receive your payment if you die before the payment is made.
- have a registered medical practitioner complete the Medical statement form to indicate you have a terminal or critical illness
- provide certified copies of two documents that confirm your identity
- send the completed application form, the Medical statement form and certified copies of your two identity documents via:
- email: VictorianGovernmentRedressScheme@dffh.vic.gov.au or
- post: Victorian redress, advance redress payment, GPO Box 1774, Melbourne VIC 3001.
- email: VictorianGovernmentRedressScheme@dffh.vic.gov.au or
Document downloads
- Application form instructions (Word)
- Application form (Word)
- Medical statement form (Word)
- Questions and answers about the advance redress payment (Word)
- Questions and answers for medical practitioners (Word)
Help with your application
You can get help to apply for an advance redress payment from the following organisations:
- Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN)
phone: 1800 008 774 or 0425 204 747
email: support@clan.org.au - Open Place (Relationships Australia Victoria)
phone: 1800 779 379 or (03) 9421 6162
email: info@openplace.com.au
You can nominate a support person or organisation to help you with the application process. A support person or organisation cannot apply for an advance redress payment or accept or decline an offer on your behalf.
If someone acts on your behalf in a legal capacity, such as Power of Attorney, they can also apply on your behalf as your nominee. They will need to provide evidence that they act on your behalf in a legal capacity.