Applying for redress and revisiting past experiences can be challenging.
You can choose someone you trust to help with your application.
This could be a:
family member
friend
counsellor
trusted worker from an organisation.
Your support person can:
help you understand what redress is
assist you to apply
offer emotional support and encouragement.
Nominee
You can also choose someone to act on your behalf (known as a nominee). The nominee can:
complete a power of attorney document and make decisions for you
through a court order, act as a guardian or help to manage your money.
Support services
These free and confidential Redress support services can help with your application.
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) – 1800 008 774
Child Migrants Trust - 1800 04 05 09
Connecting Home – 8679 0777
Drummond Street Services – 9663 6733
IGFF (In Good Faith Foundation) – 1300 124 433
Open Place (Relationships Australian Victoria) – 1800 779 379
Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) – 9287 8800
24-hour support
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you need immediate support, contact one of the below 24-hour services:
BeyondBlue – 1300 224 636
Full Stop Australia – 1800 385 578 or 1800 211 028
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Mensline – 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
13YARN – 13 92 76
Ongoing supports and services
The Government provides ongoing support services through Open Place (Relationships Australia Victoria) and Care Leavers Australasia Network where you can go for support, separate to applying for Redress.
Open Place (Relationships Australia Victoria)
Open Place is a support and advocacy service that coordinates and provides direct assistance to people who grew up in Victorian orphanages and homes prior to 1990.
Relationships Australia Victoria manages Open Place services in Victoria. This includes:
- advocacy, case work support and referrals to other services such as health, housing, education, income support and employment
- counselling with qualified staff -the counselling can be for you, your family or in a group session with other people. You can attend in person or online if you prefer.
- drop-in centre (located in Richmond), peer and social support groups, events, educational and personal development activities and workshops
- financial assistance for health needs (e.g., dental expenses)
- access to records
- supporting people applying or thinking about applying for redress through the National Redress Scheme.
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN)
CLAN is a national, independent, peak membership body which represents, supports and advocates for people who were raised in Australian and New Zealand orphanages, children’s homes, missions & foster care.
Their services include, but are not limited to:
- Free counselling
- helping you access state ward files and records
- helping you to locate lost family members and friends
- social get-togethers
- supporting you with Centrelink, housing, policy and courts.
- assisting you apply for the National Redress Scheme.
Find and Connect
Find and Connect is an online resource for anyone interested in the history of child welfare in Australia.
You can use it to:
- read information about and view images of children’s homes
- get help to find records about your childhood in institutions
- connect with support groups and services in Victoria.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Redress, contact the Redress support team at the department by:
- phone on 1800 716 870 (free call) between 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
- email at victorianredress@dffh.vic.gov.au