Our Commitment
The Anglican Church of Australia regards any professional misconduct as a serious matter. Over the past decade, the Anglican Church has strengthened considerably the policies and procedures that are followed when misconduct is reported.
Anglican Church Southern Queensland (ACSQ) recognises that child sexual abuse and other abuse by a Church worker is a serious crime and a betrayal of trust. This abuse often has serious long-term effects on a person and their family, friends, associates and the broader community. ACSQ’s policies are intended to assist people who have been abused in the process of healing, and acknowledge the wrong suffered.
Our Policies
ACSQ supports the establishment of an independent and nationally consistent redress scheme administered by the Commonwealth Government.
The National Redress Scheme is now the primary scheme for people who were sexually abused as children in the Diocese of Brisbane and its parishes, schools, children’s homes and other agencies.
All people who were sexually abused as children are encouraged to apply directly to the National Redress Scheme.
To ensure that all people who were sexually abused as children within ACSQ have access to redress, ACSQ will operate its own adjunct redress scheme for those people who are not eligible to access the National Redress Scheme because of criminal convictions, they are non-residents or the abuse occurred after 1 July 2018.
An adjunct redress scheme will also operate for people who were harmed through non-sexual abuse while a resident at Tufnell Children’s Home or Enoggera Boys Home.
People who were abused are also entitled to seek full compensatory damages through personal injuries law processes, including civil litigation. We encourage anyone seeking full compensatory damages through personal injuries law processes to seek independent legal advice.
The information below largely deals with ACSQ’s polices for Redress.
Seeking Redress for Child Sexual Abuse
While the National Redress Scheme is the primary scheme for people who were sexually abused as children, ACSQ is committed to ensuring all people who were sexually abused as children have access to redress (as an alternative to civil litigation). ACSQ has an adjunct redress policy which provides access to redress for people who were sexually abused as children and who are not eligible to access the National Redress Scheme:
Redress and Related Matters – Child Sexual Abuse and School Fee Refunds
This applies to people who are ineligible to access the National Redress Scheme because:
of criminal convictions;
they are non-residents of Australia; or
the abuse occurred after 1 July 2018.
The ACSQ policy provides, where an allegation of abuse is substantiated:
1. Monetary Payments
ACSQ recognises that monetary payments provide a tangible recognition of the seriousness of the hurt and injury suffered by a person who has been abused.
Once a claim has been substantiated, financial redress is determined by direct negotiation or mediation between the applicant and the General Manager.
For sexual abuse claims, any offer of redress by ACSQ is based on the National Redress Scheme assessment framework. The maximum payment to an applicant is $150,000.
A redress monetary payment is not the same as full compensation or damages that may be awarded by a court. Applicants are encouraged to obtain independent legal advice before proceeding with an application for redress. ASCQ will pay up to $1,500 towards the applicant’s costs of obtaining initial advice from a lawyer of their choice.
2. Counselling and Psychological Care
ACSQ is committed to contributing towards the cost of counselling and psychological care for those with a substantiated claim. ACSQ will contribute up to $5,000 for counselling and psychological care.
3. Apology and Meeting with Institutional Representatives
When a claim has been substantiated, the applicant will receive a written apology from the Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr Phillip Aspinall. If the applicant wishes, there is also an opportunity to meet with and speak directly to the Archbishop or a senior member of ACSQ.
If child sexual abuse occurred within a Diocesan school, an apology and/or meeting can be arranged for the applicant with an appropriate senior representative of that school.
Any person wishing to seek redress under the adjunct policies, should contact the Group Manager, Redress & Claims in the General Manager’s Office:
Group Manager, Redress & Claims
373 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4001
GPO Box 421, Brisbane QLD 4001
redress@anglicanchurchsq.org.au
4. Refund of School Fees to Parents or Guardians
Where a claim of child sexual abuse has been substantiated in relation to a Diocesan school, either through the National Redress Scheme or through our adjunct redress policy, ACSQ also offers to the parents or guardians of the applicant a refund of school fees paid for the applicant. Please refer to the policy located here for further details.
Any person wishing to claim a school fee refund should contact the Redress and Claims Co-Ordinator in the General Manager’s Office:
Redress and Claims Co-Ordinator
373 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4001
GPO Box 421, Brisbane QLD 4001
redress@anglicanchurchsq.org.au
Seeking Redress for non-sexual abuse in Childrens’ Homes
An adjunct redress scheme will operate for people who were harmed through non-sexual abuse while a resident at Tufnell Children’s Home or Enoggera Boys Home:
The ACSQ policy provides, where an allegation of abuse is substantiated:
1. Monetary Payments
ACSQ recognises that monetary payments provide a tangible recognition of the seriousness of the hurt and injury suffered by a person who has been abused.
Once a claim has been substantiated, financial redress is determined by direct negotiation or mediation between the applicant and the General Manager.
For an application arising from non-sexual abuse which occurred at Tufnell Childrens Home or Enoggera Boys Home, a redress monetary payment will be assessed according to an assessment framework which has been modelled on the National Redress Scheme assessment framework. Please refer to the Non-Sexual Abuse – Childrens Home Abuse policy.
A redress monetary payment is not the same as full compensation or damages that may be awarded by a court. Applicants are encouraged to obtain independent legal advice before proceeding with an application for redress. ASCQ will pay up to $1,500 towards the applicant’s costs of obtaining initial advice from a lawyer of their choice.
2. Counselling and Psychological Care
ACSQ is committed to contributing towards the cost of counselling and psychological care for those with a substantiated claim. ACSQ will contribute up to $5,000 for counselling and psychological care.
3. Apology and Meeting with Institutional Representatives
When a claim has been substantiated, the applicant will receive a written apology from the Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr Phillip Aspinall. If the applicant wishes, there is also an opportunity to meet with and speak directly to the Archbishop or a senior member of ACSQ.
Any person wishing to seek redress under this adjunct policy should contact the Group Manager, Claims & Redress in the General Manager’s Office:
Group Manager, Claims & Redress
373 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4001
GPO Box 421, Brisbane QLD 4001
redress@anglicanchurchsq.org.au
If a survivor has previously received a payment from ACSQ and wishes to have their payment reviewed, refer to the Review of Redress and Settlements section below.
Report Abuse
To report abuse, send an email to redress@anglicanchurchsq.org.au or complete the below form.