Nothing can completely make right the harm that was done to survivors of abuse in care. Redress is about taking meaningful steps towards this goal.
This topic may bring up a range of emotions. We have some suggestions of help and support that is available to you.
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry’s interim redress report, published in December 2021, says that redress for survivors of abuse or neglect in care should include:
Some government, faith-based and other organisations offer out-of-court redress for survivors of abuse in care. This might be in the form of payments, apologies, and other support and rehabilitation services.
You can make a claim for redress to the organisation that was responsible for your guardianship or care (or has taken responsibility for redress).
Find out about when your whānau can progress your claim if you die before receiving redress for abuse in State care.
Learn more about the redress process and organisations that offer redress.
You also have the option of going to court and you may be eligible for support and / or compensation from ACC.
For people who choose to make a claim for redress, this can be a challenging process. Learn where you can find support to help you make a claim.
In July 2024 the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published their final report on redress processes for survivors and their whānau.
Learn more about the Royal Commission’s recommendations on redress processes for survivors of abuse in careopen_in_new.
From 18 December 2024 to 31 December 2025, the Government provided redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit).
On 9 May 2025 the Government announced an increase in payments for survivors of abuse in State care. This includes a top-up payment for survivors who have previously received a payment for abuse in State care:
Find out more about the top-up paymentsopen_in_new
From May 2025, survivors who want to claim redress from a government agency are asked to also give consent to have their criminal history and sentence history checked. If the Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill is passed, survivors who have made a redress claim on or after 9 May 2025 could have their claim rejected if they have been sentenced to more than five years in jail for serious violent or sexual offending.
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