AOC and Netball Australia lead way in abuse redress dash

The AOC and Netball Australia will be the first major sporting groups to sign up to the National Redress Scheme for child sexual abuse survivors.

Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll. Picture: AFP

The Australian Olympic Committee and Netball Australia will become the first major sporting groups to sign up to the National Redress Scheme, which has paid out almost $202m to child sexual abuse survivors from more than 7100 applications.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the support of the AOC and Netball Australia, which have indicated their commitment to join the scheme, showed “considerable leadership”. AOC chief executive Matt Carroll told The Australian they had “commenced the onboarding process” and submitted paperwork to facilitate the AOC joining the National Redress Scheme.

“There has never been any doubt about the commitment of our family of sports to assist those who have suffered child sexual abuse,” Mr Carroll said.

He said the AOC was working with Senator Ruston’s office to develop a “viable mechanism for Olympic sports to join by December 31”.

Following calls from Senator Ruston for major codes and groups to join the redress scheme last year, Netball Australia chair Paolina Hunt said they had taken a “strong and important stance”.

“Netball Australia acknowledges the catastrophic impact abuse has on the lives of those abused, and their families and friends,” Ms Hunt said.

Senator Ruston said an ­additional 130 institutions had recently signed up to the scheme and warned others named in ­either the royal commission or applications to the scheme they must provide a “clear written statement” with their intent to join no later than June 30.

“I have warned institutions that failure to fulfil their moral obligation to join the scheme will have consequences including financial sanctions as well as being publicly named on 1 July,” she said.

The states, territories and 222 non-government institutions, at more than 50,960 sites including churches, homes, charities, schools and community groups, are participating in the scheme.

As of last week, it had received 7133 applications, made 2501 payments totalling almost $202m with a further 623 redress offers awaiting an applicant’s decision.

Senator Ruston on Wednesday will announce Mental Health Australia chair Robyn Kruk is leading an independent review of the scheme.