Children’s homes managed by Red Cross

Since 1924, Red Cross has managed a number of respite care homes for children. Most of these closed before 1970.

Occasionally we get a complaint about how someone was treated at one of the homes. We take every complaint seriously and investigate and respond to complaints in a caring, compassionate and prompt way. Red Cross deals with complaints on a case-by-case basis even if we no longer have any records. If there is a complaint, first of all we listen and do everything we can to make sure people are heard and feel supported.

Red Cross has committed to join the National Redress Scheme to provide people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse with another way of seeking redress.

We have been working closely with the Government since February 2020 to undertake the necessary steps to join. We have signed an Intent to Join, Memorandum of Understanding and have completed other operational steps including onboarding training. Our application is currently with the Government to approve. We anticipate that approval will be granted soon.

For more information on the National Redress Scheme, please visit the National Redress Scheme website or call 1800 737 377.

National Redress Scheme

Is Red Cross part of the National Redress Scheme?
Red Cross has committed to join the National Redress Scheme. We have been working closely with the Government since February 2020 to undertake the necessary steps to join.  Our application is currently with the Government to approve. We anticipate that approval will be granted soon. 

When will Red Cross be officially a part of the National Redress Scheme?
The process of joining the Scheme includes several legislative and operational steps, which can take between three to six months to complete.   

We have been working closely with the Government since February 2020 to undertake the necessary steps to join. We have signed an Intent to Join, Memorandum of Understanding and have completed other operational steps including onboarding training. Our application is currently with the Government to approve. We anticipate that approval will be granted soon.

Why is Red Cross only just joining the National Redress Scheme?
Until now, Red Cross has had its own process for investigating and responding to complaints in a caring, compassionate and prompt way. However, we wanted to provide people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse with another way of seeking redress.   

Institutions must join the Scheme as soon as possible, but no later than 31 December 2020.  

What is the National Redress Scheme?
The National Redress Scheme provides support to people who experienced child sexual abuse in Australian institutions.  It was launched in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. 

The Scheme:

• acknowledges that many children were sexually abused in Australian institutions
• holds institutions accountable for this abuse, and
• helps people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse gain access to counselling services, a direct personal response, and a Redress payment.

For information on the National Redress Scheme, please visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call 1800 737 377.

How to apply to the National Redress Scheme
For more information on the National Redress Scheme please visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call 1800 737 377.

Free and confidential Redress Support Services are available for anyone applying for, or considering applying for redress. These services are confidential and can help explain the Scheme and who can apply.

About Red Cross Homes

How do I get records about someone in a home managed by Red Cross? 
You can email privacy@redcross.org.au. All requests will be managed by our archivist and treated as requests for access to personal information under the Privacy Act 1988. While we’ll do our best to help you, it’s important to understand that records for many of these institutions no longer exist.

Why don’t you have better records from homes you managed? 
With the passage of time, most organisations that managed homes for children in decades past have few or no remaining records. Red Cross has some remaining records for some homes it operated in New South Wales. 

How do I find out what homes I might have been in?
Find & Connect is a resource for people who, as children, were in out-of-home care in Australia. It contains a listing of many homes that were historically operated by a number of organisations and institutions. You can access it at findandconnect.gov.au.

Do you still run homes for children? 
We have one program which has a residential component that targets people under the age of 18. The Young Parents Program in NSW has a residence for young parents and their children, funded by the NSW Government.

What is your process for responding to claims of mistreatment at a Red Cross home?
Protecting children is critically important to us. Red Cross deals with complaints on a case-by-case basis even if we no longer have any records. If there is a complaint, first of all we listen and do everything we can to make sure people are heard and feel supported. Where there is evidence to support the complaint, we will sincerely apologise and agree on appropriate compensation.

By joining the National Redress Scheme there will be an alternative way in which a complaint can be brought in regard to a person’s treatment at a Red Cross home. Where claims are brought through the Redress Scheme applicants would not have to deal with Red Cross directly unless they wanted to.

Current child protection arrangements

What processes do you have in place to protect children now?
We are committed to supporting child wellbeing and safety and protecting children in our work.  We embed a child safe organisational culture across our work, by: 

• maintaining a Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and program risk assessments, which are reviewed and updated regularly.
• managing the risk of employing or engaging persons who may pose a danger to the safety or wellbeing of children through Working with Child Checks, Police Checks and other screening mechanisms.
• providing training on the knowledge and skills on how to keep children safe and minimise risks.
• providing easy ways and support to report child protection concerns and take action in response to children’s safety and wellbeing
• requiring contractors and partner organisations to apply child protection standards in their activity with Red Cross 
• having zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, neglect or exploitation, and having sound and confidential mechanisms for reporting any child protection concerns to the relevant government authorities.
• working to embed the National Child Safe Principals.