JW NEWS | 20 February 2024 | PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Overview of the National Redress Scheme

Adapted from the video narrated by Samantha Radford

This video has been adapted to assist people who have experienced child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution in Australia – so that they can navigate and understand the National Redress Scheme.

This information is presented by the JW News Network in conjunction with SaySorry.org.

We thank the Australian Government for copyright assistance.

This video provides information on what the National Redress Scheme is, who can apply, and things to consider before applying.

Watching this video could raise difficult memories and feelings.

Remember to look after your wellbeing.

This might involve approaching someone you know and trust, or a Redress Support Service which can offer you help and support.

Free confidential Redress support services are available in all states and territories, providing emotional and practical support before, during, and after applying to the Scheme.

For more details got to: www.nationalredress.gov.au/support

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Between 2013 and 2017, the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse conducted a formal investigation into child sexual abuse, and the handling of abuse allegations, within institutions in Australia.

Case Study 29 looked into the response of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia to allegations of child sexual abuse.

For a copy of the full report into Jehovah’s Witnesses click here to DOWNLOAD.

RELATED ARTICLES

Part 1 | Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Child Abuse Royal Commission

Part 2 | Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Child Abuse Royal Commission

Inquiry into the operation of the National Redress Scheme

The current Australian Government Inquiry into the operation of the National Redress Scheme recently heard evidence that data, provided by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses the Child Sexual Abuse, revealed that there were up to 756 potential Redress Scheme applicants identified within the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution. This number is based on existing records which are understood to be incomplete.

Final Report and recommendations of the Child Abuse Royal Commission

Included in the Final Recommendations of the Royal Commission was that a scheme should be established to compensation survivors. This scheme became known as the National Redress Scheme.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses organisation, and the Watch Tower Society, have both joined the Redress Scheme to compensate child sexual abuse survivors.

What is the National Redress Scheme?

The National Redress Scheme acknowledges the significant trauma caused to people who experienced institutional childhood sexual abuse. It aims to help people access support, and to hold institutions to account.

The Scheme helps eligible applicants to get access to three things:

1. counselling,

2. a direct person response where the responsible institution acknowledges what happened and says sorry for the abuse, and

3. a redress payment which is decided on an individual basis from less than $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) to $150,000 (one-hundred and fifty thousand dollars).

FURTHER INFORMATION | What can you apply for? | National Redress Scheme

If you receive an offer, you can choose to accept any, or all of these.

For further information on cultural healing for First Nations People abuse survivors associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution, from within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, please refer to the following information:

FURTHER INFORMATION | Information for First Nations People | National Redress Scheme

What is an Institution?

An institution is an organisation like a school, church, parish, congregation, club, orphanage, children’s home, or government department.

The abuse could have happened at the institution, or where the institutions activities took place, such as during an event.

The abuse could have been by an official of the institution, like a worker or volunteer. The abuse could have happened while under the care of the institution.

For survivors of institutional abuse from within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the following examples may constitute institutional settings in which children were under the Jehovah’s Witnesses care, custody, supervision, control or authority. These include:

The Kingdom Hall, including meetings, hall cleaning, and maintenance;

At a formal congregation book study meeting held in a private home;

Receiving assistance under the Jehovah’s Witnesses child mentoring program for “fatherless boys” and spiritual orphans;

Building construction activities, including quick-builds, using children as child labourers;

Child minding services, including creche-type settings, operated during the 1970’s and 1980’s;

Volunteering at assemblies and conventions, including cleaning and food preparation;

The Assistance for Parent’s Program which operated at large religious gatherings;

As a student enrolled in the Jehovah’s Witnesses Theocratic Ministry School or the literacy program;

During religious education classes conducted by Jehovah’s Witnesses in public high schools;

As a short-term resident in one of the official Jehovah’s Witnesses Accommodation Centers, such as those set up by organisation’s Disaster Relief Committees;

As a recipient of residential accommodation provided through the official Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention Rooming Department;

During the congregation visiting speaker hospitality arrangement; or

During congregational field service while in the care of another member of the congregation.

Don’t be deterred by the current disinformation being published by either the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution or its Public Information Department. Such disinformation includes the false claims that:

“The religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses does not and never has sponsored any activities that have resulted in children being under its care, custody, supervision, control or authority”. – Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Australasia)

These claims are patently false.

Who Can Apply?

You may be eligible to receive redress through the Scheme if you experienced sexual abuse when you were under eighteen years of age, and the abuse happened before July the first 2018.

If an institution was responsible for bringing you into contact with the person who abused you, and if you were born before thirtieth of June 2010, you are eligible.

At the time you apply, you need to be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident.

If you have been convicted of a crime and received a single sentence of imprisonment of five years or more, you can still apply.

However, you will need to go through a special assessment process before you can access redress.

To access redress, the institution, or institutions, responsible for the abuse must have joined the scheme.

All congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and various Watch Tower Society entities, have joined the Redress Scheme. Information about them can be found on the Scheme’s website.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Institutions that have joined the Redress Scheme

Thinking about applying?

Deciding whether to apply to the Scheme might not be easy. Apply when you are ready at any time until 30 June 2027.

You can apply to the Scheme once only. However, you can withdraw your application and apply again up until an independent decision maker has made a decision on you application.

Before you apply, there are some things you should be aware of. The Scheme is an alternative to seeking compensation through the courts. Although the payout from a court could be higher, the Scheme requires a lower level of evidence.

For survivors of institutional child sexual abuse from within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organisation, the religion’s “two-witness rule” does not apply to the Redress Scheme.

The elders are not permitted to hold a judicial committee hearing over your application.

Knowmore can help you consider your options. Knowmore is a free independent legal service which provides advice and support around the National Redress Scheme.

If applying to the Scheme you can apply without having to pay for a private lawyer to represent you.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Start or continue an application | National Redress Scheme

You will need to write about what happened to you and how it has impacted your life.

Redress support services can help you with this.

If you have already received a payment for the abuse from the institution, such as an out of court settlement, or through a previous scheme, that value may be deducted from any redress payment the Scheme offers.

What does the Scheme payment mean for your finances?

For example, Redress payments are not considered income for the purposes of income tax, or social security, but can be included as part of the assets test for Commonwealth Government payments.

The information you provide in your application is protected and can only be used in limited circumstances. Some information will be provided to the institution, to check things such as: if you were in their care at the time of the abuse.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses organization will not be involved in ‘making a decision’ on your application.

If you accept an offer, you will no longer be able to begin or continue civil action against the responsible institution or institutions it is associated with. This does not extend to the people who abused you and does not release anyone from criminal liability.

It’s normal to feel nervous or distressed about the idea of applying. If watching this has brought up difficult feelings for you 24-hour telephone assistance is available via the following organisations: