I172. Hon Alison Xamon to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
(1) I refer to the establishment of a Commonwealth Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, and I ask:
(a) does the Western Australia n Government support the establishment of a national scheme;
(b) if no to (a), why not;
(c) if yes to (a), does the Government intend Western Australia to officially opt-in to the Commonwealth Scheme; and
(d) if no to (c), why not?
(2) I refer to the Redress and Civil Litigation Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and I ask:
(a) is the State Government currently funding any organisations to meet the ongoing needs of abuse survivors; and
(b) if yes to (a), please advise:
(i) the name of the organisations being funded;
(ii) the amount of annual funding provided to each organisation; and
(iii) the services each organisation is being funded to provide?
Hon Sue Ellery replied:
(1) (a) – (d) In November 2016, the Commonwealth Government announced it would establish a redress scheme by July 2018 for survivors of child sexual abuse (who were abused in Commonwealth institutions), with States, Territories and non-government institutions able to participate by ‘opting-in’.
Since the redress scheme was announced, Western Australia has been cooperatively engaging with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions on a ‘without prejudice basis’ on the development of the scheme.
To date, no jurisdiction or non-government institution has opted in to the Scheme.
Key issues are currently being considered by the Government to allow for an informed decision regarding opting in to the Commonwealth Scheme.
(2) (a) – (b) The Department of Communities funds the following services to provide support and counselling to child sexual abuse survivors.
| Service Provider | Service | Annual Funding 2017 – 18 |
| Allambee Counselling Inc | Peel Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Service | $214,671 |
| Anglicare WA Inc | Indigenous Child Sexual Abuse Response Service – Marooloo | $240,177 |
| Anglicare WA Inc | Child Sexual Abuse Therapy Service – Perth | $464,943 |
| Anglicare WA Inc | Anglicare Great Southern Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Service | $214,671 |
| Carnarvon Family Support Service Inc | Carnarvon Sexual Assault Response Service | $229,550 |
| Centrecare Inc | Goldfields Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Service | $229,550 |
| Desert Blue Connect Inc | Child Sexual Assault Counselling Service | $214,671 |
| Phoenix Support & Advocacy Service Inc | Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Service (Perth Metropolitan Service) | $371,954 |
| Parkerville Children and Youth Care Incorporated | Therapeutic Family Service (Wheatbelt Region) | $214,671 |
| Parkerville Children and Youth Care Incorporated | Parent’s and Children’s Therapeutic Service | $92,989 |
| UnitingCare West | UnitingCare West Child and Family Therapeutic Service | $743,909 |
| Waratah Support Centre (South West Region) Inc | Waratah Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Service | $322,007 |
| Yaandina Family Centre Inc | Yaandina Child and Family Counselling Service | $240,177 |
| Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation | Yorgum Healing Service | $759,844 |
| Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | Indigenous Healing Service | $399,798 |
The Department of Communities also funds the following two services to provide support and counselling to former child migrants dealing with childhood abuse suffered in institutional care.
| Service Provider | Service | Annual Funding 2017 – 18 |
| Child Migrants Trust Inc | Child Migrants Trust Perth | $116,215 |
| Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc | Tuart Place | $330,000 |