Survivors' ribbons return to Ballarat as redress scheme faces shutdown
Ribbons honour abuse survivors on November 10. The National Redress Scheme closes in June 2028 with no replacement planned.
Ribbons line St Patrick's Cathedral in Ballarat for National Survivors' Day. Ribbons show solidarity with people harmed by institutional abuse.
The ribbons were first placed in 2015 after the Royal Commission. Sometimes objectors cut them down.
Survivors say this makes them feel invisible again. Survivor Peter Buchanan said the scheme from the royal commission was meant to offer justice and compensation.
But it has fallen short. The National Redress Scheme will close in June 2028.
Legal services warn of a problem. If there is no replacement, survivors who come forward late will have nowhere to turn.
Ballarat's new Bishop Mark Freeman has stood with survivors. He pledges the church's commitment to safeguarding.
- 2015, Ballarat
- Movement start
- November 10
- National Survivors' Day
- June 2028
- Scheme closure
Why it mattersThousands of survivors still navigate trauma. They need clear pathways to justice and support. Losing the scheme without a successor leaves many with nowhere to turn.
AustraliaAustralian survivors of institutional abuse face an uncertain future for accessing justice and compensation once the national scheme ends, with no official plan announced yet.
