The Personal Injuries Complaints Committee

About the Personal Injuries Complaints Committee

The Personal Injuries Complaints Committee (“the Committee”) was established by The Salvation Army to provide financial redress to survivors of child abuse within The Salvation Army.

The Committee’s role is to consider individual survivor’s experiences, the impact on their lives and how The Salvation Army can support survivors with healing.

The Committee is chaired by a senior leader of The Salvation Army. Other members are officers and employees of The Salvation Army, and an independent clinical psychologist. Privacy principles mean all meetings remain highly confidential and matters are not discussed outside of the formal setting.

You are not required to meet with the Committee. The Centre for Restoration’s senior case manager is available to speak with survivors to prepare an impact statement for presentation to the Committee.

Our case managers do not have any financial authority. They will always work with the survivor to ensure their case report is prepared in the best possible manner for the Committee’s consideration. You may also choose to submit a report from a treating psychologist or counsellor.

Advantages of seeking redress through the Personal Injuries Complaints Committee

If a survivor is willing to engage with The Salvation Army, seeking redress through the Committee has the following advantages:

• Redress can be considered for people who are ineligible for the National Redress Scheme, including:
  • People who have been physically abused (and not also sexually abused)
  • People who are not Australian citizens
  • People who are not permanent residents in Australia
  • People who have a criminal record
• To ensure fairness and equity for all survivors of abuse, the Committee can commit to the same financial outcome as the National Redress Scheme.
• Meetings are held on a monthly basis, and the survivor is verbally advised of the outcome within two working days.
• From the date of the Committee assessment, the process can be finalised and any redress payment can be made within two months.

Further information about the Committee process:

• You will not be required to meet with this Committee.
• If financial redress is offered and the survivor verbally accepts this, the Centre for Restoration will send a letter to the survivor to formalise the offer. There is no time limit on accepting this offer.
• If the Committee's offer has been accepted, the survivor will be sent a letter explaining the next steps in the process, along with a copy of the Deed of Release and associated forms for completion.
• It is a requirement that every survivor obtain independent legal advice prior to signing the Deed of Release. The Salvation Army will cover the cost of legal advice for the survivor, to ensure they fully understand the effect of signing the Deed of Release.
• Payment of redress funds are made to the survivor’s nominated bank account once the fully signed Deed of Release is received by the Centre for Restoration.
• If a survivor is unhappy with the outcome of the Committee, they have the right to request a further review by the Committee, usually by providing new or additional information that the Committee can use to reconsider their initial offer. Following this further review, the survivor is advised of a final offer, and the need to seek legal advice if they are not satisfied with the offer of redress.

A survivor has the right to change their mind at any point in the process prior to receiving a payment from The Salvation Army. If a survivor no longer wishes to settle their claim, they simply indicate that decision to the Centre for Restoration.