The Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse was a damning moment in Australia’s history.

Story after story revealed the horrific details that children were exposed to at the hands of the institutions where they should have felt the safest.

Sometimes this abuse was covered up, in the hope that it would be forgotten. 

But survivors are stronger than that.

They demanded to be heard. For their hurt and history to be acknowledged.

Importantly, to ensure that the abuse suffered would never happen again or at least the risk of future harm be minimised.

And finally we listened.

One of the recommendations from the Royal Commission was the national redress scheme.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Tasmania would join the scheme.

The scheme is expected to begin from July 1, operate for 10 years, will cost the state government $70 million (uncapped) and award payments of up to $150,000.

It’s important to not immediately focus on the cost of the scheme.

Emotionally those dollars would mean very little to those people who will access the scheme. 

There could and should never be a dollar figure that resolves that pain experienced.

Evidence shows that people subjected to child abuse have a greater risk of disengaging with education, creating and maintaining relationships and criminal behaviour.

It’s the acknowledgment of the past that is the most powerful. To say sorry is admirable, but it’s what changes after an apology that holds the most power.

Attorney-general Elise Archer’s words were echoed by many stakeholders on Tuesday, when she said: “A redress scheme does not fully compensate for the significant damage caused to a survivor, but what it does do is seek to acknowledge the wrongdoing.”

The scheme demonstrates to survivors the actions and impact of the past and how that continues to affect their lives.

The Royal Commission was a dark period for Australia and now it must not ever return to the shadows.