A spokesman for abuse survivors is advising people to "look at all the options" before applying for redress.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the Sexual Assault Support Service is urging survivors not to be discouraged by delays in the national redress scheme's application process.
The comments come after the Tasmanian Attorney-General Elise Archer said she had pressured her federal colleagues to "immediately rectify" the redress scheme's delays in handling applications.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The redress scheme was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and offers payments capped at $150,000.
Beyond Abuse spokesman Steve Fisher said he would suggest people eligible for redress "weigh up their options" before applying.
"I'd really advise people to look at all options: the institutions themselves, if they've got [their own] redress scheme going, litigation and so on," he said.
"Don't be in any rush, because you could end up costing yourself a lot of money."
Sexual Assault Support Service chief executive Jill Maxwell said it was a "lengthy" process for redress applicants to access the documentation they had to provide to prove they were part of a particular institution when they were abused.
TIME TO DECIDE:
- Q&A: Chris Fagan on Tasmania's bid for an AFL team
- Tasmanian AFL team: Getting the economics right
- Footy pathway needs earlier start: Sanders
- Time for Tas to sever team ties, says former AFL boss
- Editorial: Now is the time to believe
- AFL bid is now or never
- Do you support a Tasmanian AFL team? Sign the pledge here
"There's been some comments by other professionals as well as survivors [on] not only the time in terms of completing the application and seeking the appropriate documentation to support that, but also the waiting to hear back about the application itself," she said.
"I would still encourage people that have been impacted by historical institutional sexual assault or sexual abuse to seek out services like us ... to help support them."
A social services department spokesperson said the federal government "encourages all eligible survivors to apply for the national redress scheme to receive support and acknowledgement that we recognise they have been waiting so long for".
- If you need assistance related to redress, contact SASS on 6231 0044.