Thousands of survivors of childhood sexual abuse still waiting for redress claims to be processed

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse are waiting up to 12 months for their redress claims to be processed. Photograph: Roos Koole/Getty Images

More than six thousand redress claims from survivors of childhood sexual abuse are yet to be processed and the average wait has blown out to almost 12 months, which is close to double the intended timeframe, new government data reveals.

Of the 15,442 claims made up until 29 April, just over half – 8,160 – have resulted in redress payments being made to survivors, totalling approximately $706.2m, according to data from the Department of Social Services, which runs the scheme.