The Anglican Church, Salvation Army, the Scouts and the YMCA have enlisted in the Australian government's redress program for survivors of sexual abuse, following the example of the Catholic Church.
Social Services Minister Dan Tehan confirmed that the four institutions have signed on to the government's plan to compensate sex abuse survivors, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Australia) reported. He said that enlisting the four organizations would bring the coverage of the AU$3.8 billion (US$2.9 billion) redress scheme to 80 percent of the victims.
"I thank the institutions for the leadership they have shown, for owning up to past wrongs, owning up for behaviour that can only be described as despicable and deplorable," Tehan said, according to ABC Australia.
"But [also] for wanting to turn a page, to provide redress and to make sure that the survivors get the justice that they deserve," he added.
Representatives of each institution were reportedly present when Tehan made the announcement at the Parliament House.
The Scouts and YMCA were named in volume 14 of the final report produced by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Brad Halse, communications director for the Salvation Army, said that past practices and procedures of the organization had "led in many cases to the failure of the protection of children."
"We also acknowledge we have broken the trust that have has placed by the Australian community in the Salvation Army and we are seeking always to rebuild that," he said, as reported by ABC Australia.
Meanwhile, the Anglican Church announced that it will establish an independent body to deal with sex abuse complaints in all dioceses, schools and agencies in Australia.
Bishop Stephen Pickard, from the Anglican Church, said he believes that the denomination's decision to join the redress scheme "will be an important process for healing for the survivors of abuse."
The sex abuse survivors from all institutions are expected to receive AU$150,000 (US$113,000) each in addition to counselling. Compensation that has been received by victims in the past will be deducted from any new amount, according to the Associated Press.
The Royal Commission, which recommended the redress plan, has heard the testimonies of 8,000 sex abuse victims since the inquiry began in 2012, according to the Associated Press.
The Catholic Church, which enlisted in the program on Wednesday, estimated that it will have to pay AU$1 billion (US$757 million) to compensate sex abuse victims.
Last week, Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson, who was accused of protecting a pedophile priest in the 1970s, became the highest ranking Catholic official to be convicted of covering up child sexual abuse. He could face up to two years in prison when he heads back to court in June for his sentencing.
