Temporary Closures: Current advice
National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
Image
Conceptual illustration of selected design.
Titled ‘Transparency and Truth’ by Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley.
Project Type
Design and Construction
Completion Date
To Be Confirmed
Temporary Road or Lake Closures
No
National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
Background
The National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (the Memorial) was a recommendation (17.6) of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission).
In 2020, the Australian Government committed funding towards the establishment of the Memorial in Canberra. Following the funding commitment, an Advisory Group was established to assist with the development and delivery of this important project. The Advisory Group membership includes people with lived experience of institutional child sexual abuse alongside other experts to advise on key aspects of the Memorial's design, including the purpose, location, and key attributes.
The NCA is overseeing the design and construction of the Memorial on behalf of the Department of Social Services (DSS), which is responsible for the delivery of the Government’s commitment in response to the recommendation of the Royal Commission.
Design competition
On 12 April 2021, the Australian Government launched a design competition to select a preferred design scheme for the Memorial. The competition closed on 21 May 2021 with 35 entries received from across Australia.
The competition Jury was comprised of four people with lived experience of institutional child sexual abuse and five other relevant experts. Judging to select a preferred scheme from the design competition entries was finalised on 21 December 2021. The preferred design scheme was approved as the design for the Memorial by the Canberra National Memorials Committee on 20 January 2022.
The selected design for the Memorial is ‘Transparency and Truth’, submitted by Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley.
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Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley.
Further details regarding the selected design and commended entries are available by watching the video below or by reviewing the Jury Report.
Current project status
The design concept is undergoing technical assessment and refinement prior to the commencement of construction.
Enquiries
Further information regarding the Memorial is available on the Department of Social Services website
Please direct enquires associated with the design and construction of the Memorial to: RCMemorial@nca.gov.au
All other questions should be directed to the Department of Social Services at: RCMemorial@dss.gov.au
Attachments
Update 03 December 2021
The Design Competition for the National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (VSICSA) was open for entries from 12 April 2021 to 21 May 2021. The judging process experienced ongoing delays due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The jury has met and is currently deliberating on the designs with a decision due by the end of 2021. The Canberra National Memorials Committee must endorse the selected design before it can be publicly announced (expected in early 2022).
Update 16 September 2021
The design competition for the National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse is now closed.
The next step of the design competition will see the Jury select the preferred scheme for approval by the Canberra National Memorials Committee.
Update 10 May 2021
Entrant registration has been extended to midnight 12 May 2021.
Please note that there will be no other changes to key dates outlined in Part 2.5 of the Design Competition Brief.
Soft copy submissions are due Friday 21 May 2021.