Survivors of sexual abuse at Dilworth School can now apply for financial redress from the school.
The school's trust board acknowledged financial redress would not undo the harm done but says it may help survivors to heal. (File image) Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Eleven men linked to Dilworth School have been charged over historical assault, totalling over 50 separate charges.
The Auckland boarding school said any survivor of abuse committed by a Dilworth representative or student, as well as families of deceased survivors, could apply for compensation.
Dilworth Trust Board chairman Aaron Snodgrass said the redress programme would be confidential and did not prevent survivors seeking other claims, such as from any future government scheme.
In a statement, the board said it did not want survivors to have to wait for the government's Puretumu Torowhānui scheme, which is set to cover claims of abuse in care.
"We consulted with legal and psychological experts in New Zealand as well as with those with experience in redress schemes abroad to develop the independent Dilworth Redress Programme.
"We also considered some of the key recommendations from the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care."
The board acknowledged financial redress would not undo the harm done but said it may help survivors to heal.
"The programme is designed to be fair and balanced. The starting position for the redress panel when considering an application for redress is that Old Boy survivors will be believed."
The programme's terms also took into account feedback from survivors and the wider Dilworth community, the board said.
There is no cost to register or make an application, which will be considered by an independent panel.
While the school will be required to honour any offer of redress, as determined by the panel, survivors still have the right to accept or reject an offer.
An independent inquiry into historical abuse at the school is also underway, led by Dame Silvia Cartwright.
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