The National Capital Authority will establish a National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, and is seeking responses from suitably qualified and experienced design consultants for services to support the memorial.
The National Memorial will be on the Acton Peninsula in Canberra. It will provide an enduring place for reflection and recognition for victims, survivors and those that support them, and remind future generations to be ever vigilant in protecting our children.
The National Capital Authority is working with the Department of Social Services and the National Memorial Advisory Group to ensure the National Memorial meets the expectations of people with lived experience of institutional child sexual abuses, as well as their families and allies.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended building a national memorial in Canberra for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in institutional settings. The NCA ran a national design competition in 2021 to select a suitable design for the Memorial. The selected design, by architects Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley, revealed complex construction challenges. Following extensive consultations with the NCA and the Advisory Group, the government decided to terminate the original design and to commence a new design selection process.
The National Capital Authority is seeking a creative and trauma-informed design for the National Memorial. Construction is expected to commence in 2025, and be completed in 2026.
Inspiration may be drawn from the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, delivered by the Prime Minister on 22 October 2018; the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which contained the findings, recommendations and testimony of victims and survivors; and any other relevant sources.
The preferred design will acknowledge victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in a sensitive and respectful manner.
The National Memorial will provide people with lived experience, their families, supporters, and allies, a place of remembrance, reflection, truth, healing, and hope.
For the broader community, the National Memorial will raise awareness of institutional child sexual abuse in Australia, and offer them the opportunity to learn about the history, impacts, and prevention efforts.
Responses will be evaluated by the National Capital Authority, the Department of Social Services, and the National Memorial Advisory Group, which includes people with lived experience. This forms part of a two-stage procurement process.
This Public Notification does not form part of the procurement documentation. Respondents should only rely on information published on AusTender (www.tenders.gov.au).
Submissions close 2pm, Thursday 20 June.
Information on the Request for Expression of Interest is available at www.tenders.gov.au.
Further information on the National Memorial is available on the Department of Social Services website.
