NEWCASTLE'S Anglican diocese says a "complex process" has slowed its signing on to the National Redress Scheme for survivors of historic abuse.
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The diocese said it remained a "strong supporter" of the scheme after a list released by the federal government on Thursday identified it as one of more than 100 groups yet to sign on to the program.
"During 2018 the diocese made redress payments of around $3 million and offered a direct personal response as well as counselling to survivors of child sexual abuse," the diocese said in a statement.
"It has made payments in excess of $10 million since 2007."
The diocese argues it established a company designed to manage the Anglican church's involvement. The diocese says it applied through that company to opt into the redress scheme in October last year.
"It has been a complex process for the Anglican Church of Australia to set up the single entry point to the National Redress Scheme expected by the Commonwealth government," a diocese spokesman said.
"The diocese was advised on March 1 that the [company] had completed its due diligence work for the diocese and 19 other Anglican organisations," the statement said.
"The Anglican representative company anticipates that we, along with a number of other Anglican dioceses, will be fully registered by March 31."
The Newcastle Herald reported on Friday that the federal government released the names of 100 organisations yet to sign on to the scheme.
The news comes in an eventful week for the program, with deputy chair of the joint committee overseeing the scheme and Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon revealing only 51 people had received compensation through the scheme established after an estimated 60,000 survivors came forward to the royal commission. Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher said there is an expectation that applications may surge following Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences.
"Whenever there is public attention and media coverage of incidences of historic child sexual abuse, we have experienced … an increase in the number of applications," Mr Fletcher told the ABC on Thursday.