Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will make a national apology to victims of institutional child sexual abuse by the end of the year.
"As a nation, we must mark this occasion in a form that reflects the wishes of survivors and that affords them the dignity to which they were entitled as children, but which was denied to them by the very people who were tasked with their care," Mr Turnbull told parliament on Thursday.
Providing an update on the government's response to the royal commission report released in mid-December, Mr Turnbull said a survivor-focused reference group will be appointed to advise on the form and content of the apology.
"Reading some of the witness statements, it is clear that being heard and being believed means so much to the survivors," Mr Turnbull said.
"Three words - 'I believe you' - coming after years, decades, of authorities' denial of responsibility."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten suggested the government host an event at Parliament House to thank and recognise survivors.
The government will roll out a redress scheme for survivors from July 1. One was recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Mr Turnbull urged the states, territories and non-government organisations not to delay signing up to the scheme, saying only maximum participation would allow it to be successful.
He will discuss the scheme with state and territory leaders at the Council of Australian Governments Meeting in Canberra on Friday.
The chair of the parliamentary committee overseeing the national response to the inquiry, Senator Derryn Hinch, said he was holding his fire on any criticism of the states and churches.
"If the states and the institutions haven't signed up in the next three weeks I will unload like you've never heard before," Senator Hinch said, adding extra pressure was needed on NSW and Victoria.
The government has already provided $52.1 million for administration and initial counselling costs.
"I'm looking at NSW and Victoria, especially," Senator Hinch said in Canberra on Thursday.
Liberal senator Linda Reynolds is confident of bipartisan support for the scheme.
"There is nothing more important for any of this parliament, and state parliaments in particular, than to ensure our children are safe," she said.
As part of its other responses to the royal commission's recommendations, the federal government has already changed statutory limitations periods where the commonwealth is a defendant.
It has also developed a nationally-agreed set of principles to make organisations safer for children and begun work on a national database to share "working with children" data.
