But now Victoria fears the Commonwealth may not contribute much to it, as the Turnbull government delays work on details of the national redress scheme.

The last Victorian parliament's landmark Betrayal of Trust report into sex abuse in religious and non-state care - a precursor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse - recommended a system of redress be set up in the state for victims.

Victoria had begun work on the scheme, and even held talks with other states about how it would work, before last November's announcement by Social Services Minister Christian Porter that the Turnbull government was setting up a national redress scheme to be funded by institutions, churches and states.

The national scheme has been recommended by the royal commission into abuse.

But states and survivors' groups are getting "anxious" that the Commonwealth has not explained more about how it will work.

On Spring Street there is increasing frustration that Canberra is yet to commit any money, with fears Victoria and other states will be left to pay most of the cost, along with churches and other institutions.

There will be payments for Victorian survivors, as the state is prepared to create a Victorian system and pay money into it if it does not opt in to a federal project.

The Age understands that, prior to the Commonwealth launch, Victoria was in talks with NSW about setting up a redress scheme across the two states.

Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula recently met his NSW counterpart Mike Speakman, with both men agreeing there was merit in a national scheme.

But it is understood that both ministers were frustrated at slow progress and Canberra's reluctance to provide more details about the scheme, or any financial contribution from the Turnbull government.

"Victoria remains open to a national redress scheme, but it's time we saw details and dollars from the federal government," Mr Pakula said.

Mr Speakman said the NSW government supported a single, national redress scheme.

"Although the Commonwealth has proposed such a scheme in principle, we await and are anxious to receive the proposed details," he said. "We will continue to seek to consult closely with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions on these details."

Mr Porter said design of the scheme was still being worked out, but would be completed before the rollout in 2018.

The royal commission estimated the compensation payouts could top $4 billion, of which the Commonwealth would be liable for $400 million.

"Any jurisdiction considering opting in and, indeed, non-government organisation opting into the scheme would be undertaking its own actuarial analysis to determine the extent of likely claims," Mr Porter said.

"Given that we are following the royal commission's recommendations for a national scheme, where each entity responsible bears responsibility for its own financial redress claims, it would be a matter for the Victorian government to determine any estimate of claims for which it is the responsible entity."