Gymnastics Australia has joined the national redress scheme set up in response to the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, more than two years after it began the process.

The organisation is part of a group of six sporting bodies to join the scheme today, after years of uncertainty about whether it could meet the government’s requirements.

The chief executive of Gymnastics Australia, Alexandra Ash, said it was a significant step forward for Australia’s gymnastics community.

“We recognise and commend the bravery shown by those who have come forward to share their story of mistreatment while involved in our sport,” she said.

Child sexual abuse survivor and former gymnast Alison Quigley said she was “cautiously thrilled” by the news.

“I can’t speak for all survivors – for some this will be amazing news, for others it might be just a sense of relief, and for another cohort there will just be a sense of frustration it took so long,” she said.

Gymnastics Australia said it had “formally commenced the onboarding process” in its 2020 annual report. Since then, progress has been slow.

In comments provided to a parliamentary inquiry into the operation of the national redress scheme earlier this year, Ash said there had been “significant complexity” about sports joining the scheme: “These complexities include the financial position of organisations, federated models of sports, options of guarantors to financial arrangements, entity status, roles and responsibilities of entities and at the time of abuse.”

She also revealed the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) had been approached to fund Gymnastics Australia’s application by the scheme, but had declined. An AOC spokesperson said: “the AOC has welcomed the news and has encouraged all our national federations to join the scheme.”

Gymnastics Australia has not disclosed what has changed to allow it to join, including whether financial guarantees had been secured from any third parties. A statement issued by the organisation said today’s news “follows two years of significant organisation reform”.

Quigley said Ash deserved credit for getting to this point. “Signing up is the demonstration of care that has been lacking,” she said.

Gymnastics Australia is part of a group of six sporting organisations to join the scheme in the latest cohort. The others are Little Athletics Australia, Softball Australia, Swim Centres, Gymnastics Victoria, Campbelltown District Netball Association and Belnorth Football Club.

Under the scheme, survivors who have experienced child sexual abuse at participating organisations can receive a payment of up to $150,000, as well as access to counselling and psychological care and a direct personal response for historic child sexual abuse.

More than $1bn dollars has been paid to survivors since the scheme began in 2020. There are almost 500 non-government organisations now participating in the scheme.

• In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International