Scouts Australia has apologised to those who suffered sexual abuse during their time in the organisation, but lawyers of survivors say the sentiment does not match actions.

Key points: The Royal Commission heard Scouts Australia had a long history of child sex abuse allegations

The Royal Commission heard Scouts Australia had a long history of child sex abuse allegations The organisation admits they did not listen to some children who came forward

The organisation admits they did not listen to some children who came forward They have adopted a new National Child Protection Policy

The organisation has admitted they did not listen when some victims came forward.

"We failed you, and we apologise for the pain that this has caused," Scouts chief commissioner Phil Harrison said.

"We apologise for not listening to you when some of you shared your stories with adults in Scouting who you trusted."

Scouts said the apology was part of a commitment to acknowledge and address the harm some of its members suffered.

"It's a genuine and heartfelt admission that for some young people, their time in Scouting was a negative experience, and we are truly sorry for this," Mr Harrison said.

But lawyers for survivors have dismissed the apology, saying such efforts ring hollow given how Scouts continue to treat those seeking compensation.

"In our view Scouts NSW stand out amongst institutional defendants for their appalling and heartless conduct towards survivors seeking compensation," Maurice Blackburn NSW head of abuse law, Danielle De Paoli, said.

"The experience of many of our clients in matters against Scouts NSW has left them significantly re-traumatised, namely because of what they are put through and the aggressive and obstructionist approach taken."

Maurice Blackburn said in recent weeks Scouts NSW had sought to use a defence used by unincorporated organisations to avoid being sued.

This defence has been condemned by the abuse royal commission.

"Indeed the NSW Government has only recently taken steps to remove this defence but that hasn't stopped Scouts NSW, who continue to exploit that these laws recommended by the royal commission have not yet been formally passed," Ms De Paoli said.

"Scouts NSW also regularly delay and aggressively defend claims, as well as putting up in many instances paltry offers that are an insult to survivors."

Scouts now must sell assets

The organisation said they must look to sell some of their scout halls and camps to compensate abuse victims through the redress scheme.

"In some instances, we do need to look at selling our assets," said national coordinator of redress and NSW Scouts chief commissioner Neville Tomkins.

Scouts says selling their assets will be 'heart-wrenching' but supporting survivors is paramount. ( Supplied: Wiki )

"That is a heart-wrenching experience, simply because our assets are mostly in the form of scout halls, scout camps, and we acknowledge that many members see them as community assets, but our priority has to supporting the survivors of sexual abuse."

Mr Tomkins told ABC Radio Sydney's Focus program they expect more complaints of abuse to come from NSW.

"To date, we have received 12 and we are actively working with the national redress scheme to address each one of those."

According to Mr Tomkins, most of the complaints date back to the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The Royal Commission, which concluded last year, heard the Scouting movement had a long history of child sex abuse allegations and a lot of work to do to effectively respond to victims.

Scouts was among the first non-government organisations to indicate it was likely join the national redress scheme for child sexual abuse survivors.

One of the most high-profile cases of Scout abuse in Australia involved adult leader Steven Larkins who assaulted two boys in Newcastle in the 1990s.

Volunteer Scout leaders must now update their child safety training every three years and the organisation has adopted a National Child Protection Policy.

Scouts also has a "two deep" policy which means leaders are never to be alone with a youth member.