Aboriginal elders are hoping the rest of the country will soon take note of the benefits that come from their visits to Indigenous prison inmates.

Marius (Pirrawayingi) Puruntatameri, from the Tiwi Islands, and Mildred Inkamala co-founded the Elders Visiting Program in 2005 after recognising that cultural contact during prison stints could improve reintegration prospects and the inmate's wellbeing.

When the program first started there were participants from four regions — now they have elders from 15 communities across the NT.

"It's just getting bigger and bigger, and it's always great to see other elders from other places," said Mr Puruntatameri, the program chair.

"We all speak other languages and have different ways of resolving things in our communities, so it's a great thing."

Aboriginal people make up 34 per cent of the Northern Territory population but, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 85 per cent of the total adult prison population. And incarceration rates are rising.

Marius (Pirrawayingi) Puruntatameri is the Elders Visiting Program chair. ( ABC News: Shahni Wellington )

Ensuring initiatives are culturally appropriate

The Elders Visiting Program is not just about visiting correctional centres, but also about finding ways to tailor outside initiatives to ensure they are culturally appropriate.

They also hold annual forums to discuss their local and overall concerns, and find potential solutions.

"A lot of our Aboriginal people get in trouble with the law because it's a Western law, so it's working with the police and other departments — it's an opportunity to help both parties understand," Mr Puruntatameri said.

"Here in Darwin we have our family violence programs that go out to communities and deliver these programs, and we need to make sure they are not too westernised and are culturally appropriate.

"I have passion about this, like many elders do."

While they hope generational change will come from the recent royal commission and the Government's subsequent $229 million commitment to preventing children and families from entering the child protection and youth justice systems, the group also believes it is time Aboriginal voices are listened to.

"That's a work in progress, but it's a start," Mr Puruntatameri said.

"Funding would help to keep the program going, but I think it's time the Government listened to Aboriginal people more, because we know the answers to our people's issues.

"I think the Government are starting to understand that the answers have to come from Aboriginal people."

Indigenous Elders from more than 15 communities are part of a program to visit inmates. ( ABC News: Shahni Wellington )

One day he hoped to see the program branch out across the country.

"If everyone could do what we do, in each state and territory, it could bring Australia together. They're envious of what we're doing, it's an opportunity," he said.

Program could reduce recidivism nationally: Commissioner

The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mark Payne, said he believed the Elders Visiting Program could reduce national rates of recidivism if adopted by other states and territories.

He applauded the work done by the elders, and said they had recently worked with them to develop a psycho-educational treatment program, to stop violent behaviour in a way the was culturally appropriate.

Commissioner of Correctional Services Mark Payne was a fan of the program. ( ABC News: Shahni Wellington )

"For some people in prison — that's your lifeline. To be able to have those connections through the program. Being involved is truly one of the highlights in my career," Commissioner Payne said.

"I go and talk to my counterparts interstate and I love the fact that nobody has a program like ours, anywhere … And I think people are quite jealous, and they look to us.

"Here in the Northern Territory, other government agencies rightly want to tap into the work that the Elders program does."

The group hopes funding from the Northern Territory Government and support from Correctional Services will both continue after the Commissioner retires next week.