A 21-year-old man who spent time in Victoria's troubled youth justice system says the sector needs a fresh start, as those who have worked with young inmates call for broader solutions than detention.

The Victorian Government has been grappling with how to reform the youth custody sector and has launched various inquiries.

Mamush Ruot Tang has lived in Australia for 11 years, and during that time he found himself stuck in a cycle of crime.

"I was going through a phase, I had a drug habit," he said.

"I [would] do good for a bit, then I start slipping away and go back to crimes."

Mamush Ruot Tang spent time in Victoria's troubled youth custody sector. ( Supplied )

Mr Ruot Tang spent time in Victoria's adult prison system as well as the youth justice sector, and said he made the most of his time in custody, keeping his mind busy.

But he understands that it is not easy for everyone.

"It's hard on some people, especially in prison. Young people get out, but they have still got an addiction," he said.

"That addiction ain't going to go straight away.

"Obviously they go back to trouble, because that's the only way they are going to get rid of their anger."

He said the new purpose-built youth detention centre slated for Melbourne's outer west was a good idea.

"It's a fresh start for everybody, so I guess it's a good solution," he said.

After a riot last year at the Parkville youth justice centre in inner Melbourne, the youth custody system was put firmly in the spotlight.

The unrest continued earlier this year when 15 detainees escaped from the Malmsbury facility. It took police 24 hours to re-capture them all.

A replacement prison for Parkville was announced in February by the Victorian Government, to be built in Werribee South.

But a backlash from residents of Werribee South led to a change in location to Cherry Creek.

Construction will start early next year, with the estimated completion date at the end of 2020.

Cracking down 'having the opposite effect'

The former head of juvenile corrections in Washington DC said changes to Victoria's system needed to go beyond infrastructure.

Vincent Schiraldi gave evidence to a state parliamentary inquiry into youth justice centres.

"By and large, what we've seen in large institutions are … cementing the criminal self-concept of young people," he said.

Support worker Craig Fisher said the Government needed to work further to turn around the lives of young people.

"Cracking down on young people, it's going to have the opposite effect," Mr Fisher said.

"We need to have a balanced approach where, yes you've done something wrong, where you need to maybe spend some time in custody, but we need to look at other aspects of the whole system, especially the child protection system."

Mr Fisher works at the Brosnan Centre, a branch of the Jesuit Social Services.

He said training for people working in youth justice needed to be tailored, so staff could better understand young people's minds.

"Young people that are very unwell mentally, but have ended up in the prison system rather than getting the mental health beds that they need — I find that quite distressing," he said.

Police outside the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre at Parkville during a riot last year. ( ABC News: Seraphine Charpentier-Andre )

Staff numbers, competence levels an issue: worker

One person who works in youth justice told the ABC that staffing numbers were too low at the Malmsbury centre.

Speaking anonymously, the worker also said the competence levels of staff at the site varied.

The worker said the recent arrival of Corrections staff to maintain security at Malmsbury had made little difference.

"There are four extra during the day, but Corrections can't do anything," the worker said.

A recent job advertisement from the Health and Human Services Department described youth justice worker roles as a chance to contribute to the community by rehabilitating young offenders.

It said the position was "challenging but rewarding" and applicants must be "resilient and dedicated".

The Department told the ABC it will be introducing a new recruitment model and the introduction of 41 extra staff will improve safety.

A spokesperson said candidates go through a four-stage recruitment process.

Staff also have training options available to them, such as about the prevention of occupational violence.