The Northern Territory Children's Commissioner hopes the royal commission into youth detention in the NT will lead to long-term change, saying the system is still in need of a major overhaul.

Key points: Children's commissioner not convinced all Vita review recommendations implemented

Children's commissioner not convinced all Vita review recommendations implemented Two children in Four Corners program keen to be involved in royal commission

Two children in Four Corners program keen to be involved in royal commission Commissioner says it is essential those who give evidence are protected against repercussions

The royal commission was prompted after the ABC's Four Corners program showed several cases of abuse inside youth detention centres in the NT, including the 2014 tear-gassing of six teenagers in solitary confinement at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in Darwin.

The NT Government maintained it had implemented all recommendations from a report prompted by the tear-gassing incident, with the NT Corrections Commissioner Mark Payne accusing the ABC of being "unfair" in overlooking improvements to the system.

"It certainly told a story of 2014, it did not tell a story of 2016," Mr Payne said last month.

But speaking to the media for the first time since the royal commission was announced, NT Children's Commissioner Colleen Gwynne said she was not convinced all the recommendations of the 2015 Vita report on the tear-gas incident had been implemented.

"I'd like to see the evidence of how those recommendations have been implemented," Ms Gwynne told AM.

"I guess that's a matter for the royal commission.

"We still have concerns that there needs to be a really broad high-level reform of youth justice and whatever that model will look like, it's got to be significantly different to what we have now."

The royal commission will examine the past 10 years in NT youth detention and child protection, examining past failings, the actions of those responsible, as well as make recommendations to move forward.

Ms Gwynne said there was a plethora of reports on juvenile detention and child protection for the royal commission to look at, including the 2010 report by the Board of Inquiry examining the NT child protection system.

"It's not about the findings themselves," Ms Gwynne said. "It's also about a commitment to implement a really sound plan to implement the recommendations that the royal commission makes."

Commissioner Mick Gooda today acknowledged it was important to avoid duplicating other reports.

Children in Four Corners program keen to be involved

Solicitor Peter O'Brien, who is representing two children who appeared in the ABC's Four Corners program — Dylan Voller and Jake Roper — described the royal commission as a "watershed moment".

"This royal commission can bring about a great deal of change," Mr O'Brien said.

Mr O'Brien said his clients hoped the royal commission would ensure future generations did not suffer.

"My clients are willing, keen ... to be involved in whatever level they can be," Mr O'Brien said.

He said their only motivation was to allow ensure similar things did not happen to other children in the future.

"What happened to them is deplorable," he said.

"We need to know why that happened and make sure it doesn't happen to other children."

Commissioner Margaret White told the royal commission that those giving evidence would be protected against repercussions, something welcomed by Mr O'Brien.