A respected Tasmanian Elder has called for senior Aboriginal intervention to support Indigenous youth detained at Northern Tasmania's troubled Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

Longtime Indigenous rights activist, Amnesty International campaigner and former Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year, Uncle Rodney Dillon, says Indigenous youth currently detained at AYDC need Aboriginal Elders around them to ensure their safety, and the safety of AYDC staff.

As of Thursday, seven Indigenous young people were detained at AYDC out of its current population of 18.

Mr Dillon said he'd advocate for an Elders council "to help calm the kids and give the kids some direction in there".

"We need to keep the kids safe, [is] the first thing, and we need to be able to have systems in place to rehabilitate these kids," Mr Dillon told National Indigenous Times.

"We also need good medical evidence on what's caused them to go in there."

The Centre was thrust into the national spotlight this week after staff participated in two hours of joint stop-work action on Tuesday afternoon due to what unions have labelled chronic safety risks and severe understaffing.

Less than 24 hours later, a fire broke out at the facility which led to two staff allegedly being assaulted, with one requiring hospitalisation.

Health and Community Services Union Tasmania state secretary, Robbie Moore, said the facility was operating three staff down when the incident took place, with usual short-staffing protocols not followed.

"Usually when they're down on staff, procedures are put in place," he told the ABC.

"But my understanding is that they did not put in a number of those procedures, including limiting where children could go to at that time.

"It just demonstrates why it's so important that we have the adequate staffing and how dangerous it is when there isn't."

Mr Dillon was unsurprised an incident took place so soon after the strike.

"That's a very good example of what they did in Western Australia and in Banksia [Banksia Hill Detention Centre]," Mr Dillon said.

"When staff go on strike, then straight after that, there's usually an incident."

Mr Dillon argued if the Tasmanian Government continued "locking up" young people, they needed to ensure it led to desirable outcomes.

"We've got to have outcomes for these kids for when they come out," he said. "That they're better kids and when they went in."

"There's no good of putting kids in any facility, if they're coming out worse."

Tasmania, similar to other states, locks up Aboriginal youth at a disproportionately high rate.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data suggests on an average night in the June quarter 2024, First Nations young people aged 10-17 in Tasmania were 2.6 times more likely to be in detention compared to non-Indigenous young people in the state.

During the same reporting period the rate ratio for First Nations young people aged 10-17 in detention in Tasmania was 3.5 times the non-Indigenous rate, according to the AIHW.

The volatile situation at AYDC comes shortly after Tasmanian Custodial Inspector, Dr Grant Davies, uncovered systemic issues at AYDC.

The report was welcomed by Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People, Isabelle Crompton, who, according to the Greens, has since "expressed concerns at the number of lockdowns being used at Ashley to manage issues, amidst staffing shortages".

"It's completely unacceptable that vulnerable children at Ashley are still being forced into regular isolation. This has significant impacts on the mental health and development of children," Greens Children and Young People Spokesperson, Cecily Rosol, said on Friday.

"The Commission of Inquiry was unequivocal in finding that isolation practices are a breach of human rights and must stop. But the government has for years now consistently refused to take the necessary steps to end isolation practices at Ashley.

"The Greens echo the calls from the Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People that the Liberal Government must tackle workforce issues at Ashley, and stop lockdowns.

A Department for Education, Children and Young People spokesperson told National Indigenous Times there are "a number of Indigenous-led programs" at Ashley Youth Detention Centre run with the support of Ashley School, Programs and Operational staff.

"These include a weekly program delivered by Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation to all young people onsite which covers cultural awareness and education; wellbeing and health; relationships; and opportunities in community beyond detention," they said.

"Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service run legal workshops several times a year for all young people at AYDC... (and) a series of music and visual arts based cultural sessions (are) delivered by a Tasmanian Aboriginal Artist to all young people through the Ashley School."

The spokesperson said a new arrangement with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre will see an Aboriginal Education Worker deliver weekly individual support for Aboriginal young people.

"A DECYP Aboriginal liaison role is also being established in response to a Commission of Inquiry recommendation to support and work with Aboriginal children and young people in detention. This work must be Aboriginal-led and build the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations sector," they said.

"DECYP has recently engaged with Aboriginal organisations to establish a Youth Justice Reform Aboriginal Reference Group to help coordinate co-development of Aboriginal youth justice reforms to minimise Aboriginal young people interacting with the custodial youth justice service."

Mr Dillon questioned whether the reasons for young people entering the youth justice system were truly understood.

"Lots of times it's medical reasons why the kids are going in there," he said.

He said the Government needed to offer additional services which genuinely support young people while they are detained.

Note: this report was updated when the Department for Education, Children and Young People provided a more detailed response several hours after deadline.