Yolŋu man Yiwarr McGrath says he will use his time in NT Parliament to bring the community's voice into decision making as "government cannot deliver these things alone".

The new member for Mulka has been sworn in and delivered his inaugural speech to the Territory Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr McGrath, a former NT Young Australian of the year, father of three, trained Aboriginal Health Practitioner and registered nurse, was elected as the member for the northeast Arnhem Land seat in September's by-election, following the shock retirement of long-time independent Yiŋiya Mark Guyula.

He grew Labor's representation in the NT Parliament to six members.

The majority of the population in the Mulka electorate are Indigenous.

In delivering his first speech, Mr McGrath said what he could once only describe as a "deep" feeling of "being lost" as a child of "mixed race heritage" orphaned by the passing of his Yolŋu mother and father of Irish heritage, is now a "double power or double consciousness".

This is "moving through the Yorunga world and the Western world," Mr McGrath said, "that knowledge is what I now carry with me into this role as I take my place as the member for Mulka".

Mr Grath spoke of the cultural knowledge passed down, rites of passage and ceremonies undertaken after being taken in by his aunty and her husband.

He wore the same dilly bag he received during this time around his neck while delivering his inaugural speech.

His entry into parliament comes as what he said is a "time of significant change across East Arnhem Land for both Yolŋu and Balanda (non-Indigenous)" people, adding he intends to "shift the dial" for its communities.

The need for appropriate and affordable housing, central services, small businesses, food security, investment in infrastructure, education and health services were key issues identified by Mr McGrath.

As was the future for Nhulunbuy as a central hub for the region, and the approaching end to bauxite mining nearby on the Gove Peninsula.

Mining there dates back decades, with Rio Tino, who've operated the Gove mine for almost 20 years, set to end its operations in 2029.

"We need a transparent transition plan in place, with clear investment priorities and genuine engagement with people who live and work across the region, to ensure future confidence," Mr McGrath told parliament.

"I will sit across a table from the ministers, public servants, businesses, and leaders to advocate confidently for the people of East Arnhem Land, but I will not back down when I know something is not being done right. It is what came before and will remain long after the transition. That is Yolngu law, culture, and kinship.

"I know that government cannot deliver these things alone. The people know their communities, they know what works, they know what needs to change, and they deserve to have a genuine voice in the decisions that affect their lives, their families, and their Country. That is the kind of representation I intend to provide."

Before his election, Mr McGrath worked locally as a registered nurse.

He has previously spoken about his early life experiences, notedly the passing of his mother, influencing his path into the health workforce.

In recent years, Mr McGrath became Arnhem Land's first Yolŋu registered nurse.

As much of an achievement this might seem, he said it asks a larger question: "Did Yolŋu people fail the system, or the system failed Yolŋu people? I'll tell you why I'm the first registered nurse, Madam Speaker, because the system for too long has been measured on a dominantly western system that does not cater for someone like me or someone that looks like me."

"How did I become the first Yolŋu registered nurse? From my perspective, I basically had to put my Yoruba culture on pause to succeed in the Western world for five years in university. That is not how it should be," he said.

"It demonstrates that Australia and its curriculum is not ready to meet First Nations halfway and to walk together. The curriculum is not set for it yet. It does not cater to Yoruba people. That is why I'm the first Yolŋu nurse. All while people in my community continue not to even see out their 50s.

"That is why I'm here to shift the dial for those communities, to make sure that we can walk together to achieve great things and greater things and better outcomes."

Mr Grath said his connection to the region, his learnings in the past and view for the future, with both his culture and professional background, drives him to represent his electorate.

The member for Mulka thanked his family, Labor colleagues, Yiŋiya Mark Guyula and others in his inaugural speech.