An inquest into the deaths of four Aboriginal women in the Northern Territory, now underway, must be a catalyst for change, advocates say.

North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service chief executive Cassandra Carolin said marking the start of the landmark inquiry into the deaths of "four of our Aboriginal women, killed by their former partners", was "a solemn time".

"We sincerely hope the process will be respectful and inclusive of all who loved and cared for these women and all living with their loss," she said.

The hearing started this week in Alice Springs focusses on two women who lost their lives in Central Australia. This will be followed on Monday, 26 June, by two hearing weeks in Darwin on the deaths of Ms Ragurrk and Ms Yunipingu who were killed in the city.

In October there will be further hearings about lessons to be learned from the four deaths, systemic issues and improvements.

On Friday the North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service urged Aboriginal community controlled organisations and other community-based efforts are to "let the coroner know what is needed from here".

NAAFLS said it would take the opportunity "to provide input into what we believe is necessary for better justice for Aboriginal women caught in violent relationships".

"Our key recommendation is for the NT to develop an Aboriginal specific violence prevention strategy. Other states and territories in Australia have Aboriginal specific strategies and the NT is lagging behind when we should be leading change in this area," the organisation said in a statement.

Ms Carolin said NAAFLS hoped "the NT Government will step up and agree to an NT Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Strategy".

"We need more backing for the efforts by our people and our leaders in communities day-by-day across the NT," she said.

NAAFLS supports a NT Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Peak body, which would join in the Aboriginal Peak Organisation NT (APONT).

"We also support the efforts by all our people and our Aboriginal organisations who are working towards positive change," the organisation said."

National Indigenous Times has contacted the NT government for comment.