The Central Australian Youth Justice Network expressed alarm on Tuesday at the NT government's decision to permanently relocate all young detainees from Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre to Holtze Youth Detention Centre in Darwin.

The justice advocate group warned that the decision to convert the $32 million purpose-built youth justice facility at ASYDC into a women's prison "will leave young detainees further removed from their cultural and familial support networks, causing additional harm to them and their families' social and emotional wellbeing".

CAYJ said the decision will disproportionately impact Aboriginal children and "perpetuate cycles of trauma and violence, echoing the tragic history of forced removals during the Stolen Generations".

The group noted that the relocation plan contradicts recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT, Closing the Gap targets, and the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, and also fails to align with the Northern Territory Youth Detention Centre Model of Care, which emphasises therapeutic and holistic treatment.

A CAYJ spokesperson said the decision represented "the continuation of policies that institutionalise Aboriginal children, severing their connections to community and culture".

"This will have lasting detrimental effects on their emotional and social well-being," she said.

"Moving these young people away from their families and support systems will only undermine their chances of rehabilitation and successful reintegration back into society. This highlights the ongoing mismanagement of the youth justice system across the NT."

The CAYJ Network noted that as recently as April this year, the now closed Don Dale Youth Detention Centre (DDYDC) placed young people in indefinite lockdowns following riots sparked by poor conditions and unfair treatment.

CAYJ said it has received reports this week of concerning operational issues at the new facility following government pressure to fast-track the transition of young people from DDYDC to HYDC.

CAYJ strongly opposes the NT Government's lack of meaningful engagement with key stakeholders, including families, the Alice Springs community, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and frontline workers.

"The inadequate consultation and lack of transparency regarding this plan has exacerbated tensions at ASYDC, creating a climate of uncertainty and distress for young detainees, their families, and staff alike," the group said in a joint statement.

"We support comments by the NT Children's Commissioner who says …therapeutic models of care are not ideological."

CAYJ urged the NT government to "re-evaluate this harmful plan and prioritise the development of a youth justice system to one that provides localised support, tailored services, healing, and a pathway to a better future for young people rather, than perpetuating punitive measures that further alienate young people from their families and communities".

The Network spokesperson said: "We implore the NT Government not to move children over 1500kms away from Alice Springs, separating them from families, communities and place-based supports, when they have a resourced, purpose-built facility already operating here."

National Indigenous Times has contacted the NT Minister for Corrections for comment.