Andrew Kefford, the territory's Commissioner for Public Administration, has sought urgent advice from public service officials after the claims were aired on Thursday.

Workers at the hearing told MLAs they felt overlooked for career opportunities because they were Aboriginal, while one staff member complained that cultural awareness training within her directorate had been referred to as "abo training".

The Canberra Liberals have also called on the ACT government to review its trainee programs for indigenous public servants after three workers at the hearing complained about feeling unsupported in the entry-level programs.

Public servants at the hearing included staff from the education and training, justice and community safety, community services and economic development directorates.

Directorate officials have been ordered to give assistance to public servants who spoke at the hearing after several workers became distressed, with some talking of their experiences while in tears.

Staff told MLAs they felt afraid to make formal complaints of racism as they worried doing so could cost them their jobs or a promotion. One woman told the hearing that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in her office had been subjected to racist comments from a human resources manager. Another said she had been told she was not "a real Aboriginal" because of the colour of her skin.

A spokeswoman for the Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate said the claims were being investigated. "The Commissioner for Public Administration has sought urgent advice from directors-general in relation to the matters aired in the inquiry yesterday, including whether they are new issues or ones that have already been addressed," she said.

"Directorates are offering support and assistance to staff who may have been distressed by the proceedings yesterday." The spokeswoman said the public service was committed to providing safe workplaces and "will not tolerate racism from any officials in any context".

Canberra Liberals MLA Andrew Wall, the deputy chairman of the committee conducting the inquiry, said he was concerned at how widespread the complaints were across the ACT public service. "I'd describe it as debilitating for the individuals involved," Mr Wall said.

"The experiences ranged from derogatory racial slurs to children - who are normally allowed in the workplace - being told to sit outside because they're indigenous.''

Mr Wall said three workers shared "horrific experiences" of the public service indigenous cadetship program. He said he wanted a review of the implementation of trainee programs, as well as cultural awareness training that was "more than just a delivery checkbox exercise".

The hearings will continue in February.