The South Pacific Council of Youth and Childrens Courts conference kicked off in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, attracting the heads of Children's Courts across the country and New Zealand.

Judges and magistrates from across the South Pacific have also travelled to Canberra for the five-day conference.

ACT Children's Court Magistrate Karen Fryar has been the driving force in bringing the conference to Canberra, and was congratulated by Attorney-General Simon Corbell and Chief Justice Helen Murrell, who both spoke at the opening on Monday morning.

Mr Corbell used his address to outline the ACT government's reforms and initiatives in youth justice, aimed at early intervention, diversion and prevention, and in out-of-home care, where measures are trying to break the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage, neglect and trauma.

He spoke of a trial program, to be launched next year, that will provide better support to Indigenous youth who find themselves in custody.

"Reducing the over-representation of Indigenous young people is a key local and indeed national priority," he said.

"There are far too many Indigenous young people in the justice system."