The Canberra Liberals moved a motion in the ACT parliament on Thursday afternoon that called for ongoing support for staff to help young residents with literacy and numeracy.

Opposition family, youth and community services spokeswoman Elizabeth Kikkert introduced the motion.

She told the Assembly she did so at the "urging of some who have worked in residential care homes in the ACT".

ACT Children and Youth Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith moved amendments to the original motion, which called on the government to ensure that staff were trained.

Instead, Ms Stephen-Smith's amendment called on the government to explore ways to improve training.

"Training and supporting staff are also important, and that's reflected in the amendment," she said.

"But we can foresee a series of questions down the track asking has every single person been trained in this particular thing for this particular purpose, when in fact, the role of youth workers is quite varied."

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Mrs Kikkert did not agree that it was a minor amendment.

"Instead of ensuring that residential care and youth justice staff receive the ongoing training and support they have asked for, the government is now only promising to explore ways to improve the support available," she said.

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