The eight day, 85km trek through the Flinders Ranges in South Australia is part of an early intervention strategy to break the cycle of youth offending while rebuilding confidence in a pro-social and challenging environment.

The NT Government has committed to investing in alternatives to detention and Operation Flinders is just one program focused on getting vulnerable young people back on track and away from the youth justice system.

This program is designed to improve life outcomes while teaching the young people to take responsibility for their actions and understand the consequences of their offending behaviour.

Territory Families Youth Outreach and Re-Engagement team manager, Peter Fletcher said it is an incredibly valuable opportunity for the young people involved.

"The trek provides time and space to build self-confidence and belief and an ability to make better choices, while being away from the temptations and challenges of their everyday lives," he said.

"This group of nine was made up of four males and five females and was the first mixed gender group from the NT to take on the trek.

"All of the nine young people are currently on youth diversion and for them to experience something like this, to be supported and given a chance to achieve, be proud and to change their behaviour, is vital.

"At the beginning of the camp a lot of the young people are hesitant and disengaged but within a few days, the change in them is inspiring to see.

"By pushing their boundaries and challenging themselves, they grow and develop in so many ways, and a number of the participants were recognised on the trek for their strong leadership skills.

"A number of young people have made comments on how this experience has impacted their lives, their way of thinking and the way they feel about themselves. They are talking about their future and how they now know that they can achieve anything if they just put their minds to it.

"This program is challenging but highly successful for the young people and also for the wider community and I look forward to many more camps in the future."

A 14 year old female on the camp said how being acknowledged for her skills made her proud.

"On the trek I was recognised for my leadership, my self-improvement, my courage and my resilience. It was really hard, but I feel really proud of myself," she said.

Territory Families deputy chief executive officer of Operational Services, Jeanette Kerr said Operation Flinders wilderness camp aims to build individual resilience and self-esteem while instilling an increased level of responsibility and improving self-awareness to encourage positive life choices.

"By taking the young people out of their comfort zones and putting them in a completely different environment, they are faced with decision making, personal responsibilities and they have to work as part of a team, which helps them develop people skills and rebuild their confidence," Ms Kerr said.

"Of the 45 young people who have completed the program since it began in 2017, 32 of them have not reoffended and overwhelmingly most of them have made significant positive changes to their lives as a result of the camp."

The next group of young people will be from Darwin and will leave to trek through the Flinders Ranges in May 2019.

The NT Government provided $353,500 to run Operation Flinders through 2017-2019.

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