The review by former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Lee Shearer was in response to the 21-hour riot at the Central Coast's Frank Baxter detention centre earlier this year.

Ms Shearer made 63 recommendations, released last week, that focus on increasing safety for staff and detainees, as well as rehabilitation.

For the Riverina centre, this includes uniforms for all staff and a new classification to identify detainees who have committed serious offences and have significant behavioural issues.

Only the Frank Baxter and western Sydney's Cobham centres will get new high-risk units.

The uniform, classification system and high-risk units are initiatives the government has vowed to start implementing immediately.

Families, Communities and Disability Services Minister Gareth Ward said the new classification, based on the offence committed as well as their behaviour in custody, would enable improved separation from other detainees.

"Our government's success in diverting young people away from the system has resulted in a 40 per cent decrease in detainees over the last decade," Mr Ward said.

"The report identifies the need to better manage the remaining cohort of complex and high-risk detainees through stronger policies, support and infrastructure upgrades."

Ms Shearer's report state that 740 incidents of physical assault, 604 incidents of self-harm and 172 listed security breaches were recorded across the youth correctional system last year.

"The youth justice custodial system is under such strain, all parties suffer due to the extreme and often violent behaviour of a small but recalcitrant group of detainees," her report reads.

"The recommendations are intended to strike a realistic balance between therapeutic programs and custodial practice that optimises a safe and secure environment."

Public Service Association's general secretary Stewart Little said there has been a number of incidents at the Riverina centre this year.

"In February, we had a standoff after detainees scaled the roof while in April an officer was stabbed by a detainee with a plastic knife," Mr Little said.

"A recent disruption last month caused $12,000 in damages and involved violence among detainees and attempts to scale the roof."

In 2018, the PSA recorded nine incidents at the Riverina centre.

Mr Little said the Shearer review can deliver long overdue reforms to a juvenile justice system "that is in crisis".

"The Shearer review calls for an audit of all centres to identify security gaps, emergency management training and the introduction of security drawers - these recommendations need to be implemented at Riverina immediately," he said.

"Our members want to help these kids, they want to break the cycle."

A Communities and Justice Department spokesperson said "the safety and security of staff and detainees is our highest priority".

"The incident which occurred at the Riverina Youth Justice Centre on October 23 was managed appropriately and swiftly by our well-trained and experienced staff members," she said.

Ms Shearer will lead a committee of government and non-government representatives to implement the report's recommendations in the next 12 months.