Treatment with youth who have committed sexual offences: Extending the reach of systemic interventions through collaborative partnerships

Abstract

Delivery of high-quality mental health services to clients in regional and remote areas in Australia presents significant challenges. Griffith Youth Forensic Service (GYFS) provides specialised, state-wide assessment and systemic treatment services for young people in Queensland who have committed sexual offences. In an effort to provide equitable, ecologically valid services, GYFS clinicians recruit local para/professionals as collaborative partners in interventions. The success of GYFS interventions relies partly on the skills, knowledge and confidence of collaborative partners to work effectively. This study examines (a) the effectiveness of collaborative partnerships in enhancing knowledge, skills and confidence, and (b) the perspectives of collaborative partners regarding the collaborative model. Participant self-reports (n = 47 collaborative partners) indicated that skills, knowledge and confidence were significantly increased over the collaboration, were maintained for 1 year, and that increased knowledge, skills and confidence were associated with perceived improvements in client outcomes.

Keywords:

• Collaborative partnerships
• regional and remote services
• sexual offenders
• systemic treatment
• youth offenders

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful for the support of the Queensland Department of Communities.