Resources and research
The resource and research links and information on this page are provided to help service providers with the delivery of their programs and support continuous improvement in their practices when working with young people.
Core Effective Practice Skills
The one-page document ‘Core Effective Practice Skills’ is adapted from research by Trotter and Evans, 2010 and provides examples of relationship, role clarification, pro-social modelling and problem-solving skills.
Download the Core Effective Practice Skills guide.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – Good Practice Guide
The Good Practice Guide was produced by the Aboriginal Strategic Coordination Unit (ASCU) in consultation with the Aboriginal Strategic Advisory Committee (ASAC).
The Guide gives staff a practical resource for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure services continue to improve and staff engage in conduct that is culturally respectful and always appropriate no matter what the setting.
Download the Good Practice Guide.
8ways - Aboriginal ways of learning
8ways is an Aboriginal pedagogy website that contains training resources and best practice examples. The site is designed to assist service providers to produce unique frameworks for Aboriginal education, through dialogue with the community about local ways of doing things.
The Aboriginal 8 Ways chart was created by the Department of Education and Training, based on research conducted by Dr Tyson Yunkaporta and explains how to use the Aboriginal 8ways Framework.
Working with young people with an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment
This guide is intended to help psychologists, caseworkers and Youth Officers identify, refer, understand and work with young people with an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment. It includes tips for engaging and interacting with the young person, suggestions for communicating with the young person, and stressors that may trigger behavioural problems.
Download Working with young people with an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment.
'What Works' with young offenders: Youth on Track guidelines
The ‘What works’ guidelines aim to provide an overview for Youth on Track and other relevant service providers on research and evidence-based practice skills and interventions to reduce re-offending by young people.
The guidelines will assist service providers to address the criminogenic risks and needs of young people referred to Youth on Track.
Download the What works with young offenders - Youth on Track Guidelines.
Barriers and strategies to engaging clients: Youth on Track guidelines
Engagement in a program is a critical period for a young person to access supports that can help prevent them from becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system.
These Guidelines provide a review of identified barriers to engagement, as well as evidence-informed strategies that service providers can implement to overcome these barriers.
Download the Barriers and strategies to engaging clients - Youth on Track Guidelines.
Youth mentoring – diverting young people from contact with the justice system
This evidence review outlines research on the effectiveness of mentoring programs that divert high-risk young people from coming into contact with the justice system. The key findings draw on published peer reviews and grey literature from 2011 to 2021. The research team have critically assessed the strength of evidence for interventions.
Download the Youth Mentoring: diverting young people from justice involvement.