Wales, Kassandra, Zuchowski, Ines, and Hamley, Jemma (2025) The Lived Experiences of Youth-Workers: Understanding Service-Delivery Practices Within Queensland Non-Government Residential Youth Care Organisations. Social Sciences, 14 (9). 534.

Preview

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (821kB) | Preview

Abstract

Young people under the care of child protection agencies are at increased risk of entering the criminal justice system. Residential youth organisations support young people who are unable to reside with their families or in foster care. Youth workers in these environments ensure the safety and wellbeing of young people in their care, consequently supporting the wellbeing of the overall community. This research explored the views and experiences of Queensland residential youth workers via a focus group interview. The data captured a thick description of service delivery practices. Constructivist Grounded Theory was used to conceptualise a theoretical framework based on the various empirical realities of participants. The findings highlight occasions where complex power dynamics had damaging consequences for youth workers and young people. Participants explored systemic constraints and structural inequalities, thus detailing the implications of top-down organisational structures on their service delivery, safety, and outcomes for young people. Participants were concerned about the implications of interrupted attachment and young people’s progression into crime. Practice recommendations centre around improving the disconnection between front-line realities and systemic hierarchies. Residential out-of-home care service delivery should focus on building community connection and belonging; mental, emotional and physical safety; collaborative care; and support.

Item ID:	87684
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2076-0760
Keywords:	early intervention; proactive; non-coercive; community building and engagement; residential care; youth workers; youth crime; child protection; systemic power dynamics; attachment
Copyright Information:	© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2025 00:22
FoR Codes:	44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4402 Criminology > 440201 Causes and prevention of crime @ 25% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4402 Criminology > 440204 Crime and social justice @ 25% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4409 Social work > 440902 Counselling, wellbeing and community services @ 50%
SEO Codes:	16 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 1699 Other education and training > 169999 Other education and training not elsewhere classified @ 20% 23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2301 Community services > 230115 Youth services @ 80%
Downloads:	Total: 1 Last 12 Months: 1
	More Statistics