Youth Accountability and Growth Program

This 12-week program supports young people engaged with the justice system to develop insight, responsibility, and stability as they prepare for a safer, more purposeful future.

Sessions are culturally safe, age-appropriate, and delivered using supportive language, visual materials, and plain-language resources to suit varying levels of literacy and learning ability.

The program acknowledges the diverse experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, ensuring that content and facilitation respect culture, identity, and community connection.

Participants explore the underlying causes of offending including trauma, peer influence, survival pressures, and disconnection while building skills in emotional regulation, decision-making, and communication.

The program promotes accountability, personal growth, and re-engagement with education, family, culture, and pro social community life.

Program Outline

Program Duration: 12 weeks

Delivery: Online via Secure telehealth platform.

Sessions: Weekly

Initial: 90 minutes

Sessions: 50 minutes

Evidence Base:

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Social Learning Theory
Desistance Theory
Trauma-Informed Practice
Strengths-Based Rehabilitation
Positive Youth Development Model
Cultural Safety and Healing Frameworks
Restorative Justice Principles
Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) Model

Program Overview

The Youth Accountability and Growth Program provides a trauma-informed, strengths-based intervention for young people involved in or at risk of entering the justice system.

It recognises that offending behaviour often stems from unmet needs such as family instability, disconnection, survival pressures, substance use, or peer influence rather than inherent criminal intent.

Through 12 structured one-to-one sessions, the program helps participants understand why they offend, learn self-management and problem-solving skills, and rebuild identity, stability, and purpose.

It creates a safe space for reflection, skill development, and accountability while addressing mental health, educational, and neuropsychological barriers that commonly affect engagement and outcomes.

Phase 1 – Foundations and Insight (Weeks 1–3)

Week 1 – My Story and Starting Point

Focus: Understanding life context, strengths, and challenges.

Explore personal story, background, and environment.
Identify life events that shaped behaviour.
Establish program goals and values.
Activities:
“My Story Map” – visual timeline of key experiences.
Strengths Wheel and Goal Setting Worksheet.
Outcome: Participant develops a clear starting point and initial goals.

Week 2 – Why Things Happen: Triggers and Choices

Focus: Emotional awareness and understanding behaviour patterns.

Identify thoughts, feelings, and situations that lead to offending.
Introduce the ABC (Activating Event – Belief – Consequence) model.
Begin tracking emotional triggers.
Activities:
ABC Worksheet and Trigger Tracker.
Discussion: “How I react when I feel cornered or disrespected.”
Outcome: Participant identifies personal triggers and thinking patterns.

Week 3 – Peer Pressure, Loyalty, and Influence

Focus: Social influence and belonging.

Explore peer, gang, and friendship influence.
Learn to recognise manipulation and coercion.
Practise refusal and boundary-setting strategies.
Activities:
Pressure Map: people, places, and situations.
Refusal Script Practice (3 styles: brief, broken-record, delay).
Outcome: Participant develops realistic resistance strategies.

Phase 2 – Accountability and Emotional Control (Weeks 4–6)

Week 4 – Understanding Harm and Accountability

Focus: Recognising impact and responsibility.

Explore the ripple effect of behaviour on self, others, and community.
Introduce restorative concepts (repair, empathy, responsibility).
Activities:
Victim Impact Reflection Worksheet.
Roleplay: “If I could explain my change to someone I hurt…”
Outcome: Participant demonstrates increased empathy and accountability.

Week 5 – Managing Anger, Stress, and Impulses

Focus: Self-regulation and emotional control.

Recognise physiological signs of anger and stress.
Learn grounding and mindfulness techniques.
Practise problem-solving under pressure.
Activities:
Regulation Menu (3 strategies that work).
Grounding practice and body-scan exercise.
Outcome: Participant demonstrates ability to identify and apply coping tools.

Week 6 – Addiction, Escape, and Survival

Focus: Substance use and coping behaviours.

Explore links between emotion, survival, and substance use.
Discuss harm-reduction and relapse-prevention strategies.
Activities:
Risk and Coping Map.
Harm-Minimisation Plan (personalised).
Outcome: Participant understands substance-use triggers and safety planning.

Phase 3 – Identity, Education, and Belonging (Weeks 7–9)

Week 7 – Identity, Labels, and Self-Worth

Focus: Redefining self beyond offending identity.

Explore how experiences and labels shape self-image.
Build self-esteem and values-based goals.
Activities:
“Who I Am / Who I’m Becoming” Worksheet.
Values Card Sort.
Outcome: Participant develops positive identity and future focus.

Week 8 – Family, Culture, and Connection

Focus: Belonging and safe support systems.

Explore family roles, cultural identity, and belonging.
Identify safe mentors, Elders, or community supports.
Activities:
Support Circle Mapping.
Cultural Safety Plan (optional Elder involvement).
Outcome: Participant identifies safe supports and cultural connections.

Week 9 – Education, Skills, and Future Pathways

Focus: Re-engaging with learning and opportunity.

Address barriers to education and training.
Identify personal strengths, skills, and work interests.
Activities:
Skills Translation Table (life skills → employability).
Future Pathway Plan (education/training goals).
Outcome: Participant commits to one achievable education or training goal.

Phase 4 – Growth, Purpose, and Maintenance (Weeks 10–12)

Week 10 – Communication and Conflict Resolution

Focus: Healthy communication and problem-solving.

Learn assertive vs. aggressive communication.
Practise de-escalation and respectful interaction.
Activities:
“Hot Button” Roleplay (real-life conflict scenario).
Communication Style Self-Assessment.
Outcome: Participant demonstrates improved conflict and communication skills.

Week 11 – Structure and Safe Routines

Focus: Building daily structure and avoiding relapse.

Design a structured routine for work, study, and wellbeing.
Learn time management and accountability techniques.
Activities:
Daily Routine Planner.
Risk and Routine Review (high-risk people/places).
Outcome: Participant develops a sustainable daily structure.

Week 12 – Reflection, Progress, and 90-Day Growth Plan

Focus: Consolidation and future planning.

Reflect on progress and achievements.
Finalise personal 90-Day Growth and Accountability Plan.
Discuss ongoing supports and self-management.
Activities:
Program Reflection Journal.
90-Day Plan (education, wellbeing, community).
Outcome: Participant demonstrates insight, stability, and readiness for next steps.

Comprehensive Program Outcomes

By the completion of the 12-week Youth Accountability and Growth Program, participants will demonstrate measurable progress across five core rehabilitation domains:

1. Cognitive and Behavioural Change

Improved ability to identify high-risk thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
Demonstrated understanding of personal triggers and the link between choices and consequences.
Development of problem-solving and decision-making skills grounded in cognitive-behavioural techniques.
Increased self-awareness and capacity to pause, reflect, and make safer choices under stress.
Reduction in impulsive or reactive behaviours through learned regulation techniques.

2. Emotional and Psychological Development

Strengthened emotional regulation and distress-tolerance skills.
Improved recognition and management of anger, frustration, anxiety, and shame.
Increased use of adaptive coping strategies and self-soothing techniques.
Enhanced emotional insight and ability to express feelings constructively.
Greater self-efficacy and sense of personal agency in managing life’s challenges.

3. Accountability, Empathy, and Restorative Insight

Development of empathy and understanding of the impact of behaviour on victims, family, and community.
Demonstrated personal responsibility and remorse through reflective exercises.
Increased capacity to separate identity from behaviour — shifting from “offender” to “person in growth.”
Willingness to participate in reparative or restorative actions where appropriate.
Sustained participation and respectful conduct throughout the program process.

4. Social, Educational, and Life Skills

Enhanced communication, conflict-resolution, and interpersonal skills.
Reduction in association with high-risk peers or groups.
Reconnection with positive supports, family, mentors, Elders, or community networks.
Increased engagement with education, training, or vocational pathways.
Development of practical skills including time management, goal setting, budgeting, and planning.
Improved confidence to navigate adult systems (education, employment, justice, and healthcare).

5. Identity, Purpose, and Future Planning

Formation of a positive self-concept grounded in values, strengths, and future aspirations.
Identification of personal goals and meaningful prosocial roles within community life.
Demonstrated readiness to maintain structure, routine, and lawful participation post-program.
Completion of a structured 90-Day Growth and Accountability Plan, outlining supports, routines, and safety strategies.
Commitment to ongoing engagement with education, work, or counselling supports as part of their reintegration pathway.

At the conclusion of the program, participants are supported to connect with appropriate ongoing services and community supports. Referrals may include local Elders, allied health professionals, youth mentoring programs, education or training providers, and social or cultural connection groups to encourage sustained growth and belonging.

All post-program referrals are made collaboratively with the participant and, where appropriate, their parents, caregivers, or supervising agencies.

This ensures each young person’s support network is aligned, practical, and culturally and developmentally appropriate for long-term wellbeing.

The program aims to reduce recidivism by addressing the underlying causes of offending, strengthening self-regulation, and building protective social and community supports.

Reporting and Outcomes

At completion, participants receive:

A Certificate of Completion acknowledging engagement and attendance.
A Clinically Reviewed Report outlining participation, insights, progress and outcomes.

With signed consent or court order, attendance verifications can be provided directly to the participant’s parent or care giver, lawyer, Police or justice and community officers, or the court.