"Going the extra mile": A mixed-methods evaluation of an early-intervention youth coaching and diversion programme

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Casley, Marilyn
Bateson, Martina
Harris, Paul
Brookes, Daniel
Allen, Victoria
McDonald, Katie
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2025
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Abstract

In recent years, concerns about young people's disengagement from education and meaningful community networks have garnered increased public attention. This research evaluates Resolve, an early-intervention youth coaching and diversion programme developed and piloted by a leading community service in a socially disadvantaged community in Southeast Queensland, Australia. A mixed-methods, case study design combined quantitative data of pre- and post-outcome measures with field observations and semi-structured interviews to assess the effectiveness of the programme. Findings demonstrate that Resolve achieved significant positive changes and reductions in risk profiles alongside major gains in subjective well-being, motivation, goal achievement, and community connectedness amongst participants. Outreach and diversion activities created soft-entry opportunities to intensive coaching, and relational, consistent, and trauma-informed practices promoted engagement and positive outcomes. In collaboration with a range of community services, stakeholders, and government agencies, Resolve provided holistic, youth-centred support and contributed to the evidence regarding the effectiveness of youth coaching and diversion programmes.

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Journal of Criminology

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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

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This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advance online version.

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Casley, M; Bateson, M; Harris, P; Brookes, D; Allen, V; McDonald, K, "Going the extra mile": A mixed-methods evaluation of an early-intervention youth coaching and diversion programme, Journal of Criminology, 2025

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