Working With At-Risk Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Young People in Australia: Risk Factors, Programming, and Service Delivery

Abstract

Young people from particular culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are overrepresented in Australia’s criminal justice system. Many possess the typical risk profiles of justice-involved young people. However, there are unique sociocultural factors that may affect a CALD young person’s ongoing contact, and interactions with the justice system. There exists little published research on these factors, and how service providers can best address the needs of justice-involved CALD young people. This article endeavored to fill this gap in our knowledge and advance policy development in this critical space. First, a number of key environmental and pre/post migratory stressors were identified that may be implicated in pathways to offending. Second, despite regular calls for culturally responsive programming, few programs have been developed, and no evaluations of such programs were detected in the extant literature. Third, several programming recommendations were articulated based on available expertise. One approach included building the capacities of culture-based community service providers to strengthen their ability to work with justice-involved CALD youth.