Activity details
NSW Health delivers New Street Services which provides therapeutic services for children and young people aged 10 to 17 years who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours towards others, and their families and caregivers. They work with the young person to assist them to understand, acknowledge, take responsibility for and cease the harmful behaviour.
Implementation progress update
A 2014 evaluation of New Street Services found that the service has achieved significant outcomes with young people and their families, with positive impacts for both individuals and the child protection system as a whole. It found the service to be highly effective, with 89% of clients ceasing harmful behaviours by the time their case was closed. At the three-month follow-up, only 3% had experienced a recurrence. There were no known instances of recurrence among young people who identified as Aboriginal (KPMG, 2014). Economic evaluation has found New Street Services provide clear economic benefits for government. New Street is currently undergoing another evaluation following statewide implementation of the service. The final evaluation report is due in 2026.
New Street Services prioritise Aboriginal young people. All New Street employees are trained and committed to ensuring cultural safety. Identified Aboriginal Counsellor Positions are included as part of the service model. New Street Services are supported by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network which provides clinical supervision and consultation to New Street Service Coordinators and teams, including through a dedicated Aboriginal Clinical Advisor.
For more information see https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/parvan/hsb/Pages/new-street-services.aspx.
More information
- Learn about the National Plan to End Violence against women and children 2022-2032.
- Read the First Action Plan 2023-2027.
- Browse the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan update.