New Street Services provides therapeutic intervention for adolescent sexual harm

New Street Services, a state-run program in Australia, provides therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents who have sexually harmed others. The Children and Young People’s Sexual Safety Program operates across 12 centres, employing over 60 clinicians to prevent repeat offenses by separating a young person’s behavior from their identity.

A 2024 analysis of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study indicates that teenagers have overtaken adults as the most likely perpetrators of child sexual abuse. Among those aged 16 to 24, 18.2 percent reported abuse by an adolescent peer, compared to 11.7 percent who experienced abuse from an adult.

The program includes the SafeWayz service for children under 10 and New Street Services for those aged 10 to 17. Most participants have not faced prosecution because they often do not meet the legal burden of criminal responsibility. Treatment processes, which incorporate victim-survivor perspectives, typically last between six months and two years.