Using photography to voice young people's views about community and local service delivery

Youth offending has received significant attention in recent years in Queensland and across Australia. While the voices of young people who are offending or at risk of offending are evident in some studies, other reports do not identify them as key stakeholders. A recent university-industry research collaboration sought to prioritise the voices of young people engaging with The Lighthouse, a diversionary service within Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Heath Services (TAIHS), through use of qualitative, Photovoice methods. The primary aim of this photovoice project was to capture the perceptions and needs of young people currently at risk of offending, and to document those views to help shape local service delivery. A thematic analysis enabled the identification of four key themes. These themes identified that participants felt unsafe and under surveillance in public spaces; they wanted more amenities where they could enjoy being in the community with their peers; they reported that peers and family were very important to them; and they appreciated services on offer at The Lighthouse and acknowledged these services supported behavioural change. The findings provide a unique contribution to the use of creative research methodologies, and to policy and service delivery focused on young people at risk of offending