Changing the Story – Supporting Adolescent Boys: Implementation evaluation at The Bridge Youth Service

This project is led by Professor Rebecca Giallo and Dr Alison Fogarty.

The project is expected to be completed in December 2026.

At a glance

This project evaluates how the Changing the Story program is being implemented at The Bridge Youth and Family Service, and how it supports young males who are at risk of using violence. Changing the Story is a therapeutic intervention for young males aged 12–18 who have experienced family violence in childhood and are at risk of using violence themselves.

About

Over one in three Australian children are exposed to intimate partner violence, child abuse or neglect, experiences linked to poorer mental health and increased risk of later using violence.

The Bridge Youth Service (The Bridge) is a community organisation in Greater Shepparton supporting young people and families with mental health and social challenges. In partnership with the Australian Childhood Foundation, they are implementing Changing the Story (CTS), a new early-intervention program for adolescent boys and young men who have experienced family violence and are at risk of using family, domestic or sexual violence. CTS is a client-centred, trauma-informed program drawing on Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, PACE, and Emotional Regulation & Impulse Control (ERIC) tools. Outreach is used to meet young people where they are and support prosocial engagement. The program includes clear referral pathways, safety planning, and linkage to specialist services when needed. Its goals are to improve psychosocial wellbeing, strengthen emotional regulation and community connection, and reduce the risk of violence.

This project aims to answer the following questions :

To what extent was CTS delivered as planned, and how has it evolved?
What factors supported or hindered implementation?
What were the characteristics of young people who were referred, engaged, or deemed ineligible?
What outcomes were perceived for clients by staff and stakeholders?
What is needed to support future implementation and address unmet community needs?

This project will generate evidence to guide future program design at The Bridge and inform the implementation of early-intervention services for boys and young men affected by family violence in other regional settings.