Practitioner Reflections on Sex Offender Treatment in Remote Communities

Abstract

We offer reflections on practitioner service provision for sex offenders when working in remote communities. The social ecological model framework is used to capture the influence on practitioner working at an individual, relationship, community, and societal level. The social construction and geographic conditions of sexual offending within remote communities present myriad challenges for professionals working in these isolative settings in which they are embedded. Challenges include being the sole expert in a community, unavoidable dual relationships, community anxieties, and restrictive guidelines and assessment measures. Despite the challenges presented to practitioners operating in remote communities, many opportunities are available for building local and international peer relationships, connecting with the community, individualized treatment for clients, and flexibility in the adaptation of best practice to fit the needs of remote communities while maintaining ethical integrity.