Dr Joel McGregor

Biography

Joel McGregor is interested in the systems and services that support individuals after involvement with the justice system, with a specific interest in young people and their workers.

Joel completed his PhD in 2019 which examined how case management and diversionary programs—such as rehabilitation interventions—come together as a practice to help young people following involvement with juvenile justice. This work highlighted how case managers are often required to draw on their own experiences, and an understanding of self, while serving their clients. For instance, case managers will often relate to their clients firstly through their own experiences of trauma or criminality. Then, secondly, they’ll bring in what they’ve learnt from their training. This has important implications for the desistance pathways of young people.

Joel is working with several teams on funded projects that seek to evidence and evaluate new and existing intervention programs for vulnerable populations.