Below are some examples of projects we have undertaken in this area.
Research into service delivery for the Cape York Welfare Reform Trials
Evaluation of the Work Placement Scheme
Review of the Indigenous Public Awareness Program (NAIDOC)
Capability Support and Advice for the Evaluation of the Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Evaluation of the Personal Support Program (PSP) Innovative Pilots
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Skills Transfer for Indigenous Community Volunteers
Implementation Review of the Indigenous Community Volunteer Program
Research into service delivery for the Cape York Welfare Reform Trials – Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, FaHCSIA
This research involved an international search of literature and organisation websites to determine philosophies and methodologies of active service delivery within a wide range of service sectors, including health, disability, child protection and justice. It examined both the service delivery and consumer orientation. It involved:
- Undertaking desk top-research to identify relevant definitions of “active service delivery”;
- Describing and clarifying similar or related terms and identify dichotomies;
- Examining various philosophies of service delivery by sector; and
- Locating any readily available measurement or assessment approaches and identify experts in the field.
Evaluation of the Work Placement Scheme
– Cape York Partnerships Pty Ltd & DEEWR
The primary aim of this evaluation was to determine the impact of the pilot Scheme on improving the long-term employment prospects of Cape York’s Indigenous youth by placing them in supervised, mainstream off-Cape employment. It concentrated on the effectiveness of the WPS model, using a program logic approach, to provide guidance for future policy and program adjustment and alignment. It involved a mixed methodology of:
- In-depth interviews with participating Cape York’s Indigenous youth and their families, employers and other relevant stakeholders;
- Consultation with Cape York’s Indigenous community leaders and community members; and
- An analysis of available data on participant characteristics and post-WPS outcomes.
Quantitative Analysis of Consultations with
Indigenous Communities for the Report on the
Northern Territory Emergency Response Consultations
– Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, FaHCSIA
Quantitative analysis of an existing set of quantitative and qualitative data from the consultation feedback reports collected on the National Indigenous Information System using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods. A variety of topics from the intervention were canvassed in the analysis. It involved:
- Preparing the data set for substantial analysis;
- Developing a coding frame, undertaking coding and analysis of the full data set to address the analysis questions; and
- Reporting on the results including the methodology, reliability and validity of results.
Review of the Indigenous Public Awareness Program (NAIDOC) – FaHCSIA
The program includes NAIDOC and Indigenous public awareness Australia wide. The review examined the program design and rationale, program management and options for streamlining and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the program. It involved:
- Development of a program logic;
- Desk top analysis of program information, both qualitative and quantitative; and
- Telephone survey of all Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs) to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on the operation of the program.
Capability Support and Advice for the Evaluation of the Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
– Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programs)
This project involved providing in-house capability support and advice to officers involved in undertaking the above evaluation. It involved:
- Advice, guidance, comment and technical input on the terms of reference, implementation plan, work plan, test program, discussion paper and the evaluation report; and
- Assistance and advice in developing the methodology, fieldwork, identification of gaps in information and key emerging issues.
Evaluation of the Personal Support Program (PSP) Innovative Pilots – DEEWR
The pilots involved innovative service delivery to Indigenous clients in urban and rural/remote areas and to clients with alcohol or other drug problems. The objective of the evaluation was to investigate effective service delivery methods that could enhance employability of the target groups; determine good practice approaches in engaging and retaining the target groups; and make recommendations on policy implications of the findings. It included:
- A desk-based analysis of the available information, including an examination of original submissions, action research reports, and quarterly progress reports; and
- Case study fieldwork comprising a series of face-to face, in-depth interviews with available service providers where possible and telephone interviews where face-to-face interviews were not possible or not cost effective.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Skills Transfer for
Indigenous Community Volunteers
– DEEWR
This evaluation involved gathering both qualitative and quantitative information on whether skills transfer had occurred in 71 projects in Indigenous communities throughout Australia. It involved:
- Semi-structured telephone interviews and surveys, including qualitative and quantitative data collection, with 55 community respondents; and
- Semi-structured telephone interviews and a survey of volunteers.
Implementation Review of the
Indigenous Community Volunteer Program
- Voluntary Services to Indigenous Communities Foundation, Canberra.
The objective of this project was to provide guidance on implementation issues and to design and implement monitoring information for subsequent evaluation. It involved:
- A process analysis of the administrative systems, policies and procedures;
- Seven in-depth case studies of Indigenous communities and organisations in capital cities, small regional NSW towns and very remote areas of the NT through face to face interviews with community representatives and volunteers;
- Telephone surveys of Indigenous communities, organisations, and volunteers.