4.1.2 Review and Evaluation of the progress
of the Human Services Plan Phase One.
An independent qualified consultant has been
contracted to undertake the review and evaluation of the progress of the Human
Services Plan Phase One to date.
An Evaluation Framework for the Human
Services Plan has been developed and was endorsed by the relevant stakeholders
in June 2006.
This framework consists of a hierarchy of
outcome, intermediate and process indicators covering the ten key priority
areas.
Key tasks in developing the Evaluation
report will include:
- Review of relevant plans and policies
including the State Plan 2006 and Two Ways Together for Aboriginal people. - Assembly and interpretation of 12 month data
on outcome indicators compared to baseline data. - Assembly and interpretation of 12 month data
on service output and intermediate indicators compared to baseline data. - Assembly and assessment of agency
performance in implementing key actions and strategies, and - Consultation with key stakeholders including
government agencies, non government agencies and community.
The draft evaluation report will be prepared
for circulation to the Human Services Plan Implementation Senior Officers Group
for comment in early March 2008.
The Human Services Plan will continue to be
reviewed and evaluated on a biennial basis to monitor progress and achievement
of anticipated outcomes for the community of Redfern and Waterloo.
Source: RWA Submission to the NSW Inquiry into Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage page 29 No.
11, Redfern-Waterloo Authority
Evaluation and Review of Human Services Plan
Phase One
I refer to your email of 11 February and
advise as follows:
The requirement for the evaluation and
review of the Human Services Plan Phase 1 was approved by NSW Government in
December 2005.
The RWA contracted Richard
Gilbert Consulting in 2006 to develop the evaluation framework for the Human
Services Plan.
The framework includes:
- medium and long term outcome indicators;
- process indicators to monitor plan
implementation by agencies; and - An audit of the plan to align goals with
strategies.
The framework also indicates that the first
major evaluation of performance in implementing the Plan would occur 18 months
after the release of the final Plan.
Government agencies have reported on their
performance indicators in 2006 and 2007.
In June 2007, 18 months after the adoption
of the Human Services Plan Phase 1, Richard
Gilbert Consulting developed a proposal to provide the 18 month evaluation of
the Plan. Key elements of the proposal include:
- Review of relevant plans and policies
- Interpretation of 12 month data on outcome
indicators compared to baseline data - Interpretation of 12 month data on service
output and intermediate indicators compared to baseline data - Assessment of agency performance in
implementing key actions and strategies (process indicators) - Review of data obtained through any
community surveys and focus groups gathered throughout the process of the Plan
being implemented. This includes review of meeting notes, Taskforce actions and
working groups. - Consultation with key stakeholders with
responsibility for actions in the Plan. This includes government agencies and
NGO’s. - Preparation of the final report.
The review of the implementation of the Plan
is focusing primarily on the actions that have been achieved, actions that
haven’t been achieved and the reasons why, and a review of the processes
utilised by lead and support agencies in implementation.
This review is around progress to date.
Consultation with the community to identify
their understanding, perceptions and feedback on the impact of the Human
Services Plan would be a separate piece of research utilising a specific
methodology for this purpose. This type of research requires a sampling methodology
that is statistically valid and representative of a cross section of the
community. This is not in the current scope of the review project. However, the Consultant is currently meeting
with NGO’s and Community based organisations such as Connect
Redfern, and South Sydney Youth Services etc that are
actively involved in the Plan’s implementation.
Should you wish to discuss this further,
please contact Julie Parsons at the
RWA office on 9202 9100.
Regards
Robert Domm
Chief Executive Officer, RWA
Source: Email to REDWatch dated 12th February 2008