Progressing the Dialogue about aFramework for Aboriginal Evaluations:

Sharing methods and key learnings

Presented by: Megan Price (BoysTown) Additional authors: Brian McCoy (Latrobe University); Salote Mafi (BoysTown)

AES Conference, SydneyAugust 2011

We thank the traditional owners of this land, the Cadigal Band of the Eora Nation, and the communities where our recent

research and evaluations have been conducted.

A bit of context...– This presentation is based on a full paper of the same title (refer AES

website for detail and list of references).

– The authors include three non-Aboriginal evaluators with varied experience conducting research and evaluations involving Aboriginal people living in metropolitan, regional and remote communities.

– Shared learnings are predominantly drawn from an evaluation of a social enterprise program involving local men and women of a remote community in Western Australia, Wirrimanu.

..... we recognise that whilst much was learnt, much is yet to be learned.

– Artwork in this presentation includes some of the creative work and voice of Wirrimanu community members who participated in the evaluation.

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Encouraging reflexive practice

1. How are evaluations targeted to Aboriginal people, by whom and for what purpose?

2. What do Aboriginal people want evaluated and how might this be better done?

3. How can non-Aboriginal evaluators effectively and respectfully respond to these issues?

How are evaluations targeted to Aboriginal people?

By whom?

...and for what purpose?

What do Aboriginal people want measured?

How might this be measured?

• Manage funder’s expectations up front – time, costs and ‘data’

• Engage a local ‘sponsor’ / ‘broker’ to link, inform and advocate

• Ensure locals help inform the what, who, how and by whom

• Address the questions ‘insiders’ want answered, not just ‘outsiders’

• Use flexible, creative, tailored methods - local voices and key insights

• Reports which are accessible and help give direction and ownership

• Continuous learning and reflexive practice

Effectively and respectively responding…

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AcknowledgementsThe authors would again like to acknowledge the support of a wide range of

people who generously contributed their time and reflection for the evaluation and their teaching. In particular, the members of the Wirrimanu community and

Wirrimanu agencies.

We would also like to acknowledge the artists whose work has been featured in this presentation (in order of appearance within the report):

Cameron Gill Tjakamarra; Eva Nagomara Napurrula; Corina Nanala Nangala. Photos in this report were taken by the authors during visits to community.