Foreword

This evaluation looks at the trial as a whole—it does not evaluate each program separately. The package of projects was intended to operate together and to reinforce the key driver of social change, the FRC, in its efforts to reinforce agreed social obligations around the care of children and personal responsibility for safety and wellbeing, through the restoration of Indigenous authority. It was also expected that projects addressing money management, parenting support and wellbeing would help people build the capacity needed if people are to take more responsibility. The overall aim of CYWR is to rebuild social norms, re-establish Indigenous authority, increase engagement in the real economy, and move individuals and families from welfare housing to home ownership in the four participating communities. This evaluation describes how the reforms were implemented, the implementation timelines and what has not been implemented, and assesses the impact of the CYWR on the four communities. The time frame in which change of this type might be expected is unclear but the program logic laid out a set of stages which people might progress through. The scope of this evaluation includes the four-year period of implementation and modifications to projects between January 2008 and December 2011. Where it is readily available, data for the first half of 2012 has also been included. Given the timeframe, the evaluation focuses on the short-term and, where applicable, medium-term outcomes, and notes that it is too early for longer term outcomes to have emerged. This independent evaluation of the CYWR trial has been conducted by a number of independent authors, each focusing on one or more of the four key evaluation questions. The overview, including an executive summary, was prepared by Dr Michael Limerick, an independent consultant specialising in Indigenous policy, governance, and service delivery. The overview chapter brings together the evidence from the range of evaluation activities and it also seeks to answer the key evaluation questions about changes to social norms or behaviours, changes in service provision and the contribution of governance arrangements. The chapter provides a comprehensive synthesis of the implementation story and looks at whether social norms and behaviours are changing by assessing the evidence against the program logic and theory of change underpinning the trial. The overview concludes by examining the overall theory of change outlined in the original evaluation framework and includes some observations about the big picture. The chapters which make up the body of the report were also prepared by independent consultants or contractors, with the exception of the Introduction (Chapter 2), which was prepared by FaHCSIA on behalf of the partners. It outlines the history and components of the trial. The remaining chapters are: Implementation—Chapter 3, prepared by the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at the • University of New South Wales Social change survey—Chapter 4, prepared by Colmar Brunton Social Research • Authority, leadership, and social norms—Chapter 5, prepared by Professor Kate Reynolds et al, • social psychologists from the Australian National University Service delivery—Chapter 6, prepared by Dr Judy Putt, a researcher and criminologist contracted • to FaHCSIA Family Responsibilities Commission—Chapter 7, prepared by SPRC based on data extracted • from the FRC operational database Outcomes—Chapter 8, also prepared by SPRC with assistance from FaHCSIA, using data • provided by Australian and Queensland government departments, covering education, crime and safety, child protection, housing and other areas of social responsibility. Several research reports were also commissioned and provide input to the evaluation: social change survey aggregate report, by Colmar Brunton Social Research •

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