Evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Violence Primary Prevention Innovation Fund 2018-2021
Testimonial:
On behalf of the Office for Prevention of Family Violence and Coordination, thank-you to Professor Kerry Arabena and the team for delivering the Aboriginal Innovation Fund evaluation. This project was conducted during Covid-19 restrictions and Kerry navigated the shifting landscape with professionalism and a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing the Aboriginal community controlled service sector. The evaluation findings will enable us to build on more culturally appropriate ways of working with Victoria’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Aislinn Martin – Manager Equity and Diversity, DFFH.
Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Who funded the project
The Aboriginal Family Violence Primary Prevention Innovation Fund (Aboriginal Innovation Fund) was established by the Victorian Government to support Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to design, trial and evaluate the effectiveness of a range of innovative primary prevention interventions across Aboriginal communities in Victoria. In May 2021, Karabena Consulting was commissioned by the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) to:
evaluate the Aboriginal Innovation Fund, and
to provide recommendations that will support the administration, monitoring and evaluation of funded projects, and inform future primary prevention policy and programmatic directions and investments.
Karabena Consulting was guided by a Project Steering Committee in our delivery of:
two targeted online surveys,
seven semi-structured interviews, and
two roundtable discussions.
We also undertook a literature review, and reviewed project progress reports, final reports, case studies and project plans.
The evaluation was documented in a report which was submitted to DFFH.
Summary
This project aimed to evaluate the Aboriginal Innovation Fund and provide recommendations to DFFH to:
support the administration, monitoring and evaluation of funded projects; and
inform future primary prevention policy and programmatic directions and investments.
The findings of the evaluation will also contribute to the limited evidence base on what works to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against Aboriginal women and communities.
Project aims
To complete the evaluation, Karabena Consulting:
established a Project Steering Committee to guide and advise our work
conducted two targeted online surveys, seven semi-structured interviews over Zoom, and two online roundtable discussions with program implementers
undertook a literature review which explored:
what is meant by ‘family violence’ and ‘primary prevention’
the drivers of family violence and violence against women
primary prevention and intervention approaches
the main facilitators for First Nations-led family violence prevention programs and the impact that COVID-19 has had in this space
innovations in family violence prevention programs and features of innovation processes and outcomes
importance of evaluating programs involving First Nations communities.
reviewed project progress reports, final reports, case studies and project plans.
Methodologies
The following outputs stemmed from the evaluation, some of which we hope to publish and make publicly available on approval from DFFH:
An evaluation report detailing findings and recommendations
A literature review on innovation in the family violence prevention sector utilising up-to-date information and evidence from Australia and globally
Professor Arabena presented the findings of the evaluation to DFFH in mid-October 2021
Outputs
We anticipate for the findings of the evaluation to:
contribute to the limited evidence base on what works to prevent both family violence and all forms of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and communities, and
highlight opportunities to promote innovation within the family violence prevention sector
Project Outcomes
Family violence; primary prevention; evaluation; innovation; Aboriginal Innovation Fund; DFFH; Victoria; ACCO