Evaluation of Connected Beginnings: mid-term report 2023

Department of Education and the Department of Health and Aged Care

Project Director - Natalie Walker

Project Manager - Rosie Ashley

n 2022, Inside Policy was engaged by the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Aged Care to co-design and conduct a mid-term evaluation of the Connected Beginnings program.

Connected Beginnings is a place-based program delivered in various sites across the Country.

The program aims to support children from birth to school age, and pregnant women, with school readiness and educational and health outcomes, to close the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children. 

Inside Policy’s evaluation involved assessment of a Closing the Gap measure, which supports all the Priority Reforms and focuses on Targets 2, 3 and 4. 

Inside Policy utilised a mixed-method approach to evaluate the program including both qualitative and quantitative methods. Evaluation activities included site visits to 22 sites across Australia, interviews with a total of 443 community and program-level stakeholders, site-level observations, a review of 738 documents, a cost benefit analysis, contribution analysis and review of statistical data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and internal data from both Departments.  

Links:

Evaluation of Connected Beginnings: mid-term report 2023).  

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