A program that has been rigorously evaluated in a controlled setting and has demonstrated effectiveness with specific population groups. There are clear links between the program’s core components and the expected outcomes.
Before you select an evidence-informed program, you should conduct a needs assessment. A needs assessment can help you identify and prioritise your client’s needs to inform programs, policies and services. Conducting a needs assessment will help you:
Once you’re clear about these things, you can identify the best program to meet your client’s needs.
When you select an evidence-informed program, you should determine if:
The Hexagon Exploration Tool can help you evaluate the suitability of programs in a structured way.
You must implement the evidence-informed program as is intended. Otherwise you won’t know if issues with the program are because it is ineffective or because it hasn’t been delivered properly. You must also monitor the program to ensure the core components are adhered to.
See Selecting an evidence-based program and Implementation and adaptation of evidence-based programs from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) for more information.
No, you do not have to use evidence-informed programs to take an evidence-informed approach.
An evidence-informed program may not fully meet the diverse and complex needs of our clients and communities. You also might not be able to find an evidence-informed program for the type of service you provide.
You should use evidence to ensure the right mix of services are provided to address client’s needs in the best possible way.
This may mean:
Aboriginal Parenting Programs: Review of Case Studies
There is little evidence on parenting education programs developed specifically for Aboriginal families. However, there is research that has identified key elements of effective parenting supports for Aboriginal parents and families.
In 2017, Absec developed case studies from across NSW of effective and innovative Aboriginal-led practice in the provision of parenting supports. See Aboriginal Parenting Programs: Review of Case Studies (PDF , 1.1 MB).
This work identified key elements of successful programs could be used to inform effective design and delivery of parenting programs in Aboriginal communities.
You may need to adapt an existing evidence-informed program to make it more suitable for your local community.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) have identified some key circumstances in which you might need to adapt your program:
If your program needs to be adapted, you should consider the following:
When you adapt a program, you cannot change the core components of the program that are responsible for its effectiveness.
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Once you have made any necessary changes, test your adapted program with your client group and facilitators. You may need to make more changes to the program. You should document all the changes you make to the program and keep track of what worked and what didn’t work. This is so you can replicate the program in the future.
You should also evaluate your program to ensure the changes were successful.
See Implementation and adaptation of evidence-based programs for more guidance.
There may not be an evidence-informed program that suits the needs of your target group, even if you adapted it. In that case, you can develop your own program by incorporating components of other evidence-based programs.
An evidence-informed program should have:
See Implementation and adaptation of evidence-based programs for more guidance.
28 Feb 2022
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.