Meeting Communiqué, 24 March, 15 April and 27 May 2020

The Indigenous Evaluation Committee’s sixth meeting was held via teleconference and was split across three meetings on 24 March, 15 April and 27 May 2020 due to COVID19.

Key discussions

24 March, 2020

The Committee acknowledged Professor Ian Anderson’s significant contributions during his time as a member.

The Policy Analysis and Evaluation Branch provided updates on:

• • the Government’s intention to finalise a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and
  • development of a new Evaluation Prioritisation tool for all new evaluation proposals.

Presentations were also provided on the status of evaluation activities in early childhood and employment programs.

15 April, 2020

The Committee formally welcomed Mr Blair Exell, who replaced Professor Anderson as the Agency’s representative on the Committee, and newly appointed member, Dr Fiona Cram.

Members welcomed the overview of NIAA’s response to COVID-19 noting the impact on evaluations, and discussed the possibility of NIAA reviewing its response to COVID-19.

Updates were also provided on the Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy evaluation, NIAA’s proposed approach to assessing the long term outcomes of the IAS Evaluation Framework, and the tool for prioritising evaluations, which the Committee endorsed for trialling.

27 May, 2020

The Committee discussed its possible work program for 2020-21 and welcomed updates on the NIAA’s approach to reviewing its COVID-19 response and the Indigenous Employment Programs evaluation.

Members also discussed a presentation on Indigenous leadership in evaluation and reviewed the first Annual Synthesis Report on Evaluation Findings.

Key message

The Committee highlighted the importance of Indigenous led evaluations and encouraged capability building activities for Indigenous evaluators.

Next meeting

• The Committee’s next meeting is planned for September 2020.

Prof. Maggie Walter
IEC Chair