8. Conclusion
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This section summarises the conclusions of the SROI analysis.
8.1 Summary of value created
This project projected the costs and expected benefits of the Drum Atweme program over a five year period (July 2014 to June 2019). Stakeholder consultation was a key component of the analysis in order to identify and understand the changes likely to be created in the future. The SROI analysis then measured and valued the outcomes experienced by stakeholders.
The Drum Atweme program has positive impacts on young people and their families, and the Alice Springs community (including schools, families, businesses and community members). As a result of the program, young people experience increased self-esteem; more engagement in meaningful activities (including school); more positive connections with others and; avoid anti-social behaviour.
The justice system is also a large beneficiary of the Drum Atweme program. At July 2014, only three of the 225 young people (0.02%) who were members of the performance group between 2004 and 2014 are in prison. In contrast, on an average day in 2010-11, 23 per 1000 Indigenous young people aged 10-17 (0.5%) under supervision on an average day in Australia.15 In other words, less than half of the Drum Atweme performance group members are in prison than a comparable group in the population.
The total value created by the program is the unique value created by the Drum Atweme program for the stakeholders attributable to the projected investment during FY15 to FY19. The following table is a summary of the value that is expected to be created for each stakeholder group.
| Stakeholders | Outcomes due to Drum Atweme | Value creation ('000) | Value per stakeholder group ('000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Young people in the performance group | 1.1 Increased self-esteem |
$368 |
$2,098 |
| 1.2 Increased engagement in meaningful activity |
$688 |
||
| 1.3. More positive connections to others |
$480 |
||
| 1.4 Avoidance of anti-social behaviour |
$562 |
||
| 2. Young people in the school group | 2.1 Increased engagement in meaningful activity |
$170 |
$170 |
| 3. Schools | 3.1 Offer more relevant, engaging curriculum |
$124 |
$124 |
| 4. Families | 4.1 Receive material support |
$28 |
$63 |
| 4.2 More positive perceptions and expectations of their children |
NA* |
||
4.3 Pass down knowledge, stories and culture |
$35 | ||
| 5. Alice Springs community | 5.1 More opportunities to experience Aboriginal culture |
$30 |
$155 |
5.2 Local businesses earn more income from tourists |
$125 | ||
5.3 Improved perceptions of Aboriginal young people |
NA* | ||
| 6. Justice system | 6.1 Decrease in number of young people with anti-social behaviour |
$333 |
$4,724 |
| 6.2 Decrease in number of young people offending |
$687 |
||
| 6.3 Decrease in number of young people in detention |
$3,695 |
||
| Total Value Created (FY15-19) | $7.3m |
||
| Investment | $1.1m |
||
| SROI Ratio | 7:1 |
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Our analysis indicates that the Drum Atweme program will deliver $7.3m of social and economic value in a five year period between FY15 and FY19. Based on a projected investment of $1.1m, this results in an SROI ratio of 7:1. That is, approximately $7 of value was created for every $1 invested in the program activities. If the anticipated funding from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (approx. $175k per annum) is considered independently, the Social Return on Investment ratio is 9:1.
Due to the program preventing young people that are in the performance group from engaging in anti-social and criminal behaviour, it is forecast that it will be possible for the justice system to reallocate resources that would ordinarily be used to address these issues. Based on average policing, courts, juvenile justice and detention costs, this equates to almost $1m per annum, which is far greater than the amount that is expected to be invested in the program. The SROI ratio is 5:1 when only justice outcomes are included.
There are limitations to the forecast analysis, as only limited historical data was available to forecast the impact of the program in the forecast period. Professional judgements have been made based on stakeholder consultations and other data collected over time by the Drum Atweme program to represent the extent of change experienced by stakeholders and the value of these changes. Recommendations have been made in Section 9 to improve the rigour of future analyses.
8.2 Insights
The Drum Atweme model has a number of critical elements that support young people to develop into healthy adults, as well as creating outcomes for other stakeholders:
Drumming is used as the hook to engage young people
The program uses drumming, an enjoyable and accessible recreational activity, to engage young people. It is an activity that is of particular interest to young Aboriginal girls. Once the young people are engaged they receive the therapeutic and skill development benefits of drumming. Participation in drumming classes, the performance groups, and trips to perform outside of Alice Springs are tied to regular school attendance and good behaviour. These opportunities provide a positive incentive for the young people to demonstrate pro-social behaviour.
Drum Atweme supports large numbers of young people, despite being the work of only one person. Since its inception in 2004, the program has supported 225 young people as members of the performance group, and involved many more in drumming classes at schools. The program's model can support large numbers of young people through group drumming classes and performances. There are many more schools and young people at risk in Alice Springs and beyond that could be supported by the program if it were to be sensitively replicated.
Long-term relationships and engagement with culture are essential foundations for the program
Drum Atweme's early intervention approach supports young people over a long period to develop into healthy adults, avoid anti-social behaviour and offending. This analysis suggests that the young Aboriginal people from the Alice Springs Town Camps considered at risk of engaging in offending behaviour require ongoing support from an early age to engage in a positive extra-curricular activity, attend school and avoid anti-social behaviour and offending.
Given the risks factors these young people face, including family alcohol and drug abuse, family violence, abuse and neglect, intergenerational offending, overcrowded housing and a lack of education and employment opportunities, each additional year they spend in the program helps them to develop into healthy adults.
The continuity of the relationship between the program Coordinator, the young people and their families across generations is critical to the program's success. These relationships are characterised by genuine friendship and humour, and an in depth understanding of the challenges facing the young people and their families. The regular, ongoing communication between the program Coordinator, schools, families and service providers ensures that everyone is working together to support the young people, address their problems (e.g. fighting at school) and support their interests (e.g. assisting with boarding school applications). When needed, the program Coordinator provides on-call crisis support (e.g. emergency cash and transport).
The inclusion of cultural elements into the program (e.g. performing songs in local languages), and accommodation of cultural practices (e.g. going bush) is welcomed by the young people and their families. They take pride in being able to share aspects of their culture with audiences in Alice Springs and other places. Drum Atweme is helping to bridge the divide between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Whole of community support enriches young people's experience in the program
The impact of Drum Atweme on young people and the justice system spills over to the rest of the community. Although the value is small in comparison to the key stakeholders (young people and the justice system), the community is receiving and will continue to receive significant benefit from having young people contribute to the community and become healthier adults.
Drum Atweme receives widespread community recognition and support from businesses, local government and community groups. This enables the young people the opportunity to perform at many important community events, and business conferences.
The social enterprise model enhances the program's impact
Drum Atweme has attracted vital additional investment through performance fees, donations and volunteers, demonstrating the support it has in the community. Unlike many other youth justice programs, funding from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is supplemented by the performance fees that the Drum Atweme performance group earns. If performance fees remain at their current level (approximately $550 per performance, and $300 for conference client 'familiarisation' events) and the group continues to do around 25 performances for tour groups and conventions per annum and around five familiarisation events, the group can be expected to earn over $15,000 per annum in performance revenue. This revenue will be a critical component in the program's ability to continue and to grow in the future.