The national evaluation of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2004-2008
Joy Russo and Ilan Katz
Stronger Families and Communities Strategy Consortium
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The Stronger Families and Communities Strategy represents considerable Australian Government investment in the wellbeing of Australian children, their families and communities, providing them with the opportunity to build a better future.

The Strategy was implemented in the Australian community in two phases, with Phase one operating from 2000 until 2004. Phase two of the Strategy commenced in 2004 and will continue until 2009. It aims to help families and communities build better futures for children; build family and community capacity; support relationships between families and the communities they live in; and improve communities’ ability to help themselves.

The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs commissioned a consortium, led by the Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW, working closely with the Australian Institute of Family Studies and a range of advisors to evaluate Phase two of the Strategy. A national evaluation framework forms the basis of the evaluation of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2004-2008, currently being undertaken.

This paper provides an update on the progress of the evaluation of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2004-2008. The paper will identify some of the challenges involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of this complex initiative.

Paper Download Information (if available):

Russo_Katz_226.pdf

Copyright © 2007 Social Policy Research Centre.