Evaluation of Indigenous employment policy: learning to balance contrasting realities
Kim Grey
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Contact Email:   kim.greydewr.gov.au

This paper will cover what has been achieved in seeking to balance the requirements of evaluation with the realities of Indigenous job seekers, based on more than 10 years experience evaluating specialised and mainstream programmes and services for Indigenous people. The paper describes ongoing attempts to bring together a credible body of evidence which has validity in representing both the Indigenous experience and the world of mainstream employers and service providers.

Findings from the progress report of the Indigenous Employment Policy evaluation, published earlier this year, will be used to examine the role of evaluation in clarifying what actually happened and what has been achieved. Evaluating assistance which matches Indigenous job seekers with private sector jobs demands a mixed methodology to understand contrasting perspectives, such as the motivations of private sector employers and the preferences of Indigenous people. Research design must also balance the need to tailor approaches to specific Indigenous cultural circumstances with the requirement to make comparisons with labour market programme performance for all Australians.

Underlying this search for balance is a process of communication and learning – for evaluators, programme managers and policy makers. The paper will share some lessons about design, methods, implementation and utilisation of evaluation which can help improve programmes and services for Indigenous peoples.

Paper Download Information (if available):

Paper108.pdf

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