AES E-newsletter - September 2005
In this issue:
AES 2005 International Conference Update
Board Meeting and Committee Reports
Get Involved In Your Regional Branch
Research Funding - New Zealand Families Commission
Positions Vacant
International News And Conferences
2006 Darwin AES Conference
HRC Workshop: Measuring the Impact of Health Research
Publications
Evaluation on the Net
Welcome New Members
Contact the E-news Editor
AES E-news Archive
2005
Issue 1 - April
Issue 2 - September
Issue 3 - December
AES 2005 International Conference Update
AES International Conference - Brisbane
October 10-12, 2005
The 2005 AES International Conference is set to be stimulating and challenging, and just a bit different from previous AES conferences. One change is to the length of the conference, which has been shortened to two and half days - 10 to 12 October. We are hoping that this change will increase the conference's appeal to those who have limited travel budgets and/or find it difficult to spend three or more days away from their workplaces.
We have also shortened the associated workshop program, and scheduled it to commence on a Sunday (9 October), rather than a Monday in the hope that this may make attendance more feasible for some people. Despite the shorter timeframe, the variety of workshops remains extensive, as is the range of papers and poster presentations scheduled within the five strands of the conference theme, "Evaluation Inside Out". The shorter conference has enabled us to respond to previous conference evaluations by setting a high standard for papers and presentations, so check out the latest drafts of both the conference and workshop programs at: http://www.tayloredimages.com.au/2005AES/index.htm.
New additions to the program include a half-day pre-conference workshop on Monday 10 October, to be conducted by one of our keynote speakers, Valerie Caracelli from the US Government Accountability Office. Full details of this workshop, entitled "Mixed methods in evaluation research: Illuminating contextual complexity", have only just become available, and can be found at the above website. Put briefly, the workshop is designed to promote thoughtful use of mixed methods to strengthen the quality of evaluation studies. The workshop will consider how evaluations can purposefully use qualitative and quantitative methods to offset bias, explicate puzzling findings, provide more complete and sophisticated understandings of the phenomena under study, and take into account multiple ways of knowing and valuing. Conceptual models of use, particularly Kirkhart's Integrated Theory of Influence, will encourage critical reflection on factors to consider in maximising the impact of mixed-method evaluations.
On the subject of workshops, please note that workshop registrations will be closing shortly - at 5 pm on Wednesday 21 September. To avoid disappointment, please forward your registration for workshops and conference to Taylored Images as soon as possible. You can register online via the conference website: http://www.tayloredimages.com.au/2005AES/index.htm.
Another exciting addition to the conference program is a paper by Dr Marianne Berry, Professor of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas, who will be visiting Queensland during the conference and has kindly agreed to present a paper based on her extensive work in an area of particular topical interest in Queensland and no doubt elsewhere - 'evidence-based practice in public child welfare agencies, including family preservation, foster care and adoption'. Professor Berry is a founding member of the International Association of Cross-National Evaluation in Child and Family Services.
As well as Valerie Caracelli, keynote speakers at the speakers are John Owen and Sue Funnell, both AES Fellows; and, to get the conference off to a lively start, one of Australia's most entertaining and provocative social commentators - Phillip Adams. Phillip Adams has a particular talent for 'stirring the pot'. Whether they love him or loathe him, few people would dispute his ability to stimulate, challenge, and - most importantly - provoke lively discussion and debate. If you're wondering what he might have to say about evaluation Ö come to the conference and expect to be challenged!
The conference venue, Rydges South Bank, is adjacent to the very popular South Bank Parklands on the Brisbane River, directly across from the city, and within easy walking distance of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Museum, Art Gallery, Science Centre and State Library, as well as restaurants, cinemas and shops. Buses, trains and river ferries are all close at hand for those who want to venture further afield; and of course the popular tourist areas and beaches of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts are only about an hour's drive away. With all of this - as well as a challenging and stimulating opportunity for professional development and networking - how could you stay away from the 2005 AES International Conference?
Diana Beere - Conference Convenor
Board Meeting and Committee Reports
AES Board Report
The Executive met in Melbourne in July and the Board held a teleconference in August. Among the issues dealt with were the Brisbane and Darwin Conferences, both of which are progressing very well and I am sure will continue the pattern of successful AES conferences. I hope many of you will be able to attend both of these conferences.
As you will see in the Treasurer's report, the AES is in a very healthy financial state, and we are now much less dependent on the annual conference as a main source of income. The workshops run in the regions have grown in recent years in both number and attendance, and the pilot workshop series conducted by John Owen this year has been a resounding success, being delivered in 6 regions and attracting 20-25 per workshop. It is expected we will conduct another of these series in 2006. The policy of providing non-members who register for a workshop or the conference with a year's membership has proved very successful, with over 200 new members joining through this process since 2001 and more than 50% of these renewing their membership for at least one year.
The Executive has been very busy reviewing the tax status and corporate structure of the Society as described in the Treasurer's report. These are critical matters for the Society and we will be informing the full membership of the options available and decisions that need to be made during this financial year. We have also reviewed the administrative services we are provided by Judy Pearce and her firm, Expert Conferences, and can report a very high level of satisfaction with the quality of service we receive. Given the increased amount of activity within the Society, Judy will now provide service 4 days a week.
Finally, the Society is developing closer relationships with other professional associations. In particular, the WA and Queensland regions are developing a strong working relationship with the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA), and have been exploring joint professional development activities with the Australian Market and Social Research Society.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Brisbane in October.
Dr Rick Cummings - AES President
AES Treasurer's Report
Another financial year comes to a close and the Society's financial position can be said to be the best in recent history. This creates new challenges to achieve our vision, aims and objectives. Here are the highlightsÖ.
Review of 2004-05 Result
The Society's overall operating surplus at end of June 2005 was
above budget expectations at $62 014 (unaudited) compared to a budget
net profit for the full year of $510. The improved operating surplus
over the budgeted period is highlighted by total income of $145,100
as compared to budgeted results of $127,400, an increase of $17,700
due mainly to Increases in membership and Special Project (Professional
Development) revenue.
In addition, the level of operating expenditure was less than budgeted due to two rather than three EJA publications. These were also produced at less cost than previous editions. Special Project expenditure was below budget as was membership services, with regional committees not expending their full allocation of $500 each per annum. Overall expenditure on operations increased by only 2.1% on the previous year. The Adelaide Conference result was well above budget expectations generating a surplus of some $59,300 (the 2003 Auckland Conference generated a similar surplus of $56,300).
The balance sheet position has been strengthened as a consequence of these results and developments with cash holdings and investments of $205,000, an increase from the July 2004 figure of $152,000. The finances of the Society can be said to be in good shape to withstand any 'short-term high risk failure' such as AES conference and or professional development.
AES Corporate Structure
Following advice received by the AES Board from legal firm Minter
Ellison, the AES needs to consider undertaking some changes to its
legal entity status to maintain parity and keep abreast of developments
with incorporated governance requirements within Australia and New
Zealand.
Currently the Australasian Evaluation Society is a not-for-profit incorporated association under the laws of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This form of incorporation has served the Society's interests well within the prevailing legal governance requirements of the 1980's and 1990's. Progressive reform of International governance requirements are felt in every country with Australia and New Zealand in the past five years making numerous corporate and taxation law changes to meet international and trans-Tasman agreements and protocols.
The advice received essentially addresses a concern about changes to previous Australian law that the AES now needs to address (to keep within the law here and in New Zealand). Three associated recommendations require the AES to ñ
(a) give consideration to recommending that in light of the size of the AES and its significant operations outside of the ACT, it convert from an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT) (the ìAssociations Actî) to a company limited by guaranteed under the Corporations Act 2001(Commonwealth)(the ìCorporations Actî);
(b) submit a new ìApplication for endorsement as a tax concession charityî, to confirm the tax position of the AES under new section 50-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997(Commonwealth)(the î1997 Tax Actî); and
(c) operate as a business within New Zealand, AES should register with the New Zealand Registrar of Companies as a foreign company operating in New Zealand and comply with applicable reporting requirements imposed on such companies.
At the Board teleconference on 18 August 2005 it was decided that this matter would require a further meeting of the AES Board to discuss the requirements of the advice and position the AES structure for all future members.
Craig Trimble - AES Treasurer
International Relations Committee Reports
In the last edition of E-news Penny Hawkins reported on exciting developments taking place in the 'International Organisation for Co-operation in Evaluation' (IOCE). In this edition of E-news Penny reports that the AES is now a member of the IOCE and provides further details about this important organisation.
The International Organisation for Co-operation in Evaluation (IOCE) is an umbrella body for evaluation networks, societies and associations. Its key purposes are to build evaluation capacity, encourage the development of new evaluation societies and networks and raise awareness about evaluation and its potential contribution. It does this through supporting and working alongside existing evaluation organisations to create a worldwide community of people involved in evaluation. The IOCE is a platform for worldwide cooperation and partnership in evaluation, fostering the cross fertilisation of ideas, high professional standards and an open and global perspective among evaluators. The mission of the IOCE is:
ìTo help legitimate evaluation and support evaluation societies, associations and networks so that they can better contribute to good governance, effective decision making and strengthen the role of civil society.î
The AES has been one of the professional evaluation associations that have played a key role in the establishment of the IOCE. The AES is committed to playing an active part in the IOCE and being involved in activities, discussions and developments in evaluation worldwide. Australasian evaluators have a lot to contribute to this global movement in evaluation, and through involvement in IOCE, we can learn from other associations and networks to support our own developments.
The IOCE is now registered as an international not-for-profit organisation in Canada with a Board of Trustees drawn from Asia, North America, Latin America, Europe and Australasia. Many evaluation societies and networks have been involved in planning the launch of IOCE. The Board of IOCE is now inviting eligible organisations to become a member of this new exciting organisation.
IOCE is an organisation that:
- Networks and collaborates worldwide
- Facilitates access to international evaluation developments
- Challenges evaluators to push forward the frontiers of knowledge in evaluation theory and practice
- Advances evaluation standards based on human rights and sustainability
- Enhances and supports cultural specificity in evaluation design and practice
- Increases the utilisation of evaluation internationally
- Builds capacity among emerging associations
- Helps to establish international consensus on the legitimacy and credibility of evaluation as part of civic responsibility and participation.
An IOCE Board of Trustees meeting and the Annual Meeting will be held during the American Evaluation Association and Canadian Evaluation Association joint international conference in October. The AES, as an IOCE member, will present ideas on our role in IOCE and proposals on future activities. This will be the focus of a discussion at the AES Board meeting after the Brisbane conference with the resulting AES contribution then presented at the IOCE Board meeting later in the month.
For more information about IOCE visit the website: http://www.ioce.net
Penny Hawkins - International Relations Committee (Chair)
Get Involved In Your Regional Branch
To access the latest reports and news on upcoming activities at your local AES branch visit the AES website and locate your area under the 'Regional' link.
2005 Regional Representatives
2005 Regional Representatives
Auckland
Anne Barlow
k.anne.barlow@xtra.co.nz
Canberra
Graham Smith
Graham.smith@act.gov.au
New South Wales
Anton Mischewski
amischewski@volunteering.com.au
Northern Territory
Jenny Young
jenny.young@nt.gov.au
Queensland
Diana Beere
Beere.DianaN@police.qld.gov.au
Tasmania
Thomas Hay
thomas.hay@development.tas.gov.au
Victoria
Graeme Harvey
Harvey.Graeme.lg@edumail.vic.gov.au
Western Australia
Sue Paterson
sue.paterson@rottnestisland.com
Wellington
Jenny Neale
jenny.neale@vuw.ac.nz
Research Funding - New Zealand Families Commission
The New Zealand Families Commission are accepting proposals for the Blue Skies Fund. The Fund is designed to create opportunities for new research that promotes innovative ideas and approaches on matters relating to the interests of New Zealand families. Successful applicants will be allocated up to $10,000 to produce a written paper or report of a standard suitable for publication by the Families Commission.
For more information about our Blue Skies fund, please contact Helen
McNaught:
Helen.McNaught@familiescommission.govt.nz
Looking for a new job? Visit the 'of interest' page on the AES website.
Looking for new staff? Contact the AES office aes@aes.asn.au to advertise positions on the AES website
International News and Conferences
Canada and the United States
Joint CES/AEA Evaluation 2005 Conference
Date: October 24-30, 2005
Title: 'Evaluation 2005: Crossing Borders, Crossing Boundaries'
About: Evaluation 2005 is the joint conference of the Canadian Evaluation
Society and the American Evaluation Association to be held in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada.
Participants can register online or download registration forms for workshops (50 to choose from!) and for Evaluation 2005. The cut-off date for discounted early registration is September 15, 2005. Learn more about the conference at: http://www.eval.org/eval2005/
Europe
European Evaluation Society (EES) Residential Summer School
September 26-30, 2005
Title: 'Evaluating innovative policy instruments: change, complexity
and policy learning'
Location: Seville, Spain
Learn more about the EES Summer School at:
http://www.europeanevaluation.org/evaluation_diary/ees_residential.html
United Kingdom Evaluation Society (UKES) Annual Conference
December 01-02, 2005
Title: 'Evaluation in an uncertain world. The role of evaluation
in understanding and managing complex change'
Location: The Renaissance Hotel, Manchester
Learn more about the UKES conferences at: http://www.evaluation.org.uk/conference/index.htm
AES International Conference - Darwin
September 4-7, 2006
The theme of the conference is evaluation in emerging areas and will include multidisciplinary, indigenous and international development approaches to evaluation, and also innovative theoretical approaches to evaluation in these contexts.
The conference will aim to attract a broad range of evaluators working in a variety of emerging areas such as rural development, natural resource management, tourism, arts and culture, health, education, development management and indigenous communities.
The Conference Organising Committee includes: Jenny Young ñ Convenor, Nea Harrison, Liz McDonald, Robin Knox, Kim Johnstone, Susan Gleed, Fred Stacey, Craig Trimble (Finance/budgets), Penny Hawkins (International speakers and sponsors), Franz Kriven.
Call for Proposals Brochure
will be available in late November 2005 and workshop/paper presentation
abstracts will be due on 17 March
2006. For further information please contact Treasure Gordon at
Desliens Conference and Event Management email:
dcem@catalystnt.com.au (or
Jenny Young, Convenor - jenny.young@nt.gov.au)
HRC Workshop: Measuring the Impact of Health Research
The Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand will convene a two-day workshop in Auckland 10 to 11 November 2005. The workshop will explore how the impact and outcomes of health research can be measured, and the pathways to knowledge transfer and research uptake identified.
If you have any queries in relation to the workshop, please contact the HRCís Evaluation Manager, Megan Biles, ph 09 303 5212 email mbiles@hrc.govt.nz. To register visit the following link and complete all the details required in the electronic registration form: https://easy.hrc.govt.nz/hrimpactworkshop/index.php.
Publications
News from the Publications Committee
The second publication (vol 5, no 1) of the Evaluation Journal of Australasia (EJA) is due to be sent to members during the second half of September.
Members are encouraged to submit articles for the third publication
(vol 5, no2), which is due for release in December this year. Articles
for consideration should be sent to the editors, Rosalind Hurworth
(r.hurworth@unimelb.edu.au), or Delwyn Goodrick
(delwyn.goodrick@rmit.edu.au).
The Publications Committee is overseeing a revision of the Society web-site. A mock-up of the new website will be available for comment during the up-coming AES conference to be held in Brisbane.
Ultimately, the website will be expanded to include a facility to pay subscriptions and to register for AES conferences. Links to the journals of other professional associations via electronic means are also being considered.
Dr John Owen - Publications Committee (Chair)
(For Francophiles) Evaluation resources in French!
http://evaluation.francophonie.org/sommaire.php3
European Evaluation Society Library
Evaluation resources from the EES and other evaluation organisations
http://www.europeanevaluation.org/library/index.html
Monitoring and Evaluation News
A news service focusing on developments in monitoring and evaluation
methods
relevant to development projects and programmes with social development
objectives.
http://www.mande.co.uk/
Auckland
Clare Feeney - Environmental Communication Ltd
Kathryn Goodman - Phoenix Research LTD
Virginia MacEwan - Health Research Council of New Zealand
Canberra
Chris Beitzel - Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination
Julian Blackham - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Marcus Cahill - Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination
Anni Chilton - Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination
Liya Daly - Department of Health and Ageing
Yvette Marie Gilroy - Department of Finance and Administration
Mary Ivec
Clinton Jacka - Department of Foreign Affairs and Training
Kylie Jonasson - Department of Health and Ageing
Edward Lowe - Department of Education, Science & Training
Margaret MacDonald - General Practice Education and Training Ltd
David Matthews - Office for Children Youth and Family Support
Ruth Megirian - AusAID
Liz Owen - Protiviti Pty Ltd
Carolyn Page - Department of Education, Science & Training
Jodie Rickey - Office for Children Youth and Family Support
David Roberts - Department of Defence
Mark Rodrigues - Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination
Michelle Trainor - Department of Health and Ageing
Samantha Tyler - Office for Children Youth and Family Support
New South Wales
Bronwyn Connolly - Connolly Probity Associates
Graham Dawson - Dawson Education and Development Services
Alison Faure-Brac - Cultural & Indigenous Research Centre Australia (CIRCA)
Linda Kehoe - National Prescribing Service / UNSW
Kari Kristiansen - Taskdynamics PTY LTD
John Manefield - Atelier Learning Solutions Pty Ltd
Megan Neale - Mission Australia
Veronica Turner - AIDS Council of NSW
Stuart Waters - Twyford Consulting
Anna Williams - University of New South Wales
Sonia Wutzke - National Prescribing Service
Queensland
Drew Brock - Queensland Rail
Brian Codd - Queensland Police Service
Angela Coughlan - Boystown
Barbara Cummins - Queensland Health Information Services
Catherine Cussen - Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation
Lina Galatola - Queensland Rail
Peter Gockel - Queensland Rail
Brendan Gooch - QLD Department of Premier & Cabinet
Michael Hoopman - Department of Education and the Arts
Ralph Knust - Queensland Police Service
James McKee - Queensland Murray Darling Committee
Russell Morgan - Queensland Rail
Ann Motteram - Queensland Police Service Academy
Terrence O'Brien - Department of Communities
Kate O'Regan - Department of Child Safety
Adrian Padmore - Department of Child Safety
Cathy Robinson - Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Deborah Southwell - Queensland University of Technolgy
Lidia Stojkovic - Disability Services QLD
Terri Sweep - Queensland University of Technolgy
Geoff Wyvill - Queensland Police Service
South Australia
Andrew Bills - Department of Education and Children's Services
Meredith Bogisch - Employment and Skills Formation
Peter Drake - Flinders University
Tassi Georgiadis - Department of Education and Children's Services
Linda Jarrett - Department of Premier & Cabinet
Jenny Lauritsen - Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology
Patricia May - Department of Premier & Cabinet
Jan Peterson - Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology
Heather Petty - Department of Health
Alanna Weaver - Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology
Deborah Wildgoose - Department of Health
Lise Windsor - Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology
Victoria
Laurie Atkins - Department of Human Services
Annemieke Craig - Deakin University
Tracey Anne Delaney - Clear Horizon
Bob Goodbourn - Clear Horizon
Emma Houston - Department of Primary Industries
Catriona King - Department of Primary Industries
Andrew Newmarch - World Vision Australia
Pin Ng - Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development
Cathryn Pilioussis - Department of Sustainability & Environment
Deborah Rhodes - Rhodes Consulting
Ruth Richter
Francois Tsafack - Victorian Health Promotion Foundation
Dianne Walsh - Evolving Ways
Western Australia
Ashri Ahmad - Murdoch University
Greg Allard - Stamfords Advisors Consultants
Denise Ferrier - Child & Community Health Directorate
Anabelle May - Department of Health
Ian Moore
Paul Morgan - Department of Education and Training (WA)
Lynne Roberts - University of Western Australia
Karen Sykes - Child & Community Health Directorate
Kingsley Wong - Department of Health
Wellington
Bryee Cleland - Tertiary Education Commission Te Amorangi Mataurang Matua
Anne Duncan - Duncan Consulting Services Ltd.
Meredith Macnab - New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Robin Peace - Massey University
Elizabeth Smith - Litmus Ltd
Nicola Stanley-Clarke
David Stuart - Ministry of Education
Barbara Young - Litmus Ltd
Other
Salinda Horgan - Providence Continuing Core Centre, Ontario
Barry Leighton - Office of the Auditor General of Canada, Ontario
Satoko Miwa - Japan International Cooperation Agency
If you have contributions or a notice for E-News please email the E-News editor, Brad Shrimpton bshrimpt@unimelb.edu.au