AES E-newsletter - April 2006
In this issue:
AES Board and Committee Reports
AES 2006 Darwin Conference Update
2006 AES Awards
Special AES Queensland Regional Committee Meeting
International News and Conferences
Publications
Evaluation Resources on the Net
Positions Vacant
Get Involved in Your Regional Branch
Welcome New Members
Contact the E-news Editor
AES E-news Archive
2005
Issue 1 - April
Issue 2 - September
Issue 3 - December
AES Board and Committee
Reports
President's Report
At the Board teleconference on 30 March 2006, a number of key issues were discussed with the following results:
- The AES has finalised its self-assessment for tax exempt status and what
has been an assumed status for several years is now official. In line with
ATO requirements, the Board will review this status each year. On a related
matter the Board has resolved, based on advice from the ACT's
Register-General's Office, to remain an incorporated association within the
ACT. These decisions lay to rest two long standing issues and provide a
level of certainty the Board has been seeking for some time.
- The Board also endorsed a process for updating the AES constitution
involving regional committees providing feedback on a range of changes
recommended by Ian Trotman, who kindly undertook a review of the constitution
in his role as an AES Fellow. An updated constitution will be put to the AGM
in Darwin in September for ratification. If you have an interest in this,
please contact your regional representative in the next few weeks.
- Starting in July this year, members will be able to pay their membership fees for a two year period and benefit from a 15% discount. It is hoped that a number of members will take advantage of this opportunity as it benefits both the member and the Society. A new membership category for senior members was endorsed by the Board and will be put to the AGM in September for approval. However, a proposed category of corporate membership was referred for more investigation as it is a complex category to administer.
And on the conference front,
- Reports from the committees planning the 2006 and 2007 conferences (Darwin and Melbourne respectively) indicated that both were progressing very well. More details on the Darwin conference are provided elsewhere in E-News. The Board also noted the completion of a conference planning manual to assist conference committees in the arduous process of planning for and conducting a successful conference.
Dr Rick Cummings - AES President
International Relations Committee Report
News on the IOCE International Organisation for Cooperation in Evaluation
An election took place at the IOCE Annual Meeting which resulted in the following people confirmed as the new Executive of the Board of Trustees: President Ross Conner (North America), Vice-President, Gloria Vela (Latin America),Treasurer, Oumoul Ba Tall (Africa), and Secretary, Penny Hawkins. A number of AES members were present at the meeting which took place in conjunction with the CES/AEA joint conference in Toronto. Work is now underway by the IOCE board to finalise a new work plan.
In its early stages, the IOCE has faced many challenges to achieving its aims due to lack of reliable funding, however, partnerships are now being developed and the membership base is slowly increasing. With further progress in these areas, it will be possible to organise more regional events with member groups and to provide more effective assistance to meet the needs of networks and associations. A promising development is that international development agencies are becoming increasingly interested and more committed to evaluation capacity building worldwide. This includes the recognition that strengthening national and regional evaluation associations will contribute to the strengthening of evaluation both nationally and internationally.
The IOCE plan to lead a session at the upcoming Darwin conference - watch for more details on this as the conference approaches.
For more information about IOCE visit the website: http://www.ioce.net
Penny Hawkins - International Relations Committee (Chair)
AES 2006 Darwin Conference Update
AES International Conference - Darwin
Evaluation in Emerging Areas
September 4-7, 2006
Themes:
- International development contexts
- Indigenous contexts
- Innovative approaches to working in changing contexts
- New theoretical models and frameworks
The International Evaluation Conference to be held in Darwin 4-7 September 2006 is shaping up to be an exciting meeting of evaluators and interested parties. The evaluation committee received an overwhelming number of abstract submissions from a wide range of people all across the world. All conference streams are very well represented. The committee is currently working on the conference program and conference registration brochure which will be distributed to members and be available on the AES website after the end of May 2006.
We look forward to as many people as possible being able to come to the Darwin Conference.
For more information about 2006 AES conference visit this URL: www.aes.asn.au/conferences/
Jenny Young - Conference Convenor
The Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) is the pre-eminent organisation in Australia and New Zealand whose aim is to improve the theory, practice and use of evaluation in the private and public sectors.
The AES Awards are an important indicator of the Society’s quality standards and the winning nominations represent the best-in-class for each Award category. The AES Awards Committee is aware that there are many excellent evaluation projects undertaken each year that do not make it to nomination for the annual Awards. Have you conducted an evaluation or written an article that fits into the following categories?
- The Evaluation Training and Service Award
(outstanding contribution to evaluation) - The Caulley Tulloch Publication Prize
(best journal article or other publication in evaluation) - The Evaluation Study Award
(contribution to the practice or use of evaluation) - Evaluation Development Award
(leadership or innovation in the practice or use of evaluation) - Community Development Award
(contribution to community development)
Winning an AES Award offers significant peer recognition and, in the past has proven an important contributor to professional and commercial success and to academic career progression. For these reasons, the Awards Committee and the AES are keen to see a wider range of quality nominations from our members.
Nominations for the AES Awards are due 30 June 2006. For more information about the awards visit the website: www.aes.asn.au/awards/
Peter Bycroft - Awards Chair
Special AES Queensland Regional Committee Meetinge
The next AES Queensland Regional Committee meeting is a special event, to be held on Wednesday 7 June 2006 at 5pm, in the large meeting room on Level 3 of the Executive Annexe, George Street, Brisbane (entry via 100 George Street). The meeting will be followed by free drinks and 'nibbles', and - depending on the level of interest - there will also be an opportunity for further socialising over dinner at a nearby venue. Queensland AES members are particularly invited to attend this meeting, and to take this opportunity to get to know your local committee members and share your ideas for future AES activities in Queensland.
As an informal group, the Regional Committee welcomes new faces at any of its regular meetings (see the website for details). However, the June meeting each year is when we make a special point of encouraging members to take a more active role in the AES at a local level, particularly in planning and organising professional development and other activities for Queensland members.
We also elect Queensland's Regional Representative on the AES Board for the next 12 months at the June meeting. Nominations for this position, as well as for various informal positions on the Regional Committee, are warmly invited. If you wish to nominate, or to find out more about what's involved in the various roles, please contact Queensland's current Regional Representative, Diana Beere, on 07 3237 0165.
We look forward to seeing you at 5pm on Wednesday 7 June
Diana Beere - Queensland Regional Representative
International News and Conferences
International News
American Evaluation Association & The Centre for Disease
Control and Prevention 'Summer Evaluation Institute'
Date: June 12-14, 2006
"This event focuses on real-world strategies that you can apply today in your work. Topics range from Evaluation Planning, Sampling, Causal Attribution, Focus Groups, and Appreciative Inquiry; to Reporting, Theory to Practice, GIS Mapping, System Dynamics, Cultural Competence, and more... Registration is affordable at $360 (US) for general registration and $250 (US) for full-time students."
Learn more about the AEA/CDC Summer Evaluation Institute at: www.eval.org/SummerInstitute/06SIhome.asp
North America
Canadian Evaluation Society 2006 Conference
Date: June 4 – 7, 2006
Theme: 'Improving the Human Condition: Critiquing the Past, Confronting the Future'
Where: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Learn more about the conference at: http://c2006.evaluationcanada.ca/index.cgi?_lang=en
American Evaluation Association 2006 Conference
Date: October 30 – November 4, 2006
Theme: 'The Consequences of Evaluation'
Where: Portland, Oregon
Learn more about the conference at: www.eval.org/
Europe
International Conference at the Berlin Center for Science and Evaluation Studies
June 1 – 3, 2006
Title: 'Quality Assurance of the Sciences in Transition'
Location: The Social Science Research Center, Berlin
"Over the past few years, the methods of quality assurance in the sciences have become the subject of many debates partly because evaluations have been widely introduced. The goal of this conference is to bring this discussion forward by focussing especially on the unintentional effects of evaluation procedures in the sciences."
Learn more about the conference at: www.wz-berlin.de/aktuell/veranstaltungen.en.htm
European Evaluation Society (EES) 7th Biennial Conference
October 4 - 6, 2006
Title: 'Evaluation in Society: Critical Connestions'
Location: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, UK
Learn more about the conference at: http://www.europeanevaluation.org/news
Publications
News from the Publications Committee
The Publications Committee has recently overseen the re-development of the AES website, which is now fully operational. A team led by Ms Lennie Au undertook this work over the January-March period. A feature of the development was the involvement of the AES manager, Judy Pearce, who had to juggle the management of the old web-site while the new one was being trialled. Giles Ng has been appointed as the new web-master and he and Judy are working out protocols to ensure that material from the various sources can be posted without delay. The fact that we have a federated system across two countries makes the coordination of information more complex than is the case in most if not all evaluation societies across the globe.
The second edition of the AES journal for 2005 has been sent to all members. We are now 'up-to-date' in terms of editions which were, for one reason or another, not forthcoming during the past two years. The editors, Rosalind Hurworth and Delwyn Goodrick, have done a wonderful job, not only in producing the 'back issues', but also in the quality and range of articles that have been published since they took over the editorship roles. In December, we made some minor changes to the format of the journal, such as the inclusion of the journal volume, number and year, which appears on the sleeve in the upper rear corner. As always we look forward to submissions from members on their work. We pride ourselves in publishing articles of relevance to professionals in the field of program and policy provision, and we need your assistance in this way.
You are reading this due to the very good work of Brad Shrimpton in compiling e-news. While there was some discussion of rolling e-news into the website, the view of the Publication Committee was that e-news should stand alone, as a distinct mode of knowledge dissemination to the members of the Society.
Finally, please don’t hesitate to contact me on any of the matters discussed above or any other issue related to the publication products of the AES. We can always improve these products and your suggestion might be the one that makes a world of difference.
Dr John Owen - Publications Committee (Chair)
Evaluation Journals from Around the World
Thinking of catching up on some evaluation reading? Consider flicking through:
- American Journal of Evaluation
- Evaluation (The International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice)
- Evaluation Review
- Evaluation and the Health Professions
- Evaluation and Program Planning
- Studies in Educational Evaluation
- New Directions for Evaluation
Evaluation Resources on the Net
'The Evaluation Exchange' Harvard Family Research Project's quarterly publication, is now available on the web.
The current issue addresses the topic of 'Professional Development' and focuses on evaluating professional development across a range of fields, including after school and youth development, education, early childhood education, and child welfare.
Download a copy or read the HTML version at: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/eval/issue32/
Web Survey Methodology Site
Interested in web survey methodology? Visit the web survey methodology website at:
www.websm.org/
Evidence Network
If you have an interest in evidence based policy and practice visit the Evidence Network at: www.evidencenetwork.org/ . The Evidence Network have some fantastic resources and publications and produce a newsletter which you can subscribe to.
Looking for a new job? Visit the www.aes.asn.au/news/ page on the AES website.
Please note: there are currently a number jobs (Australia and New Zealand) on the AES website!
Looking for new staff? Contact the AES office aes@aes.asn.au to advertise positions on the AES website.
Get Involved in Your Regional Branch
To access the latest reports and news on upcoming activities at your local AES branch click on the 'Regions' link on the AES website. www.aes.asn.au/regions/
Want to contact your region representative? Here are their names and email addresses:
2006 Regional Representatives
Auckland
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/auckland/
Michelle Lennan
mlennan@ihug.co.nz
Canberra
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/canberra/
David Roberts
david.roberts@cbr.com.au
New South Wales
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/nsw/
Marie Delaney
marie.delaney@artd.com.au
Northern Territory
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/nt/
Nea Harrison
neaharrison@octa4.net.au
Queensland
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/qld/
Diana Beere
diana.beere@qed.qld.gov.au
South Australia
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/sa/
Rita Perkons
RPerkons@Anglicare-SA.org.au
Tasmania
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/tas/tas.htm
Thomas Hay
thomas.hay@development.tas.gov.au
Victoria
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/vic/
Graeme Harvey
Harvey.Graeme.lg@edumail.vic.gov.au
Western Australia
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/wa/
John Scougall
jscougal@bigpond.net.au
Wellington
http://www.aes.asn.au/regions/wellington/
Nan Weihipehana
nanw@clear.net.nz
Canberra
Susan Garner, Australian Communications and Media Authority
Karena Jessup, Colmar Brunton Social Research
Xiaoyan Lu, Colmar Brunton Social Research
Emma Sissons, Colmar Brunton Social Research
David Slattery, Australian National Audit Office
Samantha Ziegler, Centrelink
New South Wales
Taylor Dong, Victoria University
Carlo Jacobson, Sydney West Area Health Service
Lucyna MacDermott, The Lumac Group
Wayne Miller, University of Wollongong
Jamee Newland, University of NSW
Julie Rolfe, Mission Australia
Anne-Maree Sabellico, Department of Community Services
Kate Snow, TNS Social Research
Margaret Thomas, ARTD
Queensland
Matthew Ford, Carers Queensland
South Australia
Rex Angie, Wakefield Health Service
Peter Burgoyne, Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service
Janet Kelly, Flinders University / Shine SA
Annie Major, World Wide Project Management Services Pty Ltd
Cydde Miller, National Centre for Vocational Education Research
Paul Tippett, World Wide Project Management Services Pty Ltd
Tania Toth, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Paul Verwoert, World Wide Project Management Services Pty Ltd
Victoria
Evvlyn Campbell, Campbell Research & Consulting
Shaymaa Elkadi, Caraniche
Kimberly Fravil, TNS Social Research
Stephanie Harper, Diabetes Australia-VIC
Elvin Ho
Helen McMahon, Ampthill Consulting
Jann Milic, Victorian Department of Human Services
Cheryl Reed, Campbell Research & Consulting
Mandy Reed, Campbell Research and Consulting
David Spicer, Campbell Research and Consulting
Christina S-Whitcroft, Department for Victoria Communities
Western Australia
Miriam Maclean, Data Analysis Australia
Lesley Millar, Victoria University
Megan Jane Wright, North Metropolitan Area Mental Health Services
Wellington
David Bartle, Ministry of Economic Development
Amanda Borich, Ministry of Justice
Louise Fawthorpe, Independent Contractor
Kirsten Gendall, Gendall Consulting
Maggie Roe-Shaw, Dept of Labour, Workplace Strategy and Capability
If you have contributions or a notice for E-News please email the E-News editor, Brad Shrimpton bshrimpt@unimelb.edu.au