20 AUGUST 2020
Save the date: 21 - 25 September 2020
The week-long virtual FestEVAL will be on from Monday 21st to Friday 25th September and will feature a variety of free activities and sessions to celebrate evaluation. The AES Annual General Meeting and several other society-related activities will be held on Wednesday 23rd September. The FestEval working group members are busy designing a range of activities and details will be available in the coming week's, so please keep an eye on your inbox.
Call to members for AES Board nominations 2020
Deadline: 4:00 pm (AEST) Wednesday 26 August 2019
The AES is seeking nominations from financial members to fill the following one vacant Board position. Term commences 23 September 2020
- One (1) ordinary board member, Two (2) year term
The Board of Directors role is to oversee and provide strategic direction for the organisation.
It's a challenging and exciting time to be on the organisation's Board. We are grappling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as continung to execute on our current strategy. The Australian Evaluation Society is looking for members with the skills, and time, to join the leadership team to help us achieve our vision, aims, and our new strategic goals.
Click here for the Nomination Form and here for the Board PD.
Many students are currently doing remote and flexible learning and may be finding the current uncertain times particularly challenging and overwhelming. In this AES Alert we are sharing some helpful tips, tricks and resources for our members and the wider evaluation community families with children.
If you would like to share a tip, trick or have found an interesting resource for evaluators during this COVID-19 pandemic, please send your suggestions to be included in the AES Alert to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For Tips, Tricks and Resources from previous AES Alerts, go to https://www.aes.asn.au/resources/tips-tricks.html
Games for Evaluation - aes18 keynote speaker research article now available
At the 2018 International Evaluation Conference, held in Launceston, keynote speaker Karol Olejniczak ran a popular pre-conference workshop: Behaviour architects: a game that applies behavioural insights to improve policy solutions and his insightful and entertaining plenary session was on Transforming evaluation practice with serious games.
Karol is pleased to let us know that the research on games presented at the aes18 conference has been just published: Olejniczak, K., Newcomer, K., & Meijer, S. (2020). Advancing Evaluation Practice With Serious Games. American Journal of Evaluation, 41(3), 339-366.
The article can be accessed and downloaded free of charge here.
EVALUATION LEARNING EVENTS
WORKSHOPS - Online Delivery
Please click on the image for more information and to register. Please note that there are registration fees for our Evaluation Learning workshops.
Tuesday 1st September AND Tuesday 8th September 2020
Wednesday 2nd September AND Wednesday 9th September 2020
Thursday 3rd September AND Thursday 10th September 2020
16th September 2020
Tuesday 20th October AND Tuesday 27th October
SEMINARS and other EVENTS
Monday 24th August 2020
Date and time: Monday 24th August 2020. 5.30 - 6.45pm AEST
Discussion facilitated by: Kim Grey, Ruth Nicholls and Julie Elliott, Canberra regional committee members
Venue: Via Zoom. Details will be emailed to registrants prior to the seminar start time
Register online by: noon on Friday 21st August. Places limited to 20 participants.
This is a free event organised by the Canberra Regional Network Committee of the AES. Our regular events provides an opportunity for you to meet with AES members and others in the evaluation community and to share and learn from the experiences of fellow evaluators.
The reading group explores the lives and works of the ‘wise women of evaluation’. So far we have read Eleanor Chelimsky, Carol Weiss, and Patricia Rogers. In pre-COVID times we met at Canberra’s iconic White Eagle Polish Club, where our discussions were enhanced by perogi and various libations. This will be the first time we meet online via Zoom.
Read More
Wednesday 26th August 2020
Date and time: Wednesday 26th August 2020 12.30 - 1.30pm AEST
Topic: Using Evaluation Results - How evaluators can put improvements into action
Presentera: Georgina Roberts and Evie Cuthbertson, Grosvenor Public Sector Advisory
Venue: Via Zoom. Details will be emailed to registrants just prior to the seminar start time
Register online by: noon on Monday 24th August. Places limited to 100 participants.
This is a free seminar organised by the Queensland Regional Network Committee of the AES. Our seminar series provides an opportunity for you to meet with AES members and others in the evaluation community and to share and learn from the experiences of fellow evaluators.
Read More
Thursday 27th August 2020
Date and Time: Thursday 27th August 2020 4.00 - 5.30pm AEST
Topic: Ethics and Evaluation: the What, When and How!
Presenter: Keren Winterford, University of Technology Sydney and Linda Klein, GP Synergy
Venue: Via Zoom. Details will be emailed to registrants just prior to the seminar start time
Register online by: noon on Tuesday 25th August. Places limited to 100 participants.
Read More
Please check the AES online events calendar: https://www.aes.asn.au/professional-learning/calendar-of-events.html and keep an eye on your inbox for details of other upcoming events. We are currently organising more dates for workshops that are full.
JOB VACANCIES
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager, Palladium International Pty Ltd - Impact Private Sector Partnerships (IPSP) program (Canberra)
Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser, Papua New Guinea - Australia Transport Sector Support Program
OF INTEREST
ANZEA online workshop: Building your online facilitation practice, 22 September
Registrations are open for ANZEA's online workshop with Carolyn Camman and Amanda Fenton on tools and practices for online facilitation. Participants will get firsthand experience of all the methods and principles shared, and the participatory design means the content is shaped by your questions and context. People at all experience levels will walk away with a deepened practice and fresh insights into online facilitation skills. For more information and to register click here. Registrations close 16th September.
Save the Date: ANZEA2021 Conference, 22 - 25 March 2021
The ANZEA conference aims to serve as a catalyst for innovative thinking and dialogue on the role of evaluation and on the transformative impact we can have. With the current global situation the call for evaluation innovation in Aotearoa appears more relevant than ever before. Save the dates and keep an eye out for future updates.
Invitation to write for Evaluation Matters – He Take Tō Te Aromatawai about Covid-19
Evaluation Matters – He Take Tō Te Aromatawai would very much like to hear about your evaluation lockdown experience and/or what you’re thinking the future of evaluation might now be. We invite you to a submit short paper (2000-3000 words) to the next volume of the journal. Papers can be about experiences, methods, thinking, speculations, etc. They can be written as thought-pieces, referenced papers, essays, reports about being agile and innovative, etc. Our brief is wide, and accepting of poetry and photo essays and other forms of expression. We want to know what’s been on your mind, in your heart, (un)settling your puku, that can inform our thinking and practice in these times of pandemic shutdown and recovery slowdown. Submit your papers by 31 August to Fiona Cram, Editor-in-Chief, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2020 World Evaluation Case Competition Now Open to Registrations
 In the World Evaluation Case Competition, teams of students from countries around the globe, working online or in-person as appropriate, have 6 to 8 hours to prepare an analysis of an evaluation case and submit it to an international panel of evaluation experts for judging.
The competition is in English. Teams that use other languages are provided extra time to prepare their submission. This short slide show provides a visual depiction of an evaluation case competition process.
2020 is the third year of the competition. In 2018, the winning student team was from England and a team from Chile received honourable mention. Last year, the World Championship went to a team from Nepal. Regional awards went to teams from Canada, Uganda, and the Czech Republic.
The 2020 Competition will take place on 14th November. Teams should register by 14th October. For full information on the competition click here.
IPPG Evaluation Online Courses from 6 October
Taught by George Argyrous and Duncan Rintoul, the Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney (IPPG) will be holding a series of Evaluation Online Courses, commencing with Evaluation: Getting Started from the 6th October 2020. These online courses introduce the basics of program evaluation and then move on to more detailed topics. For more information and to register click here.
ExtensionChat - APEN Online, 1, 8, 15 and 22 September
The Australia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN), the leading extension organisation for people who are facilitating change in regional communities, is launching a virtual extension online program: ExtensionChat – APEN Online – connecting with best practice.
To support their members and interested extensionists, APEN is hosting a series of interactive sessions via ExtensionChat. Leading Australian and New Zealand extensionists will create a dynamic online experience of learning, knowledge sharing and networking for extensionists with different skills and experiences within the sector. For more information and to register click here.
Clear Horizon Online Learning
Enrolments are now open for a range Clear Horizon courses, with AES members eligible to receive a 15% discount (just use the code “aes15” at enrolment to claim your discount).
Evaluating Systems Change and Place-Based Approaches
6-week online course, starts 31 August
Place-based and collective impact initiatives offer new ways of thinking and working to address wicked social issues – but how can keep all stakeholders on track? With practical tools and techniques to help you to evaluate complex and emergent work, this course is your chance to learn with leaders in place-based and systems-change evaluation. Spots are filling up quickly - find out more.
Most Significant Change
4-week online course, starts 12th October
Most Significant Change, is a powerful participatory tool for monitoring, evaluation and organisational learning. Learn how the Most Significant Change technique can help you uncover the real human impact of your social change initiative. Find out more.
Using Data Visualisation & Analysis to Drive Social Impact
6-week online course, starts 9th November
This course isn’t just about creating great reports. It’s about getting the right information to the right audience to make strategic, evidence-based decisions. Join us to learn how to effectively use data to create meaningful impact reports in Power BI using real-world social impact data and examples. Find out more.
AES Blog
We want to hear from you! What is interesting you in the world of evaluation? Have you attended an AES event recently and are keen to share what you learned? Please refer to the Guidelines for what and how to submit to the AES blog and if you have any questions, please email the team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Check out the the latest AES blogs by clicking here.
Job Vacancies
Employers looking to fill positions in program monitoring and evaluation and performance measurement can list their job vacancies on the AES website. This service is available to members and non-members for a small fee. Discover the benefits of advertising on the AES website as recruiters and for applicants. Local and overseas opportunities are listed throughout the year and are also included in the AES Alert e-newsletter.
Consultants Directory
The AES often receives enquiries looking for evaluators with specific areas of expertise. These enquiries are directed to the online searchable Consultants' Directory. As well as being 'discovered' by potential customers, consultants in the directory also enjoy receiving early advice on any call for Evaluation services tenders. Interested in being listing in the Consultants' Directory? Complete the form here.
Logging On to Member Services
You may not need to log in on a regular basis to the Members centre section of the website. and consequently when you do, you may find that you've forgotten you password. Not to worry. Just email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and request a temporary password be set for you. Or you can phone AES on 613 9035 3484 for assistance.
Become an AES member
Do you work as an evaluator, commission evaluation work, manage evaluation projects, are an academic teaching and conducting research, a tertiary level student or even a professional interested in evaluation and performance measurement? Are you interested in developing your knowledge and skills across evaluation theory, methods and practice while networking with other professionals involved in similar work? Then you will benefit from joining the AES. Click here for more information and to apply to join.
We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.
The Australian Evaluation Society is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
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