Four models of early intervention for children with autism and their families
Prevention and Pathways Directorate, Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services, 2011—in progress
Over two years, this process and outcomes evaluation will focus on comparing four models of early intervention for children aged 0 to 6 with autism and their families. It will compare the outcomes for children across the four programs, as well as the cost effectiveness of the programs. We will do interviews with parents, focus groups with program staff and use service data. We will also collect outcomes data using tools and instruments specific to autism. 

Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) Package
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2008–2012
The HCWA Package is a Commonwealth Government funded initiative aimed at improving support, education and access to early intervention services for families with children with autism. ARTD worked with Departmental stakeholders to design a logic model for the program and, from this, develop a framework for the evaluation. Subsequently, we were commissioned to evaluate the program in three phases (initial process evaluation, mid-term review, and final outcomes evaluation) using a mixed-method approach. This approach of collecting data and reporting in three phases enabled the evaluation to inform the development and implementation of the Package during key stages of growth.

All three phases of the evaluation included surveys of the main stakeholder groups, interviews with stakeholders, an analysis of the full range of FaHCSIA monitoring data and a scan of the relevant literature and Package-related reports. Data collection was more intensive for the first and final phases. The final evaluation was to assess the Package’s impact on access to services and to inform decisions about future directions. It included a focus on how the Package was working for different population groups and in different areas. Following delivery of the final evaluation report, the implications for service delivery were workshopped with staff delivering one of the main support components. 

Respite Support for Carers of Young People with Severe or Profound Disability (RSCYP) Service
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2011
The national RSCYP program provides short-term unplanned respite for carers of young people with severe and profound disabilities and is delivered through Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (CRCCs). The evaluation of this program used a mixed methods design, drawing on new and routinely collected data. Methods included a survey of a random sample of 1,000 carers using the RSCYP, a survey of 55 CRCCs delivering the RSCYP, field visits to nine CRCCs, interviews and discussion groups with program stakeholders, and a review of key documents and activity data. As part of this larger evaluation, ARTD also reviewed current and alternative service delivery options for two FaHCSIA programs—the RSCYP and the Young Carers Respite and Information Services Program. ARTD used activity-based costing analysis to review the current costs of delivering the programs under current infrastructure (CRCCs), and to estimate the additional costs that would be incurred if the programs were to move to a new infrastructure. Key stakeholders, including relevant peak bodies, state and federal government representatives and program staff were interviewed on the possible benefits of alternative delivery options, including moving the programs to state-funded programs, delivering them through NGOs or continued delivery through CRCCs. ARTD used this information, and what was known about the future plans for disability services, to provide recommendations on the short-term future of the two programs. 

Performance Monitoring Framework NSW DAP
Ageing, Disability and Home Care, NSW Department of Family and Community Services, 2010
The Guidelines for disability action planning by NSW Government agencies were produced to bring disability action planning into line with NSW Government policy and planning frameworks, notably the NSW State Plan and Better Together. ARTD was contracted to consult with government agencies and develop a framework for monitoring and reporting on these action plans. The framework was developed in two parts through logical analysis and workshops with stakeholders. Part one was a whole-of-government framework, providing a structure for reporting on progress and achievements with disability action planning across the NSW government. Part two was an agency reporting framework, which identified the data required from agencies for the whole-of-government report, and provided a guide to agencies to monitor and report on their own performance. 

Self Managed Model of the Community Participation Program
Ageing Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW, 2010 and 2009
The Community Participation (CP) Program aims to assist young people with a disability to develop the skills they need to work towards their goals, increase their independence and participate as valued and active members of the community. The Self Managed Model (SMM) is one of three models available in the CP Program. ARTD evaluated the pilot in 2009 and the expansion in 2010. Methods included a survey of all service users and interviews with a sample of service users and service providers. The evaluation investigated issues in the expansion and service users’ satisfaction with the program. 

Agency-wide evaluation strategy
Ageing Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW, 2008
ARTD helped the Department to refine its evaluation policy, develop a strategy for identifying strategically significant evaluations and develop the organisational capacity and systems to support this.