Evaluation with communities: who gets to decide what "good" looks like?

What is the benefit and value of evaluating alongside communities?

University research, programs, and initiatives often claim to serve the good of the community. However, evaluation of these projects is often done without community input. Involving the community ensures that the impact you measure is relevant to those who benefit from the work.  

This interactive workshop will equip you with a basic understanding of evaluation with the community, the key ingredients that ensure success, ethical considerations, and practical tips to help get you started.

Workshop goals:

• Knowledge: Building upon participant knowledge about the evaluation approaches that include community  

• Understanding: Increased understanding of the ethical considerations inherent in this work.  

• Confidence: Growing the confidence of participants on how to commence an evaluation with community

Workshop Facilitators:

Hannah Morgan, Evaluation and Research Officer (Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion)
Hannah Morgan (she/her) is an accomplished Social Worker with over 15 years of extensive experience in diverse sectors, including health, government, community, and non-profit settings. Her expertise encompasses the management of government-funded projects, with a focus on disability, culturally diverse communities, and the LGBTIQ+ community. 

Sebastian Behrens, Evaluation and Research Officer (Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion)
Since graduating from the School of Oriental and African Studies in 2004, Sebastian has worked in the fields of inclusive education, community development and disability advocacy in Australia, the UK, India and Bhutan. Initiatives he has worked on include a health access program for the New Delhi’s Hijra community, a London nightclub run by and for people with disability and a social enterprise pizza café in the high Himalayas. Sebastian is a qualified primary school teacher and experienced project manager with a keen interest in program evaluation. 

Check out the other sessions are at the UTS Community Engaged Symposium: 

• 12:30—1:30 pm: Panel session - Engaged Teaching and Learning at UTS
• 2:00—3:30 pm: Workshop - Beyond our concrete tower: Breaking down barriers between academia and community
• 2:00—3:30 pm: Workshop - Indigenous Research: Community led, informed and actualised
• 4:00—5:30 pm: Panel session - From extraction to reciprocity: building authentic university and community partnerships
• 5:30—6:30pm: Refreshments and dinner will be served, plus an opportunity to view the Community Engagement and Impact exhibition