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Much of RPR's work involves policy and program review and development. These processes require sophisticated skills in conceptual analysis, problem identification and solving, as well as a capacity to facilitate effective consultation and communication.
RPR regularly undertakes the full spectrum of evaluation work for both single organisations or projects and statewide or national programs. Our research and evaluation capacity includes designing appropriate tools and methodologies; administering and analysing quantitative surveys; conducting qualitative research through interviews and focus groups; undertaking literature searches and comprehensively analysing data and documentation.
Highlights of RPR's work in the area of policy analysis and development include:
- assisting the Victorian Department of Human Services to develop an Integrated Service Model for the delivery of care and treatment services to people with HIV and AIDS. The need for a more integrated model arose because of the increased life expectancy of people with HIV, the side effects of many treatments and the ageing of the population resulting in different needs for care and treatment services (2006–2007)
- assisting in the development of Phase 2 of the Inner City Homelessness Action Plan (ICHAP) to guide the work of a coalition of government and non-government agencies working to combat homelessness in Sydney's inner city. RPR had already evaluated Phase 1 of the plan, which had focused on rough sleepers, and the recommendations of that evaluation had been taken on board by the governing committee to provide the starting point for the next plan. NSW Department of Housing (2007)
- development of a monitoring and reporting framework for the Youth Protocol. Australian Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2006)
- development of a performance management system for the Family Relationship Services Program. The project involves developing a program logic, consultation with departmental staff and service providers, data modelling and development of tools to measure all aspects of service quality, outputs and outcomes of the various components of the program. Australian Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs(2006–2007)
- development of the Youth Performance Management Framework for Reconnect and the Youth Activity Services/Family Liaison Programs. The project involves defining a program logic (including service level and outcome indicators), designing and trialling a new data system that can deliver key performance information across all three programs, and tools to assist service providers to collect qualitative data. Australian Department of Family and Community Services (2004–2005)
- reviewing the Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies and the Indigenous Parenting and Family Wellbeing Program (which funds 25 services that provide early intervention and prevention programs to support Indigenous families). Australian Department of Family and Community Services (2004–2005)
- facilitating and reporting on a consultation process to develop guidelines for relationships between health consumer organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. Medicines Australia (2004–2005)
- facilitating a cross government forum to develop principles to guide bilateral agreements with states and territories in arrangements impacting on Indigenous Australians Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (2005)
- assisting with the development of Queensland's whole-of-government strategy on HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexual Health. Queensland Department of Health (2005)
- facilitating a series of large consultation forums leading to the fifth National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the first STIs Strategy and the third National Hepatitis C Strategy. Australian Department of Health and Ageing (2004–2005)
- reviewing state-wide departmental policy and service delivery approaches with regard to their impact on Indigenous clients. NSW Department of Housing (2004–2005)
- assessing the potential impacts of implementing a new Inclusion Support Policy which is directed towards supporting children with disabilities and their families to formal Australian government child care services. Australian Department of Family and Community Services (2005)
- progressing the development of the Northern Territory Social Policy Partnership and Community Engagement Policy. RPR managed the consultation and research process to determine the future role and contribution of peak bodies and network groups and how remote regions and Indigenous communities are best represented in the policy processes and partnership arrangements. Department of Chief Minister Northern Territory (2004)
Recent research and evaluation projects, and their respective clients, include:
- a review of the pilot Intensive Court Supervision (ICS) Program for the NSW Department of Juvenile Justice. The purpose of the review was to determine whether the ICS is an effective alternative to incarceration for Aboriginal young offenders in the Bourke and Brewarrina areas of NSW (2006–2007)
- a review of Galilee Day Program, which provides an alternative education based program for young people aged 12–16 years for the ACT Office of Children, Youth and Family Support (2007)
- RPR Consulting, together with Julie MacDonald & Associates conducted a formative evaluation of the implementation of the Policy Directive 'People with Disabilities: Responding to their needs during hospitalisation' (2007)
- a formative evaluation of the Community Care Pilot program for the Department of Immigration and Indigenous Affairs. The pilot was set up in response to the Palmer and Comrie Reports into the unlawful detention of Cornelia Rau and Vivian Solon. The pilots are linked to the introduction of a case management framework within DIMIA to enable early identification of clients with complex circumstances, or who are vulnerable. As the evaluation was introduced at an early stage of the program, its focus was on assessing whether the pilot was on track and recommending what information should be collected for a later comprehensive evaluation of outcomes. Department of Immigration and Indigenous Affairs (2006)
- a benchmarking review of three telephone and web-based counselling services; the purpose of the review was to establish realistic benchmarks for the performance expectations of Mensline Counselling Service, after a significant increase in the Federal Budget to expand its capacity to provide free, professional telephone and web based counselling to men nationally. Australian Department of Family and Community Services (2006)
- an audit of planning processes for Families First in all regions of the NSW Department of Community Services. NSW Department of Community Services (2006)
- a comprehensive organisational review of the Independent Community Living Association (ICLA): its service models, structures, operations, internal and external relationships, and staffing and development arrangements (2006)
- an evaluation of Narrabundah House Indigenous Supported Accommodation Service. The evaluation focused on identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing service delivery arrangements, and ensuring that Narrabundah House was consistent and integrated with administrative and case management practices of the Office of Child Youth and Family Services. ACT Office of Child Youth and Family Services (2006)
- a review of the national Indigenous women's program that involved interviewing and mapping the funded projects and identifying the issues that need to be addressed in future development of the program. Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination Leadership Group (2005)
- a national evaluation of the Family Homelessness Pilot Program, which included designing a data collection system, a client outcomes study, an assessment of the emerging practice model and an examination of the community impacts of the pilots. Australian Department of Family and Community Services (2002–2005)
- a national evaluation of the In-Home Care Program which covered a wide range of issues including affordability and viability of the service model, quality of care and access, human resource issues, and overlap with State and Territory government child care programs. Australian Department of Family and Community Services (2005)
- designing an evaluation framework for a therapeutic preschool and home visiting program which is part of the national 'Invest to Grow' projects evaluation. Phoenix House (2005–2007)
- an evaluation of the 'Signpost' Hunter Homelessness Assessment and Referral Service, which is a Partnership Against Homelessness pilot project established to provide a first point of contact for homeless men and women seeking assistance and for agencies seeking an appropriate service for their homeless clients. NSW Department of Housing (2005)
- a review of the Multicultural Access Projects (MAPs) to provide a strategic framework for strengthening future outcomes for CALD clients in the Home and Community Care Program. NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (2004–2005)
- a longitudinal study of the Reconnect program, an early intervention program to prevent youth homelessness, to ascertain outcomes for young people and their families as well as impact of Reconnect services on community capacity for early intervention into youth homelessness. Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (2001-2003)
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