Challenges in Evaluating Aboriginal Healing Programs: Definitions, Diversity and Data

Blignault, I; Williams, M

Challenges in Evaluating Aboriginal Healing Programs: Definitions, Diversity and Data

Blignault, I Williams, M

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Evaluation Journal of Australasia, 2017, 17 (2), pp. 4 - 10
Issue Date:: 2017-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Blignault, I	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Williams, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0969-2619	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Evaluation Journal of Australasia, 2017, 17 (2), pp. 4 - 10	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1035-719X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115462
dc.description.abstract	© 2017 Australasian Evaluation Society. Indigenous people around the world have long healing traditions. Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing projects are designed to empower individuals, families and communities; strengthen connections to culture; and reduce the damaging effects of colonisation and government policies such as the forcible removal of children (the Stolen Generations). Evidence on the conditions necessary for healing to occur, and how healing works for different people and in different contexts, is limited. Evaluations that will help identify good practice and document the full range of outcomes are sorely needed. This paper is based largely on experiences and learnings from Stolen Generations projects around Australia funded by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation, and the reflections of experienced scholar-practitioners. It argues that evaluations that are responsive to, and ultimately owned and led by, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities need to be designed and implemented differently to mainstream evaluations. Timeframes, methods, relationships between evaluators and stakeholders, and the identification and measurement of outcomes all need to be carefully considered. Challenges include definitions of healing, diversity of landscapes and programs, and data collection. Qualitative methods that preference and support Indigenous cultural frameworks and ways of creating and sharing knowledge work well. In addition to ensuring culturally sensitive methodologies and tools, working ethically and effectively in the Indigenous healing space means emphasising and enabling safety for participants, workers and organisations.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Evaluation Journal of Australasia	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/1035719X1701700202	en_US
dc.title	Challenges in Evaluating Aboriginal Healing Programs: Definitions, Diversity and Data	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	17	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Graduate School of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	17	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017 Australasian Evaluation Society. Indigenous people around the world have long healing traditions. Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing projects are designed to empower individuals, families and communities; strengthen connections to culture; and reduce the damaging effects of colonisation and government policies such as the forcible removal of children (the Stolen Generations). Evidence on the conditions necessary for healing to occur, and how healing works for different people and in different contexts, is limited. Evaluations that will help identify good practice and document the full range of outcomes are sorely needed. This paper is based largely on experiences and learnings from Stolen Generations projects around Australia funded by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation, and the reflections of experienced scholar-practitioners. It argues that evaluations that are responsive to, and ultimately owned and led by, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities need to be designed and implemented differently to mainstream evaluations. Timeframes, methods, relationships between evaluators and stakeholders, and the identification and measurement of outcomes all need to be carefully considered. Challenges include definitions of healing, diversity of landscapes and programs, and data collection. Qualitative methods that preference and support Indigenous cultural frameworks and ways of creating and sharing knowledge work well. In addition to ensuring culturally sensitive methodologies and tools, working ethically and effectively in the Indigenous healing space means emphasising and enabling safety for participants, workers and organisations.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115462