Measuring the outcomes of community organisations

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth is undertaking a project that will review evidence, practice and policy concerning the measurement of the outcomes of community organisations, in particular the contribution made towards the wellbeing of children and young people.

This project was launched at a seminar in Melbourne in May 2009 – Proof Positive: Measuring the outcomes of community organisations.

A discussion paper prepared by KPMG, Measuring the outcomes of community organisations has subsequently been released. This focuses on throughputs, lack of a common framework for outcome measurement, use of qualitative and quantitative methods and how the activities of community organisation are supported.

Read Measuring the outcomes of community organisations in the documents section below.



Roundtable in May 2010
The KPMG report has informed ongoing development of the project including a recent roundtable held in Canberra with 15 stakeholders across the not-for-profit, government and philanthropic sectors. The roundtable considered the relationship between the Measuring Outcomes for Community Organisations project and the recently released Australian Productivity Report “Contribution of the not-for-profit sector” and the National Compact with the Third Sector.

The roundtable also considered:

• current outcome measurement in the not-for-profit sector, drivers for outcome measurement and the issues requiring attention
• the most appropriate scope for any project activity aimed at supporting the not-for-profit sector to engage in outcome measurement
• the links between project scopes and current and required strategies and frameworks.

The roundtable concluded with participants providing their support and leadership to actions driven by the outcomes and findings of the roundtable. Those findings are discussed in a communiqué to the Australian Government and organisations central to improving outcome measurement in the not-for-profit sector.

Read the Roundtable Communique.

For further information about the project, contact Jennifer Pidgeon.

 

Documents for viewing/download:
	Measuring the Outcomes of Community Organisation Communique: (74Kb)
	ARACY submission to Productivity Commission study on the contribution of the not-for-profit sector: (181Kb)
	Background paper: (103Kb)
	Measuring the outcomes of community organisations: (1.7Mb)
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