Planned Areas for Action

Area of Action 8

Research and evaluation programme

Responsibility
Lead 
Other
MSD FVFG
Action details
Evaluation Programme

Investigate options and make recommendations for establishing a mechanism to co-ordinate national, and collate international, family violence prevention research and evaluation and to widely disseminate information.

As part of a family violence prevention research and evaluation programme:

  • continue to develop a series of information papers which are evidence-based and inform the general public on the definition of family violence, the level and nature of family violence in New Zealand, the underlying causes of family violence and what works to prevent family violence;
  • develop a framework for auditing/evaluating the effectiveness of family violence programmes and services for Maori;
  • review frameworks, in partnership with relevant community groups, for auditing/evaluating the effectiveness of family violence programmes and services;
  • collate and disseminate information on the potential effects of violence portrayed in the media, with a particular emphasis on the effects on children; and
  • update an agenda for family violence research, which specifically includes an indigenous component.
Link to goals and objectives

Goals 1, 3, 4 & 5. Objectives 1(ii), 1(v), 3(ii), 4(1)(ii), 5(iv).

Timeframe

Research and evaluation are ongoing. A number of initiatives are currently underway, such as the preparation of draft information papers, which are contributing, in part, to meeting this action. Consequently this action has already started and will be staged and progressed over the five-year timeframe.

Rationale

There appears to be a lack of clear, empirical New Zealand-based research and evaluations from which to judge the effectiveness of programmes and services. There is also no mechanism for co-ordinating and collating existing research and disseminating information.

Having access to quality information is critical to ensuring family violence prevention strategies and initiatives have the greatest impact possible and can also assist cross-sectoral consistency in approaches to family violence prevention. Well designed evaluations are a vital component in achieving quality information. In addition, informing the public about the nature, causes and effects of violence in families/whanau is an important component of any prevention/early intervention strategy.

Preliminary targets
  • To have established a mechanism to co-ordinate, collate, promote and disseminate family violence prevention research and evaluation by December 2002.
  • To have completed identified research and evaluation tasks by June 2006.
  • To have improved access to quality family violence prevention information by June 2006.
Preliminary measures
  • Scoping and timeline for research project are completed.
  • Options for establishing a research co-ordinating mechanism are identified and recommendations made (and agreed to by FVFG) according to the timeline.
  • Mechanism is established on time.
  • Draft information papers are developed according to the timeline.
  • Consultation with FVFG on papers has been undertaken and any comments reflected in papers where relevant.
  • Information papers are widely disseminated according to the timeline.
  • Audit/Evaluation frameworks are reviewed in partnership with relevant community groups and recommendations for enhancements are made (if needed) according to the timeline.
  • Recommendations are implemented where relevant.
  • An audit/evaluation framework is developed, in partnership with relevant Maori community groups, according to the timeline.
  • The agenda for family violence research is reviewed, updated and agreed to by FVFG according to the timeline.
  • A specific indigenous component is included in the updated research agenda.
  • Research indicates increased public awareness and understanding of the nature and effects of family violence.
  • Feedback from service providers and local communities, following the completion of relevant tasks, indicates an improvement in accessing quality family violence prevention information.
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