The challenge
Understanding what works, how it works and how well it works, is central to impactful evaluation. Across all types of organisations—government agencies, private enterprises and not-for-profit organisations—effective evaluation delivers critical insights that measure success, refine strategies and demonstrate real-world impact. Evaluation is not just about assessing outcomes; it's about developing mindsets and fostering a culture of evaluation that promotes continuous learning and informed decision-making. The challenge for many organisations is embedding evaluation into their day-to-day operations, ensuring it drives ongoing improvement and innovation, while equipping staff with the skills and expertise to sustain a culture of evaluation.
The solution
For the last four years, the ACT Government has commissioned the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance (IPPG) to deliver the ACT Evidence and Evaluation Academy, a six-month-long professional training program that seeks to promote a culture of evidence and evaluation across the ACT Government.
The Academy supports staff to strengthen their evaluation knowledge and skills, disseminate evaluation practice and culture across their workplace and form peer support networks to help translate their evaluation learnings into meaningful change.
Participants attend six half-day workshops delivered by leading evaluation experts Dr George Argyrous (formerly IPPG) and Dr Duncan Rintoul (IPPG).
Learning content
Workshops cover the fundamentals of evaluation theory and practice (including orientation, logic modelling, evaluation questions, indicators and methods and outcome evaluation), stakeholder engagement, reporting, risk management and commissioning evaluation.
Central to the Academy are individual work-based projects, allowing participants to apply workshop learnings to practical challenges encountered in their roles. These projects are supported by regular one-on-one coaching sessions and encourage collaboration among participants.
Executive champions are nominated to participate in the course, and they are encouraged to identify capacity-building opportunities and to establish communities of practice in their respective agencies.
The outcome
Over the last four years 82 participants have completed the ACT Evidence and Evaluation Academy.
Participant feedback strongly affirmed the value of the Academy, with many highlighting its significant impact on their professional growth and practical application of evaluation principles in their workplaces.
Participants especially valued the face-to-face workshops and the opportunity to work on their own projects. Many are already applying their new knowledge in their current roles and sharing their expertise with colleagues.
The Academy delivered strongly on the ACT Government’s objectives to build and share evaluation knowledge and practice, with the ultimate goal of building a culture of evidence and evaluation across its directorates.
This long-standing partnership between the ACT Government and IPPG demonstrates how a successful, tailored in-house training program can positively influence staff development and organisational culture and help communicate the impact of government initiatives to the wider public.
Testimonials
“Through the ACT Evidence and Evaluation Academy, participants become more confident in applying evaluative thinking and evaluation planning and we continue to see the benefits of this, not only for their projects during the Academy, but also for their directorates in the years after the formal program.  Participants highly value the quality of the workshops and the learning environment which gives them the opportunity to connect with people across the ACT Public Service and create networks, fostering collaboration and shared knowledge, and supporting our commitment to one public service.” — Project Sponsor
“I can now provide examples to others of where and how evaluative thinking can improve the quality and outcomes of their work and have presented to my division on my key learnings and shared key resources. I [have begun to] position myself as a valuable resource who can be called upon to share my knowledge, understanding and resources in evaluation.” — Participant
“I plan to use what I have learnt in evaluating policies and programs in my current organisation. We are in the process of applying our learning by creating an evaluation framework for our organisation and building on an evaluation culture.” — Participant
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The UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance are an independent institute focused on driving excellence in public policy and decision-making through advisory services, research, professional learning and capacity building solutions for clients in all tiers of government, the not-for-profit sector and industry. To learn more, please visit the IPPG website or email the team. |
