Resources

Research and evaluation

Understanding the characteristics, experience and perspectives of consumers is an important element of designing products and services that are fit for purpose. As a sector that delivers services to people who are often experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability, it is important for community organisations to know they are providing safe and appropriate services to individuals and to the community more broadly.

QCOSS Research and Evaluation network

As the Queensland community services sector’s peak body, QCOSS delivers a year-round research and advocacy program to deliver change on structural social issues and to promote the work and needs of the sector.

The Research and Evaluation Network provides an opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing in the area of research and evaluation, with the aim of utilising community sector resources more effectively to promote improved outcomes for organisations and their clients.

Resources hub

In this section, you can find Research and Evaluation Network resources as they are developed.

Recordings of previous webinars:

Using data to measure diverse program outcomes

Communify Chief Information Officer, Ben Bollard, walks through Communify’s data systems and how they are used to collectively measure diverse program outcomes.

Community Services and university partnerships

Guest speakers from St Vincent de Paul Queensland and UQ's Social Science research team outline how partnering with a university can benefit your organisation.

Quantifying the community value of neighbourhood centres

QCOSS and Neighbourhood Centres Queensland take an in-depth look at the methodology of 'Social Return On Investment', and how data can be used to advocate for funding increases.

Data access and collaboration

The session explores how SEER Data & Analytics has supported the development of The Gladstone Region Wellbeing Data Hub – enabling the community to evaluate a range of community-identified wellbeing goals.

The 3 steps of Systems Evaluation Theory

Dr Lewê Atkinson, Global Partner of Haines Centre Australia, provides a brief introduction to Systems Evaluation Thinking (SET) and highlights parallels to Results Based Accountability (RBA).

Human Research Ethics Committees and their role in the community sector

Megan Borlase, Chief of Innovation, Research and Partnerships with Lojic Institute, provides a brief introduction to these committees and their role in the community services sector.

Data Governance in the Community Services Sector

Guest speakers from Queensland Positive People highlight their processes regarding auditing of data and secure data management of identifiable, personal and health information.

Chat GPT and AI

Guest speaker Professor Paul Henman, Chief Investigator of The ARC Centre for Excellence, examines the implications of automated decision making for the social service sector.

NFP Digital Technologies: Key statistics and actions for your organisation

Infoxchange’s Marcus Harvey talks through key digital trends, opportunities and challenges drawing on Queensland, Australian and Asia Pacific data, and shares what is already emerging in the 2023 data.

Building a Data-Driven Culture: Key principles for Community Services leaders

Dr Ruth Knight explores some of the key principles for building a data-driven culture, including influencing how people talk and think about data.

Data Presentation Best Practises: Mastering the Art of Visualizing Information

(Data bootcamp: Session one) Dave Keys delves into the intricacies of data presentation best practices and data visualisation excellence.

Data Storytelling Principles

(Data bootcamp: Session two) Speakers focus on key data storytelling principles that not-for-profit professionals can use to turn data into captivating narratives that inspire action and drive meaningful impact.

Communicating Impact and Purpose with Data

(Data bootcamp: Session three) Hear from community organisations leading innovative data work to address complex issues such as homelessness, poverty, and inequality

Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

We explore some of the key concepts and processes of qualitative inquiry and why it’s important.

Cross-cultural Evaluation and Accountability

This session covers ways community organisations can be more accountable to beneficiaries and clients for the work they do.

Evaluating Collaboration and Partnerships

Partnerships that bring together actors from across diverse sectors and settings, are important forms of collaboration: yet evaluating and learning about them is challenging. We explore the benefits.

Digital technology in the NFP sector

Infoxchange’s Digital Transformation experts, Marcus Harvey, Sophie Souchon and Rachael McNamara, joined us to discuss not-for-profit digital trends, opportunities and challenges.

Introduction to Social Network Analysis

Matt Healey provides a brief introduction to Social Network Analysis, what it tells us, and what we need in place to do it.

Grant writing: planning your evaluation

Practical tips to ensuring that you have an appropriate evaluation plan for the project you are seeking funding for.

A Framework for Evaluation

This session examines strategies for measuring impact, why evaluation activities should be disseminated, quality assurance and evaluation under the NHMRC, and more.

Effective surveys

Rose Ahearn joins us to talk about effective survey design and methods, and how creating surveys with intention can make all the difference to the data you can collect and impact you can measure.

Key Learnings on Outcome Measurement from the Sector

YFS wanted to be able to understand the difference it was making in the community and to identify areas for service improvement. Learn about their outcomes measurement approach.

Using data to strengthen your Skilling Queenslanders for Work funding application

Increase your understanding of data available to you, and how to use it to inform place-based project development and tender writing.

Amplifying Co-Design and Lived Experience Leadership in Evaluation

The Finding North team share their reflections from working in partnership with an evaluator to gather data on people’s experiences of the network and the website.

Holistic Self-determination in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation

The General Manager of Community Services at ATSICHS outlines the fundamentals of what is self-determination – the historical context, theories, and relating that to practical real-life delivery.

Data privacy and capturing consent from vulnerable cohorts

Professor John Swinson (UQ) and Tonia De Bruin (Yourtown) join us to talk about privacy and consent. We unpack relevant legislation and case studies that demonstrate practical approaches to gaining consent.

Reports and submissions

Using consumer data for continuous improvement

QCOSS partnered with Queensland Positive People, St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland and Communify Queensland with the aim of identifying strategies that support organisations to improve the use of consumer data for the continuous quality improvement of programs.

A series of case studies highlight the lessons and challenges experienced by organisations, as well as their strengths, opportunities, and innovations as they implement program specific and/or organisational systems that measure outcomes. The case studies demonstrate the commitment community organisations have to ensuring programs are meeting the needs and improving the quality of life for people accessing their services.

All organisations identified challenges that limited their ability to further scale these systems. This often related to a lack of dedicated resourcing to support data management and analysis for the program and the wider organisation.